| |
Humane
Awards (Paws to Celebrate)
|
Pawsing
to Celebrate
Every
year in June we gather at The Cottage Bakery & Café
to celebrate the human/animal bond and to honor those who have
demonstrated uncommon respect, generosity, compassion, and valor,
as well as boundless, unconditional love.
Peggy
Sue (the spokescat for this event) reminds us that “It
only takes a little to do a whole lot of good!”
It’s
a wonderful opportunity to showcase the human/animal bond,
and raise awareness of the joy animals bring to our everyday
lives. No doubt you’ll notice some repeating themes
and shared attributes in the stories of those we’ve
honored.
|
|
| If
you know someone (human or animal) who has demonstrated outstanding
commitment to furthering the human/animal bond, don’t
hesitate to bring them to our attention. Help us Paws
to Celebrate every year. |
|
Animal
Advocacy in Action Award
Nancy
Crist—Oxford Junction, Iowa
Animal
Welfare Foundation of Iowa (Jones County)
Abandoned
animals have little chance of being adopted in many of Iowa’s
counties because there are no animal shelters to take them. In
areas like these, strays, at least the dogs, are often held for
seven days. If not claimed, (and most aren’t because they’ve
been intentionally abandoned) they are simply euthanized.
Nancy wishes that every companion animal could live a peaceful
life, cared for by an adoring family. In reality though, she knows
first-hand that human cruelty, ignorance, and irresponsibility
have created a world of pain and suffering for animals. That’s
why Nancy started the Animal
Welfare Foundation (AWF).
AWF
routinely gives unwanted dogs and cats like these a chance to
be adopted into secure, caring homes. Their efforts have saved
the lives of homeless animals in Jones County, Linn, Johnson,
Cedar, Benton, Keokuk, Muscatine, and Poweshiek.
The
Foundation’s Good Citizen Prison Dog Program was launched
in June, 2004. It gives Eastern-Iowa stray dogs who are unclaimed
and at risk of being euthanized a second chance. By teaching the
dogs to be canine good citizens, each dog’s chances of being
adopted increase. And coincidentally, their transition to their
forever home is smoother. At
the same time, inmates benefit from the experience by learning
patience, dedication to a worthy goal, and personal responsibility
for another living being.
“Visiting
dogs their new homes and seeing how happy and content they are
is the most rewarding part of what I do for animals. Knowing that
because I am willing to be inconvenienced, and give up certain
things in my life and prioritize others, many dogs are alive that
would have not otherwise made it.
When
I help a dog, it’s like being in church. There is a peace
I get from animals that I find nowhere else. Learning
what a powerful effect you can have on other people when you devote
yourself to improving your corner of the world has made a big
impression on me.”
|
It’s
More than Just a Job Award
Stacy
Dykema
Iowa
City Animal Care & Adoption Center
Like
most of us here today, Stacy was interested in animals from an
early age. Unlike most of us though, she went to school with the
intention of following that interest. Stacy graduated in 1992
from Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois with a degree in
Veterinary Technology. While there, she did a rotation through
various facilities that helped her decide she wanted to work in
an animal shelter.
Stacy
worked with large and small animals at a veterinary clinic in
Kewanee, Illinois. While at a clinic in New Mexico, she focused
mainly on boarding and grooming.
In
1999, Stacy began working for the Iowa
City Animal Care & Adoption Center as an Animal Care Technician,
and has been employed there ever since. Her duties include feeding
and exercising the animals, temperament evaluations, and assisting
with surgeries and medical procedures.
In
addition to being a licensed veterinary technician, Stacy is certified
in dog behavior evaluation through Sue Sternberg. She is also
certified to perform euthanasia by injection through the American
Humane Association. Stacy is an Emergency Animal Rescue Service
(EARS) volunteer with United
Animal Nations and has completed Swift Water and Low Angle
Rescue Training. In the wake of Katrina, she went to New Orleans
and helped rescue displaced animals with Best
Friends.
Stacy
believes that the very best part of her job is interacting with
the animals and finding them forever homes. “Children need
to realize that animals are part of the family and are to be treated
with love, kindness, and respect like other family members.”
Her most interesting and challenging work has been educating the
public about the importance of spay/neuter.
One
of the biggest gains for animals Stacy has noticed is the improvement
in sheltering facilities where the standard for animal care has
risen to include volunteer programs, training classes, and more
careful evaluation for successful adoption matches.
Stacy
had one dog while growing up. And now, she shares her home with
three very hairy dogs: Riviera, Jenga, and Fly, and four cats:
Soffat, Elfie, Bullhorn, and Tangier. “Animals give my life
purpose. Through them I feel that I am able to make a small difference
in the big picture. They fill a place in my heart with their wagging
tails, purring sounds, and unconditional love.”
|
Leave
No Animal Hungry Award
Jeremy
Miller
Coralville
U-Haul
Jeremy
has always had dogs and other animals in his life, “there’s
just something about animals that can always cheer you up.” Currently,
Jeremy and his wife Jamie, share their home with a Eurasian Chow
named Sandy, a Yorkshire Terrier named Sabina, and two chinchillas,
Cheech and Keebler.
Jeremy is definitely a “good-cause” kind of a guy.
If he had one wish that could be fulfilled for animals it would
be to make sure each one had a home with plenty of love, where
they’d be fed properly and have their health needs met.
When
initially approached about helping the Johnson County Humane Society
with our Petfood Project, there was no hesitation on Jeremy’s
part. He recognized our project as a good cause, and equally important,
he knew that we couldn’t spend a lot of money. As
general manager at U-Haul, Jeremy immediately worked out a way
we could schedule affordable transportation through U-Haul for
our frequent food donation pickups at Nestlé Purina PetCare
Company in the Quad Cities.
Knowing
that U-Haul was truly helping animals has kept Jeremy involved
with our project. “I hope other companies will help too.
JCHS is a good cause.”
|
Entrepreneurship
Benefiting Animals Award
Julie
Phye & Laurie Smith
Leash
on Life
Julie—My
mom worked at the ISU Veterinary Teaching Hospital most of my
life. I remember as a little kid, meeting Sarah and Wilbur, two
little piglets who were orphaned runts. I fed and played with
Sara and Wilbur a lot one summer. That was when I first realized
that sometimes little guys don’t always get a fair chance
and need help from people.
I
think up to that point my parents had taught me that animals take
care of their young. Cows, birds, cats, dogs—the mother
animal knows what to do and she does it. Sara and Wilbur helped
me realize that people sometimes need to intervene or else the
animal might die. The older I got and the more I was around the
vet hospital, I learned that people could be the best or the worst
thing to happen to an animal.
Animals
are important to me because they keep us in touch with the world,
they live in the moment, and they give unconditional love. Animals
are great listeners, too and don’t give a hoot about politics!
My
three wishes that could be fulfilled for animals are:
•
No
more puppy or kitten mills.
•
I
would welcome stronger punishments AND that they were actually
applied to people who abuse and neglect animals.
•
I
wish there were a way we could better communicate with our animals.
We’d learn so much more from them and be able to reassure
them when they are frightened and we could understand more fully
what’s going on when they are sick.
If
I could teach “the general public” three things about
animals, they’d be:
•
Behavior
training doesn’t have to be harsh.
•
When
it comes to nutrition, you get what you pay for.
•
Engaging,
durable toys for cats and dogs are not frivolous expenditures.
They are essential for physical and mental development.
My
dog Rosie is so incredibly happy the moment she wakes up. I wish
I could learn from her to greet each and every day with such enthusiasm
and energy. What keeps me going is there’s plenty more good
work to be done on behalf of animals and I’ve met so many
great people in the process.
Laurie—Animals
were always in the house as I was growing up. A dog, cat, pony,
and even a stray chicken who showed up at our house got to stay.
We always considered them part of the family. Animals remind us
what is important, they live in the moment, and are also very
forgiving. They always seem to give back more than we ever give
them.
I
wish that people would understand that keeping animals requires
a lifetime commitment. It doesn’t matter where they came
from or what breed they are...the relationship needs to be a lifelong
one with plenty of time, patience, and love.
Both
Julie & Laurie—Leash on Life celebrated its first
birthday on May 19. Business-wise, it’s a juggling act just
staying on top of products and food so we have the best we can
offer for our two- and four-legged customers. We also buy from
independent businesses as often as possible and try to keep price
in mind.
Although
we’ve only been in business a year we have already learned
of several cats and dogs who are no longer with us. We miss these
animals and our hearts go out to their caregivers. Those relationships
were so important. The loss is so great.
The
most rewarding part of what we do for animals is seeing the joy
that pets bring into peoples lives (as well as the joy people
can bring to their pets). We stay involved with supporting animal
organizations to help animals who need homes to find the perfect
place. One where they find just the right fit with human companions.
Neither
of us could live in a house without animals—it just wouldn’t
be a home.
|
Animal
Advocacy in Action Award
Rinthea
Satterlee—Williamsburg, IA
Safe
Haven (Iowa County)
A recent rescue
experience is burned into my memory. Just four months after Safe
Haven opened, the County Sheriff contacted us to do a seizure
from the property of an animal hoarder. The year before, 48 dogs
had been removed.
Nothing
prepared me for what I was about to see, smell, and feel. Eight
dogs in a tiny enclosure, barely surviving, their feces and urine
caked in their fur. No light or access to fresh air. No socialization.
The
first seven were easy to move, but the last (a Corgi who had evaded
capture the year before), was terrified of people and desperate
to stay away from them. We were determined not to leave him behind,
even after he bit two of our volunteers. Back at Safe Haven, he
chewed through wire kennels to get away from people. He couldn’t
to eat or drink in front of anyone. It was six months before he
would potty on lead.
Tucker
the Corgi joined my family of six felines on Christmas Day, my
own gift from Heaven. He taught me so much about trust and the
ability to change, but most of all he taught me to never give
up!
Since
starting Safe Haven 17 months ago, we’ve rescued 167 stay
cats and dogs. Now the County Sheriff knows Safe Haven is an alternate
to killing strays. The most rewarding part about animal rescue
for me is looking in their eyes after they’ve been on the
streets for so long and seeing them switch from ‘survival
mode’ to ‘saved mode.’ It’s that deep
sigh of relief that comes over them when they know they are safe.
Although
it’s frustrating dealing with the stubborn, uneducated people
who don’t have their animal’s best interests in mind,
I think I have noticed an overall positive change in peoples’
mind set regarding the care they give to their animals. Humane
education is an essential part of animal rescue work. Children
need to know about responsible pet caregiving, how to handle animals
safely and avoid getting bitten, and how to advocate for all the
animals of the world. I view educating and building relationships
with people as one of the most important parts of what I do.
I
volunteer because I feel a moral obligation to give back to our
rescues what my own animals have given to me. Long days are little
to bear knowing a rescued animal’s suffering is over.
|
First-Class
Feral Cat Wrangler’s Award
Rozella
Sorrenson-Grabin—Oxford, IA
Growing
up on a farm we always had lots of animals around. My parents
taught my sister and me that showing respect to others was important.
I
remember going to visit my grandparents before the days of cat
carriers. We put a litter box in the backseat and my sister and
I took turns holding our kitty on our laps. Then the kitty used
the box. Maintaining respect was not easy. Especially with the
windows rolled up. At first we snorted, and then we dissolved
in laughter because the smell just about killed us.
Once
we left the farm we’ve always had a cat or cats and a dog
as house pets. I guess it’s my parents’ doing that
I’m crazy about cats and dogs, but I certainly don’t
consider that a disadvantage. After
a stressful day at work I come home and the animals all seem happy
to see me. I know it might have something to do with the fact
I am the food bowl, but they still are glad I came home!
Working
with feral cats often means I never get to touch them after they
are released into the colony. So when I do calm a feral down enough
so she doesn’t run from me, or when that big male flops
over and lets me pet him...that’s a good feeling. We
rarely know the story behind the cats who come to live with me,
but I know each of them has seen some hard times. That’s
why I want to make their lives as safe, comfortable, and carefree
as I can.
The
biggest gains I’ve seen for animals over the years are that
more individuals and groups are taking notice of the over-population
problem. Groups like JCHS have made some good dents in getting
more and more animals spayed and neutered.
The
addition of the cats rescued from the St. Patrick’s demolition
and others who joined my colony right before the cold weather
set in made for a busy winter…more feeding stations, checking
more beds for straw, more water to be hauled. But I’ll never
stop doing this. With all the help and information I get from
my “JCHS family,” winters for my colony of cats get
better and better.
I
wish these cats could all have an inside forever home and never
meet any of the cruel people of the world. But that’s not
going to happen. So I’ll continue to stay in the background
and work with one feral at a time and do what I can to help the
poor creature trust me. I give these animals the best I can offer.
It’s just “what I do…”
|
The
Cat’s Pajamas Foster CareGiver Award
Linda
Tomblin—Iowa City
I
came to love animals though the example set by my father who worked
in downtown Los Angeles, and often brought stray animals home
with him. He couldn’t tolerate suffering, but often we had
neither room nor money for more than one animal at a time.
Getting strays off the streets and either giving them a home (or
at the least, taking them to the animal shelter) was important
to him.
So
it’s no surprise that I wanted to pass on those same values
of respect and sharing. It’s very rewarding to see my own
children (now adults) saving animals and making them part of their
families. I wish that every animal could have a safe and
loving permanent home and be valued as a family member. The
most rewarding part of what I do on behalf of animals is simply
making a difference, one animal at a time. Animals are important
to me in perhaps a selfish way—because as we nurture them,
we are nurtured in return. What you give, you get back.
It’s
also been rewarding to meet and work with like-minded people.
On our way to Florida, a friend and I were driving south, curving
through the foothills in Tennessee. Out of the corner of my eye
I saw what seemed to be a large gold-colored dog lying near the
side of the road. There were no buildings in sight and the next
highway exit was about 25 miles. Of course we circled back, both
of us scanning the roadside carefully. Then
my friend burst into laughter! What was thought to be a golden
retriever who might have needed some help turned out to be a gold-colored
recliner abandoned by the side of the road. We slowed down, but
did not stop to rescue the golden recliner.
The
hardest part of doing what I do is letting go. At our house, we
often say ‘once you look into their eyes, you just can’t
refuse to take that animal in.’ In that instant, the ‘I
am responsible for you’ feeling kicks in. Sadly, not all
of these animals make it. Sometimes a humane death is the best
gift we can offer. Knowing
that when I rescue an animal I am one of the few who would go
out of their way to do so, is also a grim reality. Most people
claim they love animals, but love without taking responsibility
just isn’t enough.
(Why
cat’s pajamas, you ask? The phrase conveys “the height
of excellence.” Used by hipsters of the 1920s, it describes
people who are the best at what they do. What better award for
someone who has fostered upwards of 205 animals for the Johnson
County Humane Society since we started keeping track in the late
1980s.)
|
Lifetime
of Caring Award
Cameron
Vanni—Iowa City
Although
ours was a Lysol® kind of house, we did convince my mother
to let us take in a stray cat who looked like a raccoon with it’s
black mask and mottled fur. We named him Rascal because we were
reading Rascal by Sterling North in my fifth-grade class. This
was the beginning of my love affair with animals.
Animals
are wonderful teachers. They have a great deal in common with
children. Both share an intense curiosity about their world. If
we adults would take time enough to observe animals in the wild,
we might learn how to interact with the environment more sparely
and respectfully. When I tutor, I find it fitting to use an animal’s
curiosity to remind children to ask questions and explore their
environment.
The
biggest gains for animals I’ve noticed over the years is
the burgeoning of technology. Human beings need constant reminders
about the plight of our planet and its occupants. Technology is
connecting even the homebound with the wild, wild world. Hopefully,
we are learning from all the images that technology captures.
I
make time in my life for animals because I greatly benefit from
all the gifts such companionship affords. The steadfast commitment
that companion animals offer to their humans is such a comfort.
In my experience, the hardest part of living with animals involves
losing cherished friends, since they generally predecease us.
This loss is a challenge for me.
I
really can’t say that I do anything special for animals.
My neighborhood walks and contribution to feeding feral cats are
but tiny contributions. I truly benefit from the animals in my
world. I’m the taker, not the giver. I
wish that all animals would be treated with respect whether theirs
is a wild or tamed life. I also wish for empty shelter cages across
the world.
|
| Wayne
Ahearn, DVM—Guttenberg—Animal
Kingdom Veterinary Care Center
|
Happy
to Be on the Same Page Award
|
| Bruce
Freeman—Coralville—Coralville
Police Department
|
The
Scarlett Award for Above and Beyond
|
| Stinky
Kurk & Randy Kurk—Iowa
City—The Guitar Foundation
|
Shop
Cat Extraordinaire Award
|
| Teresa
Mangum—Iowa City—The
University of Iowa Department of English
|
Capturing
Animals in Higher Education Award
|
| Alisa
Meggitt—Iowa City—Lucas
Elementary School ANIMAL Club
|
Preparing
the Next Generation of Kind Kids Award
|
| Pam
Micheal-Milder & Ben Milder—Iowa
City—College of Nursing Feral
Cat Colony
|
First-Class
Feral Cat Wranglers Award
|
| Sue
Pearson—Iowa City—SPOT
& Co
|
Entrepreneurship
Benefiting Animals Award
|
| Lisa
Drahozal Pooley—Iowa City—Paws
to Train (Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center)
|
Dances
with Dogs Award
|
| Kayla
Sanders—Iowa City—American
College Testing (ACT) |
Faithful
Service from Behind the Scenes Award
|
| Judy
Warth—Iowa City—SPOT
& Co
|
Entrepreneurship
Benefiting Animals Award |
| Chris
Whitmore—Cedar Rapids—Iowa
City Animal Care & Adoption Center
|
It’s
Way More than Just a Job Award
|
“Happy
to Be on the Same Page” Award
Wayne
Ahern, DVM—Guttenberg, Iowa
Animal
Kingdom Veterinary Care Center
“I can’t
say that I’ve had any special epiphanies about animal care
or veterinary medicine. I just grew up as a farm kid with respect
for animals and the realization that everything wants to live.”
Dr. Ahern
purchased the existing Puffer Animal Care Center in North Liberty
two years ago and renamed it the Animal Kingdom Veterinary Care
Center. This general small animal practice strives to provide
a comfortably thorough experience for animals and the people who
live with them.
Wayne is quick
to add that Jennifer Smith, (who has been with Animal Kingdom
from its first weeks) brings a wide range of experience and skills
from other veterinary clinics. Found mainly at the front desk,
Jennifer has become the face and voice of the clinic as it welcomes
their current clients and newcomers.
Animal Kingdom’s
basic philosophy in regard to rescue work is to help as many animals
out of miserable situations as best they can. This seemingly simple
statement speaks volumes. Before
you think to yourself “Well, duh,” you need to understand
that some veterinarians view animals who don’t have addresses
as second-class citizens. They treat them that way, too. That’s
why “being on the same page” is an important enough
concept to become the basis for an award.
The clinic’s
readiness to regularly accept emergencies and deal with unanticipated
needs on very short notice is uncommon. In addition, Wayne is
kind enough to provide substantial discounts on his services.
And his willingness to work with feral cats (when many others
decline) is rare.
Wayne attributes
his motivation to become a veterinarian to an incident that happened
in first grade. One afternoon, he watched the vet perform a postmortem
on a pig at their farm. He went to school the next day and at
lunch, reported to everyone that he had seen something inside
this pig that looked like blackberry jelly. The teacher called
him down for this, chastising him and insisting that his comment
was in very poor taste. Wayne was dumfounded, as he thought it
had just been a simple, yet interesting observation.
Years later,
after he had graduated from vet school, Wayne ran into his old
teacher and told her that she had inadvertently steered him toward
a career in veterinary medicine. We’re delighted that she
did!
|
Scarlett
Award for Above and Beyond
Sgt.
Bruce Freeman—Coralville
Coralville
Police Department
Sgt. Freeman
is a Philadelphia native who has been a Coralville police officer
for 25 years. He describes his duties as Day Sergeant on the 7
am to 7:30 pm shift as including “everything” a police
office might be called upon to do. It’s
important to know that Bruce is a life-long dog lover who grew
up with a Dachshund. He’s also an avid ice hockey player
and fan who holds season tickets to the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders.
On the morning
of February 22, 2006, Sgt. Freeman received a dispatch from the
Coralville Fire Department reporting a dog trapped on an ice floe
in the Iowa River near the Quarry. Bruce was met at the scene
by a Coralville firefighter.
A brown dog
was in the water, barking, about 20 yards from shore. She had
her front paws on an ice floe. Two men on the shore nearby had
been throwing a rope toward the dog, hoping to rescue her. The
firefighter said they were awaiting the arrival of a red suit
(a buoyant wet suit which would enable a rescuer to enter the
frigid water without risking hypothermia).
As the minutes
ticked away, Bruce saw that the dog had only one paw on the ice
floe and was no longer barking. He figured she was about to go
under. Knowing he’d have nightmares for the rest of his
life if he didn’t try to rescue her, Bruce quickly removed
his coat, belt, gun, and keys. After
getting the rope from the men who had been trying to rescue the
dog, he looped it around his right arm. Bruce then ventured out,
crawling onto the thin ice. Half way to the dog, the ice broke
and Bruce sank like a rock into the icy river.
Fortunately,
it was not the hockey player’s first time in really cold
water. Bruce swam the remaining 8 yards to the dog. Upon reaching
her, he was able to heave her up out of the water a number of
times until she reached good ice and the rescue was completed
by those on the riverbank. When the dog was safe, Bruce was pulled
to shore. The
five-month-old chocolate Lab (Molly) was taken to a veterinarian
where she was injected with warm saline solution, had her coat
blown dry, and spent time under a heat lamp to help her warm up.
Molly’s
owner had reported her (and dog-friend yellow Lab, Sandy) missing
earlier that morning. The dogs apparently breached their underground
electric fence and struck out for an adventure. Someone walking
on a trail near the Iowa River heard barking, saw a dog in the
water, and called the police. No one knows how long Molly was
immersed. Sandy was found later that day, not far from where Molly
was rescued.
The grateful
owner (amazed that her animals had strayed so far from home) acknowledged,
“If Bruce hadn’t acted when he did, Molly would have
died.”
Bruce lives
in Coralville with his wife, Tracy. He has two daughters, one
in her second year at the University of Wisconsin and the youngest,
a sophomore at West High School. Two Brittany spaniels and a dachshund
complete the family.
|
Shop
Cat Extraordinaire Award
Stinky
Kurk (Randy Kurk)—Iowa City
The
Guitar Foundation
Mojo, affectionately
known as Stinky, started down the path to her reign as The Guitar
Foundation shop cat one Saturday morning in 1997. The long-haired
dilute tortoiseshell with a white bib and pink collar was seen
hanging around the doorway and peering through the window, willing
someone to invite her in. The collar indicated a previous home,
but the cat’s actions revealed she apparently had left it
to seek a career in music.
One of the
employees, (arriving at work late and nursing a hangover) allowed
the cat to slip through the door with him. After he stumbled into
the back room to “rest his eyes,” the beautiful little
cat curled up and fell asleep on his chest. The next day, however,
an ailurophobic employee called and had the cat taken to the Iowa
City Animal Care and Adoption Center. A
couple days later the other employees approached Randy, the store’s
owner, with a request for a shop cat. Randy grew up living in
the country where there were plenty of cats around. New ones were
always appearing, and always taken in. “Shop cat...why not?”
Randy adopted Stinky and she officially joined the staff!
If you perhaps
miss noticing Stinky in the window as you walk by, you’ll
be alerted to her presence by the sign on the front door warning
all who enter “Don’t let the cat out, no matter what
she says.” Not that Stinky seems too interested in escape—she
takes her job as shop cat far more seriously than that!
Stinky has
a bed in the store’s front window, from which she presides
over the comings and goings on Linn Street, including those of
a particularly obnoxious ground squirrel who lived in the planter
box and taunted her through the glass. She also has a box lined
with a pillow made by the mother of one of Randy’s guitar
students, located in the room where he gives lessons.
She has definitely
made her mark on the store—literally! The kiosks for displaying
guitar strings are missing some paint on the lower corners where
Stinky has rubbed, and claw marks illustrate where she has climbed
up to get a better view of her kingdom. She has found the kiosks,
amplifiers, and speakers to be marvelous climbing platforms, far
better than those sold at any pet supply store!
Her high perches
allow Stinky to watch for potential shoplifters, and she jumps
up on the counter to help calculate sales tax. She enthusiastically
entertains the spouses of customers who are hopelessly obsessed
with guitars. In return, Randy supplies her with all the truly
indestructible cat toys she could ever want made from used steel
guitar strings with a bit of cardboard or a shiny piece of Mylar
tied to the end.
Stinky has
been good for business and adroitly manages Randy, his staff,
and their customers. She rules The Guitar Foundation with a velvet
paw—but mind the claws!
|
Capturing
Animals in Higher Education Award
Teresa
Mangum—Iowa City
The
University of Iowa Department of English
Animals have
been a part of Teresa’s real and imagined lives since she
was a child. Her favorite books and movies featured animal protagonists,
ranging from the series of novels about the wild ponies of Chincoteague
(near her home in North Carolina) and Jocelyn Arundel’s
Simba of the White Mane, to Rin Tin Tin, Flicka, Lassie,
and Trigger.
Her younger
sister happened to be born the same day Teresa’s cat, Li’l
Abner, produced “his” litter of kittens. Characteristically,
Teresa distinctly remembers being more focused on the arrival
of the kittens. She counts animals among a lifetime of friends
who have given her immeasurable happiness.
While Teresa
has advocated for animals in small personal ways for many years,
she’s grateful for the support of the English Department
and others at the University, both when she designed a course
about the way animals are represented in art, film, and literature,
and when she decided to begin writing about human-animal relationships.
Helping students
explore cultural perspectives on animals and how they’ve
evolved over time; and learn about the ways animals have inspired
art, literature, and social change; and discover what respect,
justice, responsibility, and compassion mean between human and
animals has been a rewarding task. Watching students think through
how they relate to pets—and also to wild animals, global
conservation projects, and the ethical questions raised by zoos,
animal research, and eating animals—all give Teresa hope.
Hearing her
students who walk shelter dogs talk about forming relationships
with the homeless men who gather near the animal shelter reminds
Teresa of the powerful connections animals create and help humans
create. Last fall, when she visited the Great Ape Trust in Des
Moines, Teresa literally had conversations with several bonobos.
Communicating so actively with an animal, especially another primate,
calls all the boundaries we use to separate “human”
from “animal” into question.
For Teresa,
no one has been more inspiring than Misha Goodman who directs
the Iowa
City Animal Care and Adoption Center, where staff work hands-on
wonders for animals every day. Teresa enjoys her time as a member
of the Friends of the Animal Center board.
Teresa is
also working with several other UI faculty members to raise awareness
about the importance of animals to Iowans. They’re hosting
a photo-essay contest called The
Animals Among Us and co-curating an exhibit at the UI Museum
of Art called Animal Expressions, which opens October 21.
This fall
Teresa will co-direct a Thursday-night film series on campus that
will be open to the public. Some of the films deal with animal
abuse, habitat destruction, the bush meat trade, and other grim
topics. She’s found it a challenge to remember that working
to solve problems is far too important to be overwhelmed by one’s
own emotional reactions to the suffering of animals.
For Teresa,
the great rewards of animal advocacy are the generosity of the
animals and the fundamental goodness of so many people. Educating
others about the needs of non-human animals and trying to convince
people that as sentient beings, all animals should be treated
well seems a very small effort compared to what animals give back
in return.
|
Preparing
the Next Generation of Kind Kids Award
Alisa
Meggitt—Iowa City
Lucas
Elementary School ANIMAL Club
“Teacher
extraordinaire” is only one descriptor for Alisa Meggitt,
a sixth grade civics teacher at Lucas Elementary School. Her teaching
extends much further than the daily classroom routine. Alisa is
the teacher-behind-the-scenes of the sixth graders’ ANIMAL
Club. (ANIMAL is the student-derived acronym for Animals Needing
Immediate Medical Assistance Locally.) Prior
to teaching, Alisa served two years with the Peace Corps in Senegal,
Africa. Afterwards, she worked in Washington, D.C., on issues
of environmental policy. Alisa has also worked for the Department
of Natural Resources.
During her
four-year teaching career, Alisa has introduced her students to
a wide range of social issues, such as child labor, ageism, world
hunger, and factory farming. She believes that children are our
future and that they need (and deserve) an outlet to express themselves
and do something positive for the world around them. Each year,
the sixth graders organize an after-school service club and choose
its mission. Because of their love for their own animal companions
and animals in general, the mission of the service clubs has frequently
focused on animals.
ANIMAL Club
students have worked with the Macbride
Raptor Center; held a Spay Day for which they contacted local
veterinarians about free or low-cost spay/neuter services; held
a drive to raise food and supplies for the Iowa
City Animal Care & Adoption Center; and raised $2,000
to provide humane relief for the horses of Senegal, (which Alisa
had the opportunity to personally deliver when she made a return
visit to the village she served in the Peace Corps).
For this year’s
service club, the students began with a list of 87 issues they
were concerned about, which covered everything from acid rain
to campaign finance reform. After whittling the list to eight,
the students chose the one issue about which they believed they
could make a real difference: factory farming and its impact on
the animals, the environment, and human health.
•
The students produced a PATV video highlighting the differences
between a family farm and a factory farm. These sixth graders
quickly surmised that if legal limits regarding the amount of
antibiotics used in factory farming were reduced, the animals
would have to be given more space to survive.
•
They conducted a letter-writing campaign to their legislators,
the department of agriculture, and newspapers and magazines.
They made posters for the library kiosks. As a fund-raiser,
the students made bracelets out of wool from Friendly Farms
(Iowa City) to which were attached fact sheets about factory
farming.
•
The students even designed a web site and spoke out at legislative
forums to advocate for factory farm animal rights and antibiotic
regulation. They are also developing a questionnaire regarding
various animal issues to send to the gubernatorial candidates.
In addition
their work, there are other interesting features of ANIMAL Club.
Despite a membership of about 30 children (approximately half
the sixth-grade class), they have no Club president. Instead,
they use a team approach, breaking down into committees where
all work as equals. The Club meets every Friday after school to
pursue their goal of helping animals, as they learn about the
political process, how to impact policies, and how to effectively
support their beliefs.
The students
often find their own behaviors changing as they research issues.
For instance, some of the students no longer eat meat as a result
of what they have learned about factory farming. As you might
imagine, this level of “informed decision-making”
poses its own set of challenges for the teacher-behind- the-scenes.
Alisa also
enjoys a rich life outside her teacher/activist role and makes
quality time for her family members, Eddie-Puss (cat), Washington
(golden retriever), Josh (husband, and also a teacher), and newest
addition, James (baby son). Why does Alisa continue to spend time
and energy working on behalf of animals? “Because I am one,”
she states simply. She feels well guided well by the apt quote
of Martin Luther King, Jr. “Injustice anywhere is a threat
to justice everywhere.” |
First-Class
Feral Cat Wranglers Award
Pam
Micheal-Milder & Ben Milder—Iowa
City
The
University of Iowa College of Nursing Feral Cat Colony
Ben Milder’s
smile is infectious as he sits in his recliner, cats at his shoulder
and dogs at his feet. He tosses a hunk of peeled banana to a dog
who catches and devours it on the fly.
While Ben
was in Vietnam and his unit was camped out in the middle of nowhere,
a tomcat entered the tent and sprayed his duffle bag. “Sprayed
it real good.” He laughs about it now, but clearly remembers
how that pungent smell followed him throughout the war. It
did nothing to endear the concept of living with cats. Although
Ben grew up with pets, he didn’t know much about house cats
until he met Pam and heard her say enthusiastically, “Benny,
we can do this,” for the first time.
Feral cats
are the canniest cats around. Untouched by human hands and more
like wild animals than not, they have no reason to trust anybody.
Pam, however, was earnestly taking care of a group of these descendents
of student cast offs, right outside her office window. They lived
on the steep cliff behind the College of Nursing. Her office overlooks
this wooded area that was home to an array of wildlife and wild
cats.
The cats gathered
twice a day for the food and water Pam provided, and in cold weather,
some even spent the night huddling in snug boxes under the eaves.
After a while a couple of the cats succumbed to Pam’s charms
and allowed themselves to be touched while they ate. A few of
the younger cats taught one another how to play with jingle balls
and catnip mice. Rain,
snow, or shine, Pam (with Ben’s help on the holidays) cared
for the growing colony. Pam named many of the regulars, careful
to stick with generational descriptors, like Baby, Sister, and
Mama, rather than burdening the cats with traditional pet names
and expectations.
After Pam
captured, socialized, and placed two of the colony’s kittens,
she called JCHS before the population burgeoned out of control.
Using Stanford University’s feral cat program as a model,
we approached UI officials with a trap/neuter/release (TNR) proposal.
University veterinarian Paul Cooper helped us get the most appropriate
group of administrators together.
Studies have
proven that TNR is the single most successful method of stabilizing
and maintaining healthy feral cat colonies with the least possible
cost, while at the same time, providing the best life for the
animals themselves. Unsocialized cats are humanely trapped, spayed
or neutered, vaccinated, and released back into their campus territory,
where they are fed and monitored daily by a volunteer. Every effort
is made to find the owners of stray tame cats. Unclaimed tame
strays and any kittens are fostered until adoptive homes are found.
No cats are euthanized, except as warranted by a veterinarian
to relieve suffering.
The plan went
into action in March 2001, with Pam as the colony caretaker (the
role she had been playing for years) and Ben as director of feline
transportation. It came to a sudden halt 15 months later in mid-July,
after the dean of the College of Nursing had been convinced that
feeding cats would draw potentially rabid raccoons into the building.
She insisted that Pam’s caretaking stop abruptly, despite
kitten season and blistering heat.
The dean assumed
her “animal problem” would simply disappear when the
caretaking stopped. But of course, it didn’t. After about
two weeks, the dean gave us five days to round up and remove the
remaining cats. We trapped the seven cats in a record two days.
In all,
the Project placed seventeen kittens and cats in homes. Five of
the final seven cats remain in fostercare with little hope of
being adopted, but at least they’re safe.
Pam no longer
catches glimpses of cats playing in the shade outside her office
window. She keeps the blinds shut. It’s just easier that
way. Pam and Ben’s memories of the Nursing Building Feral
Cat Colony live on in Mama and Baby, who wait patiently for them
to come home after work every day.
A few years
ago the Milders considered adding an adult shelter dog to their
clowder of cats. Somehow they ended up with three sizable canines
who think of themselves as lap dogs. Their most recent addition
is Lena, a Papillion, who (after many years as a caged puppy producer)
is learning how to be a dog.
If you close
your eyes and listen carefully, you can hear Pam say, “Benny,
we can do this.” You’ll see him grin, shake his head
ruefully, and hear him reply, “yeah, let’s go for
it.” |
Entrepreneurship
Benefiting Animals Award
Sue
Pearson and Judy Warth—Iowa
City
SPOT
& Co
Sue
Pearson has been enamored with dogs since the age of eight.
On her
way to school, the people living at the end of their block had
a dog house and a beagle who sat up on the roof. Sue often stopped
to crawl up on the roof and sit there with him. Ever since, beagles
have been an integral part of her life.
In the early
90s Sue acquired her soulmate beagle Jesse. Together, they took
some local classes in dog obedience training. Sue got hooked immediately
and decided that dog obedience was what she really wanted to.
She began
helping with obedience classes at Kirkwood, but after the floodwaters
of 1993 ruined the facility that served as the training arena,
Sue began toying with the idea of opening her own dog-training
business. She was drawn to the name SPOT with its dog-friendly
sound before realizing that it was an acronym that fit Sue Pearson’s
Obedience Training. That’s when SPOT
& Co was born. Her business offers a variety of puppy
kindergarten, dog obedience, and Canine Good Citizen classes.
“Making
a difference in a dog’s life (and making a difference for
the person who lives with the dog) is so rewarding. I just love
watching people and dogs learn!” Her most treasured memories
are when people tell her things like they’d never considered
living with an “inside” dog before, but now they can’t
imagine it any other way.
Sue still
dances with beagles. Jesse’s gone, but her son Alex, and
a beagle-mix keep her life (and world) in order. “Animals
bring out good things in people and have the capacity to help
us find the good things in ourselves.” Encouraged
by the growing cultural awareness of the human/animal bond, Sue
believes more people are realizing that animals have true value—that
they are not “throw away” possessions—but rather,
necessary connections to quality of life.
Sue feels
she has benefited much from being around animals. They improve
our lives in so many ways and bring a great deal of joy. And the
camaraderie with others who work with animals has drawn many of
Sue’s closest friends into her life. “Animals
have many things to teach us and I hope that more and more people
on the planet will begin to appreciate this. I want to be a part
of making that happen.”
Judy
Warth joined Spot & Co nearly six years ago. She considers
working with animals her salvation. Being able to work with dogs
and their families, after a long day, is absolutely delightful.
She feels fortunate that they make time for her! “Every
puppy who comes into class shows me more about teaching, learning,
joy, and unconditional acceptance.”
“Teaching
positive training techniques helps everyone. Leading our pets,
families, communities, and our country in a compassionate and
educational manner just has to make the world a better place.”
When Judy
thinks back about her first dog, Perry (after Perry Como—her
mother’s idea), she remembers that he loved her unconditionally,
whether she was riding him or petting him. Perry was always there
for her. It’s one of the few memories she has from that
portion of her childhood. She also remembers how much she missed
Perry when he was gone.
Judy says
her work with animals takes her back to her roots. Several years
ago, she rescued some orphaned opossums and a baby robin. As she
took responsibility for their well-being, it reminded her of the
connectedness that all beings share. Judy had worked with Sue
Pearson at UI’s Center for Disabilities and Development
for several years before she joined SPOT & Co. For almost
four years, Judy repeatedly asked if Sue needed any help with
her dog-training business but Sue was never interested.
“Those
opossums and the robin won me the job. I guess Sue figured anyone
who’d get up in the middle of the night to take care of
these creatures must love animals as much as she did.”
The most rewarding
part of Judy’s work with SPOT & Co is the joy of the
animals themselves and of their owners as they build relationships
based upon trust and love. “I especially enjoy having children
in our classes. It’s exciting to see their self-esteem and
knowledge expand as their dogs learn new things too.”
“Working
with Sue is a great honor. She’s is one of the top positive
dog-training professionals in the country. Her expertise and compassion
are inspirational to me. It’s so humbling to be recognized
alongside someone of her experience and calibre. Not only is Sue
my mentor—she’s family!”
|
Dances
with Dogs Award
Lisa
Drahozal Pooley—Iowa City
Paws
to Train Iowa
City Animal Care & Adoption Center
Hearing people
say “I just couldn’t volunteer at an animal shelter
because it’s way too depressing,” is a real turn-off
for Lisa Pooley. To her, the big tragedy would be if no one ever
went to interact with the dogs. “We
have a great core group of volunteers at the shelter, and it’s
a good feeling to know we help make life just a little easier
for the dogs—and the dogs know that we really care about
them.”
Animals have
always been a part of Lisa’s family’s life and she
loves sharing her time to help them. It’s the special moments
that keep her actively involved:
•
a dog sits when meeting a potential adopter;
•
you play hide-and-seek in the field with a seemingly aloof dog
who finally comes to find you, wagging her tail;
•
a dog who arrives at the shelter nervous and wound up learns
to enjoy belly rubs and hugs;
•
a former Center dog recognizes you in class and you realize
how significant the time was that you spent with her at the
Center;
•
the pride in peoples’ faces when you recognize the dog
they adopted and they share with you what they love about him;
•
when an especially hard-to-place dog finally finds a forever
home and you breathe a sigh of relief.
Lisa
has seen her own life change with gradual increases in her awareness
and self growth. Her work with dogs helps Lisa look beyond the
behavior and watch for what the dog is telling her. It’s
about leaving your baggage and personal chaos behind and being
in the present. “Animals always know when you aren’t
there 100 percent.”
What’s
most challenging for Lisa is when dogs who can’t handle
the stress of the shelter environment start to deteriorate mentally
and physically despite efforts to keep them healthy and happy.
“We need to savor the small triumphs but keep hoping big.”
The
most rewarding aspect for her is knowing when a dog goes to a
forever home and it’s obvious that she will truly be part
of the family.
|
Faithful
Service from Behind the Scenes Award
Kayla
Sanders—Iowa City
American
College Testing (ACT) Pop-can Recycling Project
Kayla’s
first animal-oriented memory is about her dog Snuggles, a schnauzer/poodle
mix. She felt bad that he always had to eat dog food, so she sat
on the floor and ate dog food out of the yellow and red bag from
Hy-Vee right along with him. “It’s kind of embarrassing
to admit, and not very flattering, but that’s my memory.”
Kayla originally
got involved with the ACT/JCHS Pop-can Recycling Project for a
couple different reasons. First, she wanted to help animals. And
second, Kayla believes in giving back to her community. “To
be completely honest,” she says, “I’m not actively
involved right now, which sort of makes me feel not very worthy
of an award. I’ve passed my Pop-can Recycling duties on
to a coworker of mine, Chanda Hallen, who loves animals just as
much as I do.”
Kayla didn’t
find the job hard to do. It was just a matter of finding the time
to do it. She says she wouldn’t be able to accept this award
without mentioning her mother, Sandy, who helped out on many,
many occasions. Whenever Kayla needed an extra hand, her mother
was always ready to help. Kayla’s
work with the Recycling Project made her realize that helping
out in small ways can help a lot. Every little bit really does
count. She never thought that what she did was a big deal. She
just took bags of empty pop cans to the store for recycling, and
forwarded the money to JCHS. Tedious maybe, but not very taxing.
According
to Kayla, “Knowing that I’ve helped in some sort of
way makes me want to do more. Iowa City is a great community,
but think how much better it could be if everyone donated just
a little bit of their time to a worthy cause.”
|
“It’s
Way More than Just a Job” Award
Chris
Whitmore—Cedar Rapids
Iowa
City Animal Care & Adoption Center
Chris makes
time for animals because that’s pretty much what she knows
best. “Animals make my life complete and whole. I just feel
that they need someone like me to take care of them.” A
true professional, Chris has done sheltering work for the last
23 years. Not surprisingly, careers in animal sheltering tend
to be brief. The turn-over rate is high and there’s a lot
of what’s know as “compassion burn-out.” Chris
keeps at it because she knows from experience that there is always
an animal in need. “How could I quit knowing that some animal
might not get help?”
The most frustrating
part of the job for Chris is that she “catches” so
many people in lies that it has become hard for her to trust any
of the words people say to her. Before working on behalf of animals,
she trusted everybody at face value.
Chris’
first animal-related memory is accompanying her mother and poodle
to the groomer. She noticed a bunch of poodle puppies for sale
in little cages so small they could barely turn around. “I
told the groomer that the puppies were way too big to be in such
tiny cages.” Chris’s mother agreed and they never
took their dog to that groomer again.
There has
always been a soft spot in Chris’ heart for small dogs (yaps,
yips, and all). Chris describes her life in animal advocacy as
being divided in two parts: pre-Dinky and post-Dinky. Dinky
the Chihuahua was relinquished to the Center by her owner. She
went up for adoption and three applications later, Dinky was still
there. None of her three potential adopters had called back.
Already living
with two dogs, Chris was having trouble deciding whether she could
responsibly manage and care for one more. It soon became obvious
that Dinky and Chris were soulmates, destined to be together.
Looking back, “What was I thinking?” she quips, “Nine
small dogs later, and I have a dozen living happily with me!”
Dinky is now
12 years old and comes to work with Chris every day. From that
dog on Chris’ house, car, and locker have been plastered
with layers of Chihuahua stuff. After all, she’s rescued
nine. “I just love their spunk and couldn’t begin
to live without them!”
The absolute
most rewarding part of Chris’ job at the Center is when
an animal finds a forever home or when a concerned family arrives
to claim their missing pet. Sending any animal out the front door
of a shelter is reason enough to rejoice.
|
| Caroline
Barthel—St. Charles, Illinois |
Next
Generation Volunteer Award |
| Ericka
Dana—Guernsey, Iowa—Catnip
Farm |
Wildgirl
Award for City Cat/Country Cat Rescues |
| Eleanor
Dvorchak—Muscatine, Iowa—Spay
Neuter Assistance for Pets (SNAP) |
The
“I Am Only One” Award |
| Dave
& Betty Funk—Iowa City |
Lifetime
of Caring Award |
| Dolores
Hebl—Iowa City |
The
Cat’s Pajamas Foster CareGiver Award |
| Janet
& Don McClain—Iowa
City |
Faithful
Service from Behind the Scenes Award |
| Tammara
Meester—Iowa City—Pet
Central Station |
Entrepreneurship
Benefiting Animals Award |
| Amy
Parker & Matt Schikore—Iowa
City—Iowa City Animal Care
& Adoption Center |
The
Not Just Web Geeks Award |
| Peanut
Doll (deceased)—Jenny Doll
& Torben Platt—Schueyville,
Iowa—Witty Kitties (a special-needs animal shelter) |
The
Scarlett Award for Valor |
| Salem
Russo (deceased)—Nick Russo—Iowa
City, Iowa—Kinnamon, Kinnamon,
Russo & Meyer |
Office
Cat Extraordinaire Award |
| Amy
Sacks—Iowa City |
First-Class
Feral Cat Wrangler Award |
| Maryanne
& Bob Ziomek—Coralville,
Iowa |
The
“Bottle Babies R Us” Award |
The
Next Generation Volunteer Award
Caroline
Barthel—St. Charles, Illinois
The
University of Iowa
Animals were
an integral part in her family’s daily life when Caroline
was growing up. Being away from her pets as she began her college
studies made her miserable, and she longed for animals to interact
with. After hearing about Preferred Stock, Caroline began dropping
into the shop a few times a week (pretending to look at clothes)
just so she could pet all the roaming cats.
Caroline asked
to become a volunteer for Tammara and arranged her schedule so
she could come to the store three times a week to clean cages
(and of course, play with the cats). When the Preferred Stock
location closed, Caroline knew she had to start looking again
for another animal fix.
She searched
online for a nearby humane society and came across JCHS. Caroline
showed up at a monthly meeting and had a great time chatting about
cats with the other attendees. The other attendees were pretty
blown away with thoughts of “Ah, new blood!” “She
is so together for a student. A freshman? No way!” “Ok,
let’s not loose her.” JCHS has never been a big draw
for college students, yet this young woman found us.
Volunteers
looking for hands-on experience with animals usually start at
the Coralville Animal Clinic by meeting with the JCHS member who
goes there in the late afternoons and Saturday mornings, helping
clean cages, grooming and playing with the animals, and just hanging
out observing the cats and encouraging them to have positive interactions
with one another.
It’s
a good reality check. After a few visits people know if they’re
“cut out” for the repetition of cleaning mixed with
the high drama of cat fights, and the thoughtful patience required
to entice a withdrawn animal into a lap. Caroline was a purrfect
fit, right from the start. She was such a natural that it was
easy to ask if she’d be interested in being the live-in
cat wrangler for a JCHS member who would be out of town for nearly
two weeks. “So, how many cats are there?” Caroline
asked. “All in the house? Wow. (pause) That’s, a lot
of cats. (pause) Sure, I can do it.” And she did it just
fine.
“I’ve
loved pet-sitting for Janet because it’s the perfect environment
for learning about how cats interact with each other. I’ve
gained a greater understanding for cat personalities and emotions.
But most of all, cats teach us more than we could ever teach them.
“For instance, I’ve learned patience from Bajeera,
a JCHS cat at the Clinic, who took almost a year to get to know
and trust me before climbing into my lap. I’ve loved working
with the animals at the Clinic and although it’s hard to
let them go when they find their new homes, it’s great because
you know how much happiness they will bring with them.”
|
Wildgirl
Award for City Cat/Country Cat Rescues
Ericka
Dana—Guernsey, Iowa
Catnip
Farm
Wildgirl self-identifies
as a rock’n’roll, Go-Go-Rama, drag-race DJ, gearhead
for life, who actually knows Evel Knievel, Benny the Bomb, Animal
Jim, Big Daddy Don Garlits, and the late Dale Earnhardt. She’s
an organic farmer with a solar, geodesic-dome greenhouse and a
custom-built, outdoor kitty playpen; who raises free-range laying
hens; and makes jewelry, ceramics, mosaics, window sparklers,
ornaments, and wreaths. Catnip Farm also produces Mr. Nipster
Fine Organic Fresh & Dried Catnip, potted “kitty greens,”
catnip toys, and Wildbaby Kitty Greens cat grass seed kits.
Wildgirl’s
also known as Ericka Dana, the cat-rescuing proprietor of a new
gift shop called FERAL! on the pedestrian mall in Iowa City, who
once packed up her life plus fifteen cats, and drove from New
York to Iowa. Straight through, from Brooklyn to what is now Catnip
Farm, a 14-acre organic farmstead in Iowa County, owned by
Rich and Ericka since 1996.
Proceeds from
all the kitty-product sales help offset the food and veterinary
costs for Ericka’s rescued stray, feral, and special-needs
cats. But proceeds don’t always help with the hard questions.
Like most animal rescuers, Ericka has had to make some tough decisions.
| |