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3,976,621 |
AGENCIES SECTION:
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Saving animals by the thousands
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I would like to nominate Cheryl Wicks for the honor of Lifesaving Volunteer.
When Cheryl first went into the Nevada County Animal Shelter in March, 2001, the euthanasia rate was 41%. The Staff was unhelpful, the kennels were dirty and the animals were depressed. Cheryl started walking the dogs herself but soon began the Shelter's Volunteer Program. Volunteers, now numbering over 100 persons, assure that all the dogs are walked and the cats cuddled twice daily, 365 days a year. This commitment to companion animal socialization has greatly increased their adoptability. In 2004 Cheryl founded Sammie's Friends, a 501(c)(3) organization that pays for the medical expenses of the Shelter Animals. Sick and/or injured animals, formerly euthanized because County funds were not available, are made healthy and therefore adoptable. In 2006 Sammie's Friends paid almost $62,000 in veterinary medical expenses. Largely because of the efforts of Cheryl Wicks, the euthanasia rate at the Shelter had dropped to 2% in 2006 and, since 2001 when Cheryl first came on the scene, an estimated 6,000 lives have been saved. Cheryl's tireless energy, her focus and her total commitment to the animals have been the basis for this tremendous improvement in the results at the Animal Shelter. The attached picture is of Cheryl and Sammie, respectively the Founder of and inspiration for Sammie's Friends.Barbara
Grass Valley, CA