Purple Paw Awards
Celebrating local animal heroes!
Purple Paw Awards recognize people who go above and beyond to promote animal well-being, as well as special animals who have distinguished themselves through acts of heroism or through courage in the face of adversity.
2011 Purple Paw Award Recipients
Jeff DoyleJeff Doyle
In what is often a community’s most thankless job, Lt. Jeff Doyle shines. In over a decade with the City of Tallahassee Animal Services, Jeff has been instrumental in bringing about countless changes and improvements in the way the department operates. Last year, Jeff played a crucial role in the complete overhaul of the City’s Animal Ordinances. Jeff is known in the community as a fair-minded public servant who excels in his role as guardian of the city’s animal and human citizens. Of all the attributes mentioned in his nomination, the Purple Paw committee was most impressed with Jeff’s problem-solving approach to animal related issues and his dedication to finding long-term solutions to even the most difficult dilemmas. Tallahassee is fortunate to have Lt. Jeff Doyle in charge of the City's Animal Control Department.
Caine/Garthwait FamilyCaine/Garthwait Family
You’ve heard the phrase, “It takes a village,” but sometimes “it takes a family” and LCHS is blessed to have the Caine-Garthwait family as part of our organization. In 2005, daughter Celia started volunteering at LCHS. Before long, she had involved her mom, dad and sister in fostering cats, kittens and even the occasional dog. Girl Scout projects were a family affair as well, whether raising a puppy for service dog training or building the “Happy Cat Habitat” at LCHS. Until recently, Celia was the LCHS staff member responsible for weekend cat care. But this family does things together and so Celia’s job was often a family job. Staff often arrived Monday mornings to find broken items repaired and extra chores completed by these dedicated animal lovers. Upon learning that they had been selected for a Purple Paw, daughter Lydia’s response was, “We didn’t do anything special. We just did what we do.” Well, we think that’s pretty special!
Tess SmithTess Smith
It had been a long day and Trish Smith just wanted to lie down for a few minutes in the hopes that her worsening headache would ease. But her dog Tess simply would not hear of it. First she barked, trying to wake Trish, who was unusually groggy. Then she licked her incessantly until Trish finally got up and stumbled to the door, thinking “She must really need to go out.” To her surprise, Tess passed out in the grass as soon as she got outside. As it would turn out, the dog’s insistence had saved Trish and the other pets from carbon monoxide poisoning in their home. Had Tess allowed Trish to sleep, she would never have awakened. Instead Tess nearly died trying to save her owner. All dogs are special, but Tess is truly a canine Hero!
Haven CookHaven Cook
The multitude of people and animals who benefit from Haven Cook’s volunteer work seldom hear her name. But for victims of disasters, her efforts with the Big Bend Disaster Animal Response Team are a lifesaver. As her nomination states,“Haven is the heart and soul” of DART. She worked to establish the area’s first pet-friendly shelter for disaster assistance and developed standards for operation and training opportunities for the local volunteers who respond to animal disaster needs. Haven created DART’s project to purchase Pet Oxygen Masks for area fire departments. She has been deployed by national organizations to respond to large scale disasters and animal cruelty emergencies. In addition, she helped to set up and staff “Re-Tail”, a second hand store to benefit DART and makes hospital visits with her therapy dog, YaYa. Haven is truly a treasure in our community!
2010 Purple Paw Award Recipients
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Don and Jean GilbarDon and Jean Gilbar
Don and Jean Gilbar have one mission: to improve the lives of cats and people in their community. As volunteers with the Gadsden County Humane Society they have found permanent homes for countless of cats and kittens. At an age when many of their peers are thinking about retirement, Don and Jean dedicate their time and energy to caring for and loving homeless felines who have no other options. They even built an addition to their garage to increase their space for fosters. Don and Jean have joined with both Gadsden and Leon County Humane Societies to reduce the number or stray and feral cats by working tirelessly to trap and spay or neuter feral cats. Their efforts have prevented the births of thousands of unwanted kittens. As their nomination states, “they give every ounce of time and energy . . . and set an example every day of the difference two committed people can make.”
Bill Armstrong and Little BunkieBill Armstrong
Bill Armstrong is one of the unsung heroes of fostering – the “foster spouse.” In most families, one person is gung-ho about bringing multiple needy animals into the home. The other spouse does his or her best to be patient and tolerant, even when the most recent newcomer proves to be smelly, undisciplined, or worse. However, Bill Armstrong, and his wife Pam Houmere, have spent the past 25+ years rescuing and rehabilitating over 600 homeless animals, including horses. He has walked, cleaned, fed and transported them to vet offices. Bill has even adopted the youngest and weakest of the puppies himself, in order to provide the special care that allowed them long, happy lives. He has repaired and replaced numerous household parts and pieces which have been chewed, mauled, scratched or have simply disappeared. Pam says that he only mildly complains when new dogs enter the house by 3s and 4s – “then he promptly takes them out for a walk before holding them, one by one, in his lap and talking baby talk to them. He is priceless!”
Jan Collier and RosebudJan Collier
For many years, Jan Collier has been the face of Humane Education in Tallahassee. Because of her dedication to animals and young people, thousands of children had their first lessons about responsible pet ownership and their first meeting with a rescued pet. Even after retiring from her position at the Animal Service Center, Jan has continued to work with “Camp Barkly” each summer and to raise orphaned baby squirrels for St. Francis Wildlife. She and her cat, Rosebud, are active volunteers with the ComForT animal-assisted therapy program, providing their own special kind of caring to community members in need. As her nomination says, “Jan is always upbeat and energetic . . . a true inspiration. Her enthusiasm for animals is contagious!”
Travis CarlsonTravis Carlson
For the first 9 months of his life, Travis lived in an outdoor cage, enduring Florida’s heat and storms. When rescued from the “puppy mill,” he had so many serious health issues that euthanasia looked certain. But this brave little Cocker Spaniel surprised everyone by responding to TLC. He was soon adopted and began helping distraught adults in counseling. Then came certification as a therapy dog and a second “healing career,” working with children undergoing cancer treatment. Travis literally “melted” into groups of eager children – wagging, kissing and making them giggle. Hospital staff even permitted him on the beds of extremely ill children, where he would “knowingly” snuggle close to their sides or lay quietly under little hands. Travis was a lifelong traveler, accompanying Lori and serving as a “body double,” so hundreds of dog owners could learn therapeutic massage techniques to use on their own dogs. Despite chronic health issues brought on by early neglect, Travis maintained a gentle spirit and happy demeanor throughout his 18-1/2 years of life. He truly showed the amazing heart of a rescued animal.
2009 Purple Paw Award Recipients
Hannah ZieglerHannah Ziegler
Hannah Ziegler is a six year old, 100 pound Anatolian Shepherd who was adopted from Tallahassee Big Dog Rescue as a puppy. Along with her human partner, Richard Ziegler of Leon County Animal Control, Hannah visits area schoolchildren as part of the county’s Dog Bite Prevention program. “Hannah helps demonstrate how a friendly dog should act and that not all big dogs are mean,” says Richard. The team has done over a hundred presentations to first and fourth graders in Leon County Schools and during that time period the community has seen a decrease in the number of young bite victims. Hannah helps the students to learn how to safely interact with animals and patiently allows them to practice their new skills with her. Children remember Hannah when they see her at a public event and are often heard explaining to their parents who she is and what they learned from her. Hannah is truly an asset to our community.
Kim LibrothKim Libroth
Kim Libroth is the sort of person every community should have – someone who sees a need and voluntarily works to fill it. When Kim and her family moved to Tallahassee a few years ago, she started seeking out animal resources for their dog, Max. She found many organizations and services available, but no centralized location for the information; so Tallahassee Pet Resources was born. Out of town guests need a pet-friendly hotel? Want the link to pet rules for Florida State Parks? These and hundreds of other topics are covered on the TallahasseePetResources.com website. But Kim’s contributions to our community reach far beyond the web. She’s everywhere -- manning information booths at local events, volunteering with rescue organizations, organizing a group for responsible, local animal-related businesses, serving as a foster parent for the Animal Service Center and the Leon County Humane Society. Kim is known for offering her time and energy to animals in need and the organizations who serve them. It was a lucky day for the animals when Kim joined our community.
Stephanie PerkinsStephanie Perkins
Stephanie Perkins has improved the lives of untold thousands of people in our community – and most of them will never know her name. Stephanie leads the Companions For Therapy (ComForT) animal-assisted therapy program, whose humananimal teams make regular visits to Big Bend residents in fifty different locations. Under Stephanie’s leadership, ComForT has experienced phenomenal growth. Teams volunteer in a wide variety of venues, from long-term care and assisted living facilities, to hospitals and rehabilitation clinics, to special facilities such as Refuge House and Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee. Through the R.E.A.D. program, teams meet weekly with students who improve their literacy skills by reading to specially trained dogs. Other teams work with area courts to support victims of violent crimes, including children who must testify in criminal cases. As her nomination states, Stephanie “has transformed this program from a small group of people working strictly in nursing homes to what it is today.” Stephanie makes a difference in our community by providing a unique opportunity for people and their pets to work side-by-side to benefit their fellow citizens.Stephanie Perkins has improved the lives of untold thousands of people in our community – and most of them will never know her name. Stephanie leads the Companions For Therapy (ComForT) animal-assisted therapy program, whose humananimal teams make regular visits to Big Bend residents in fifty different locations. Under Stephanie’s leadership, ComForT has experienced phenomenal growth. Teams volunteer in a wide variety of venues, from long-term care and assisted living facilities, to hospitals and rehabilitation clinics, to special facilities such as Refuge House and Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee. Through the R.E.A.D. program, teams meet weekly with students who improve their literacy skills by reading to specially trained dogs. Other teams work with area courts to support victims of violent crimes, including children who must testify in criminal cases. As her nomination states, Stephanie “has transformed this program from a small group of people working strictly in nursing homes to what it is today.” Stephanie makes a difference in our community by providing a unique opportunity for people and their pets to work side-by-side to benefit their fellow citizens.
Jim CroushornJim Croushorn
Jim Croushorn is a man with a two-fold volunteer mission. For the past three years, he has worked tirelessly to improve the plight of stray and feral cats in our community, while at the same time assisting citizens who are having a problem with them. After retiring from a life of public service, Jim took a part-time job delivering newspapers. “Driving around in the early morning hours, I was astounded at the number of roaming cats.” Knowing that stray and feral cats are among the biggest contributors to animal overpopulation, he knew something needed to be done and so the LCHS Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program began. Jim traps and transports each cat to a vet, where it is spayed or neutered and vaccinated. He then cares for them until they can be returned to the community or, in some cases, relocated to a safer locale. Some of the youngest kittens can placed in specialized foster homes where they learn to adjust to human contact before being placed into the adoption program. In 008 alone, Jim trapped nearly 00 cats and kittens and logged well over 1 ,000 miles. His program continues to evolve as he devises new solutions for a variety of situations, including improved trapping methods, “hot boxes” for relocation, and a “barn cat” program for rural farms. He works cooperatively with Animal Control officers and, as Jim will tell you, his cat program is really a “people” program – always seeking solutions that benefit both the human and feline populations. Cats in our community are very fortunate to have Jim Croushorn as their ambassador.
