National Animal Control Association 2008 Award Winners
NACA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2008 NACA Awards. Calls for nominations were distributed via the NACA News, posted on the NACA website, and sent out via the NACA email distribution list. Nominations were received from individuals and organizations for a host of awards that recognize individual and group achievement in the animal care and control field.
This year's winners are:
Animal Control Employee of the Year - Yvonne Gaines, Ingham County Animal Control, Michigan
This winner of this award shall have been directly employed in the animal care profession for a minimum of five years and shall be a current member of NACA or his/her affiliated State Association. The winner may be recognized for a single outstanding achievement in animal control or for long term exceptional performance in animal control. "The Animal Control Employee of the Year Award seeks to identify that individual who best exemplifies the very best in our profession." Ed Boks, former NACA Board member.
Yvonne Gaines has been an animal control officer since 2001. She is a graduate of the 68th Mid-Michigan Police Academy and the recipient of the 2007 Animal Law Enforcement Award for Ingham County. ACO Gaines was nominated by Animal Control Director Jamie McAloon Lampman, who cited her nearly 90% conviction rate for animal welfare and cruelty violations. Director Lampman commended ACO Gaines' diligence in investigating cases and her collaboration with other law enforcement. "She was investigating and obtaining dog fighting convictions when dog fighting was virtually unknown to most judges and law enforcement officers in our community. Thanks to her tenacity in this area we enjoy a well educated judicial system and conduct training sessions with our local law enforcement agencies on those subjects."
ACO Yvonne Gaines
Ingham County Animal Control
600 Custis St.
Mason, MI 48854
Phone - 517-676-8370
Fax - 517-676-8380
Outstanding State Association - Washington Animal Control Association, President Ann Graves
This winner of this award must be a current agency member of NACA. Selection criterion includes effective training programs for personnel; outstanding/innovative public education programs; active community involvement; and average response time to calls for assistance. "With the challenges of poor laws, lack of training and professional recognition, Animal Control Officers often turn to their NACA supported State Association for help." Mark Kumpf, NACA President and past State Association Award Winner for the Virginia Animal Control Association.
The Washington Animal Control Association (WACA) has been in existence since 1979. WACA has nearly 400 active members from over 170 agencies, and is committed to the advancement of skills and professionalism for animal control officers. Each year WACA, in cooperation with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, sponsors an 80 hour animal control academy. Along with the Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies, they co sponsor and host the annual Pacific Northwest Animal Care and Control Conference. WACA is actively involved in community outreach, scholarships for training, and legislation. In 2005, an improvement to their state cruelty statute made if a felony to starve, dehydrate or suffocate an animal.
Ann Graves, President
c/o Seattle Animal Shelter
2061 15th Ave. W.
Seattle, WA
(206) 387-7387
ann.graves@seatle.gov
Outstanding Agency - Pasco County Animal Services, Land O' Lakes, Florida
This winner of this award must be a current agency member of NACA. Selection criterion includes effective training programs for personnel; outstanding/innovative public education programs; active community involvement; and average response time to calls for assistance. "No matter how big or small your agency is, it is what's in your heart and the team work you do for your agency that makes an Outstanding Agency." Mark Byers, former NACA President and currently serving on the NACA of Board of Directors.
Pasco County Animal Services serves 450,000 people in an area of 800 square miles. Education is important to PCAS. Their officers attend certification classes and receive continuing education through the Florida Animal Control Association (FACA) and NACA. Manager Denise Hilton and her staff are also committed to public education, and offer such programs as Dog Bite Prevention and Rabies Awareness. They also sponsor distribution of "Kind News" and teacher humane education information packets. PCAS has received numerous local, state and national awards, including the 2007 FACA Animal Control Association of the Year. Community outreach initiatives include partnerships with Safety Town, the Suncoast Veterinary Association, Pasco County Board of Education, and the Pasco Animal Response Team. They formed an "Adoption Partners Program" in 2006 in an effort to work with other agencies in securing more adoptions for animals. PCAS has partnered with the Pasco County Library System, Friends of the Library, and the Coalition for Animal Welfare for a grant from PetsMart Charities to fund a 2008 Pit Snip spay/neuter event. They plan to break ground this year for a new adoption/surgery center.
Pasco County Animal Services
19640 Lake Patience Rd.
Land O' Lakes, FL 34638
813-929-1212
animalservices@pascocountyfl.net
Diane Lane Memorial Award - Patty Rusnak, Peninsula Spay/Neuter Project
This award is for outstanding volunteer service in animal welfare related fields. The winner shall demonstrate exceptional dedication or performed outstanding work far and beyond the requirements of their volunteer position. "In a life cut tragically short, Diane Lane enriched the entire animal welfare field through the promotion of volunteerism. This Award recognizes those who responded to her call." Darlene Larson, friend of Diane Lane and NACA Past President.
Patty Rusnak is a founding member of the Peninsula Spay/Neuter Project (PSNP). PSNP is the lead agency for Coalition Humane; a group dedicated to spaying and neutering, and was voted one of the top 10 providers of surgical services for 2006. Ms. Rusnak is the project manager for the Coalition Humane Spay & Neuter Clinic, slated to open in Tacoma in March of 2008. She is a founder of the dog focused reading assistance program, "Tutors With Tails". Ms. Rusnak organized the "Buy a Vest for Lakewood's Best" fund raiser for the purchase of 6 Kevlar vests for police dogs. She organizes annual pet food drives with school students, and recently organized 2 micro chip clinics for the City of Lakewood. She is a volunteer for Tacoma/Pierce County Humane Society, the Lakewood Sheltering Committee, and the Animal Care Alliance for Emergency Planning. She regularly writes a column entitled "Paw Talk With Patty" for the Suburban Times. Ms. Rusnak is currently working on the design and development of educational handouts that will focus on pet care and ownership.
Patty Rusnak, Coalition Humane Spay & Neuter Clinic
6002 122nd St. SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
253-582-5004
prusnak@psnp.org
Bill Lehman Memorial Award - G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH, Wilmington, NC
This award is for outstanding volunteer service in animal welfare related fields. The winner shall have shown exceptional awareness in animal control related matters which merit distinction. This recipient shall be recognized as a "friend" of animal control for contributions and outstanding action that has assisted in furthering the positive image of animal control professionals through local, state, or national animal control associations.
G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH, or "Dr. Bob" first reached out to his former employee, Jean P. McNeil, DVM in the late 1990s. Dr. McNeil was by then working for Hanover County Animal Control Services (HCACS). This began a partnership with animal control that continues today. Dr. Bob began by selling animal licenses at his hospital and encouraging his colleagues to do so, as well. Today, Hanover has exceeded $ 700,000 in annual license revenue. Dr. Bob developed and taught "Animals in Our Society" at a local university. He invited Dr. McNeil to join him in to present the animal control perspective. By then she was the director of HCACS. Three students from this class developed and published a volunteer manual for the animal control division that is still used today. Dr. McNeil partnered with Dr. Bob to undergo training and then to develop a business plan for some aspect of public health. They created a spay/neuter and adoption play area at the animal control facility. The first surgery was performed in 2004. He is committed to insuring that future veterinarians have an understanding and appreciation for the work of animal control professionals. In 2007, as part of the Southeastern Public Health Leadership Institute Training Course, Dr. McNeil and Dr. Bob developed the Rabies Awareness and Community Education Program. For their efforts, they received top honors at the graduation ceremony for best leadership project. Next the two worked on a plan to increase their mentoring role with the Pre-Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA). In September 2007, Dr. McNeil and Dr. Bob partnered with PVMA to host a rabies clinic in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control World Rabies Awareness Day. In 2 hours they vaccinated over 400 animals! Dr. Bob continues to perform volunteer surgeries at the animal control clinic and frequently recruits veterinary students to assist him. He frequently makes presentations to county officials, including a recent one to defend and maintain Hanover's anti-tethering ordinance, the only county ordinance of its kind in North Carolina. Dr. Bob's support and collaboration with animal control highlights the importance of professional animal control and partnership with the veterinary community.
G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH
4140 S. College Rd.
Wilmington, NC 28409
910-395-6555
rwheedon@bellsouth.net
R. D. "Bob" Ward, DVM Memorial Posthumous Award
This award is to honor animal control employees who died in the line of duty. "I think Budda captured the essence of the R. D. "Bob" Ward Award when he said, 'neither fire no wind, birth nor death can erase our good deeds'". Mary Metzner, Past President of the National Animal Control Association.
NACA recognizes, honors, and remembers:
Neal Duncan, Seattle Animal Control, Seattle, Washington
While assisting with an animal adoption at the shelter, Neal collapsed due to a heart attack while on duty. Effects by his fellow animal control employees and the Seattle Fire Department failed to revive him. Neal "Gentle Ben" was a gift to the Seattle Animal Shelter passing away in June 2006.
Bobby Evans, Animal Control Officer, Bellmead, Texas
Bobby was murdered just because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time at the city animal shelter helping the animals in his care. Bobby was a Husband, Father, Grandfather, son, and friend to all. He also held the rank of Lieutenant as a Volunteer Fire Fighter. Bobby Evans passed away on June 18, 2007.
Christina Winzer, LA Animal Services, Los Angeles, California
The community outreach and volunteer coordinator, Christina collapsed and died while at the City's San Pedro animal shelter. Outgoing and friendly, and always devoted to the animals she cared for, Christina embodied the humanitarian mission our shelters strive every day to meet. Christina Winzer passed January 14, 2008.
The NACA Awards will be presented at the 2008 Annual Conference in Spokane, Washington on June 5, 2008 at an awards luncheon. Additional information is available on the NACA website at www.nacanet.org or by email at naca@nacanet.org.
NACA Award Categories
The Animal Control Employee of the Year Award. The successful nominee for this Award shall have been directly involved in the animal control profession for a minimum of five years and shall be a current member of either NACA or his/her affiliated state association. The recipient may be nominated for a single outstanding achievement in animal control or for a long-term exceptional performance in animal control. The winner of this Award will receive complimentary NACA Conference registration. History: Established October 12, 1989.
The Bill Lehman Memorial Award. The successful candidate for this Award will be someone not directly employed in the animal control field, but who has shown an exceptional awareness in animal control related matters which merit distinction. The nominated recipient shall be recognized as a “friend” of animal control, for contributions and outstanding action that assisted in furthering the positive image of animal control professionals through local, state or national animal control associations. The winner of this Award will receive complimentary NACA Conference registration. For history regarding this award, please click here.
The Outstanding Animal Control Agency Award. The winner of this Award must be a current agency member of NACA. Selection criterion includes effective training program for personnel; outstanding/innovative public education programs; active community involvement; and average officer response time to calls for assistance. The recipient of this Award will receive complimentary NACA Conference registration. History: Established October 12, 1989.
The Outstanding State Association Award. The Association that wins this Award must be currently affiliated with NACA. 100% of the Association’s membership must also be NACA members. Factors considered in this Award include number of active members and new members; improved quality of animal control programs within their state; active sponsors of seminars and training for members; and active in NACA sponsored training. The recipient of this Award will receive complimentary registration and $500 in sponsorship money for their next Conference. History: Established October 12, 1989.
The Diane Lane Memorial Award. This Award is for outstanding volunteer service. The nominee selected to win this Award must be someone who is not directly employed in the animal control field, but is a volunteer in animal welfare-related activities. He or she will have demonstrated exceptional dedication or performed outstanding work far beyond the requirements of the volunteer position. To nominate someone for this Award, you must work with, or have direct first hand knowledge of the nominee. Support or services provided by the nominee shall have directly benefited your agency or organization. For history regarding this award, please click here.
Additionally, there is another important Award, one that I know we all hope we will never have to present again. The R.D. “Bob” Ward Memorial Posthumous Award. This Award is for animal control employees killed in the line of duty. NACA has a long history of acknowledging and honoring those among us who have made the ultimate contribution to the animal control field. Although I know we all agree that if we never present this Award again, that would be too soon, we don’t want to be remiss when the unthinkable occurs. When an individual in the employee of an animal control program is killed, allow all of us to honor and remember this person by notifying NACA so this Award can be presented. For history regarding this award, please click here.
Click here to view Past NACA Award Members.