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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. |
2009 Purple Paw Award Recipients
2008 Purple Paw Award Recipients  LIZ MARYANSKI “Liz does that” is an oft-heard phrase around LCHS. Liz Maryanski has been an LCHS volunteer for over 10 years, but the number of hours she has donated to the organization is incalculable. Whether coordinating summer dog wash fundraisers, working on the Fur Ball, developing the annual budget, transporting animals or writing grants, Liz seems to be everywhere you look. Evenings will find her picking up the day’s financial receipts and early mornings she’s back again, dropping off donated supplies. Liz is constantly promoting LCHS and networking to find potential donors, members, volunteers and adopters. She is lovingly referred to as “The Grinch” for her careful stewardship of LCHS finances, but this Grinch has a heart of gold when it comes to working for the animals in our community.  JODI SPERRY If Foster Parents were superheroes, Jodi Sperry’s alter-ego would be called “Whirlwind”! Volunteerism at the speed of light is her M.O. Jodi cleans and organizes; Jodi makes gift baskets (some are here at the Fur Ball); Jodi delivers supplies to the needy; Jodi staffs adoption booths and mentors new foster parents; Jodi does it all! She can even bathe cats and live to tell about it. In her 5 years of fostering with LCHS, Jodi has lovingly cared for cats, dogs and puppies, but her specialty is kittens. (LOTS of Kittens!) Jodi gives her heart to the tiniest of the tiny, doing round-the-clock bottle-feeding and nurturing of motherless babies. We’ve lost count of how many of these little ones she’s raised who are now living in homes of their own. Families all over Tallahassee owe a debt of gratitude to Jodi. Maybe foster parents ARE superheroes, after all.  DR. DAWN FIGLIO, DVM Dawn Figlio’s interest in veterinary medicine began when she was serving as a foster parent for homeless cats and kittens. “Some of those little guys were so fragile. I wanted to be able to do more to save them” – and so began her journey through vet school. In her practice at Paws and Claws Vet Hospital, Dr. Figlio has treated hundreds of animals from LCHS and many other area shelters and rescues. Ask any foster parent and they probably have a story of Dr. Figlio going above and beyond or taking extra time to explain the care of their foster animals. From spending her Saturday afternoon doing emergency surgery to shedding tears over one she could not save, Dr. Dawn Figlio truly epitomizes the best of veterinary medicine.  KONA GRACE Kona is a Walker Hound/Fox Hound mix who exemplifies the heart of a rescued dog. Kona was badly injured last May when he and his owner, Elaine Grace, were attacked by a rabid bobcat while walking on a city trail. He stayed with his mom, barking and snarling, trying his best to keep the animal from harming her until help arrived. As soon as the bobcat was under control, Kona took off for home, crossing busy Thomasville Road before finding Elaine’s husband Bob and their other dog who had gone for a shorter walk in the neighborhood. Kona patiently endured weeks of quarantine and treatment for painful wounds, all the while maintaining his sweet disposition. Elaine put it best – “Kona is my hero!” 2008 Purple Paw Awards Honorable Mentions: Hank (dog), Nellie (dog), Lizzie (dog), Mary Ann Bryson, Nancy Champion, Elisabeth Draper, Cam Fentriss , Lisa Glunt, Bonnie Jenkins, Katie Kelly, Julie Parramore, Melanie Phister, Marge VonGoeben, Melanie Welch 2007 Purple Paw Award Recipients  KATE MACFALL Kate MacFall is widely known in the local animal rescue community for her many contributions to helping homeless pets. For the last 8 years she has worked tirelessly as a key volunteer for the city-funded Tallahassee Leon Community Animal Service Center (TLCASC), and as an effective community advocate for responsible pet ownership and the elimination of pet overpopulation. Following Hurricane Katrina, Kate traveled to Hattiesburg, Mississippi twice to assist in the animal recovery effort. She returned to TLCASC with 35 pets and even adopted one dog herself. While her accomplishments are many, her bravery and courage are reflected in her persistent spirit and personal dedication. Kate is a true animal lover who has chosen to dedicate a significant portion of her life to helping individual animals in the local area as well as working towards positive change in her community at large. She is an inspiration to other volunteers and a constant voice for those who cannot speak for themselves – the animals.  TANYA PATTON Tanya Patton has gone above and beyond to promote animal welfare and rescue for many years. She holds certifications from FEMA covering basic organizational and procedural issues for disaster rescue work and is also certified by the Tallahassee Disaster Animal Rescue Team (DART) for animal rescue, animal CPR, and first aid. After Hurricane Katrina, Tanya visited Hattiesburg, Mississippi as an animal aid volunteer. While there, Tanya worked around the clock, nursing and caring for rescued animals (primarily rescued cats). Tanya’s most recent rescue, however, was of a fearful, pregnant, mixed breed dog found near her place of business on Apalachee Parkway last year. After several days of trying, Tanya was able to catch the dog, which she named “Red”. Red gave birth to a beautiful litter of healthy puppies and all found loving homes due to the diligent efforts of Tanya. Red has since become a permanent part of the Patton household. Tanya is the perfect example of individuals who take time out of their busy schedules to “go the extra mile” for animals.  CHARIS WICHERS Charis Wichers has been the voice for exotic birds in need for over 19 years. During this time, she has taught hundreds of bird owners in the Tallahassee area about bird care and safety and has spoken out against bird abuse and the selling of unweaned birds. Charis is the first person many call when a bird crisis develops - she is always willing to drop everything when a bird is in need. She has protested at bird fairs where the raffling of birds has become a common practice. In answer to the impulsive nature of raffles and of many bird purchases, Charis has brought to light the importance of knowledge and responsibility when bringing a bird into the family. Like all companion pets, birds need care, attention and love. Charis’s efforts have led to the implementation of a successful rescue program, bird-boarding business and the placement of many birds into happy homes. "Charis Wichers is the best friend of the exotic birds in our area".  KEIKO JONES At just over one year of age and having lived in his new home for only a week, Keiko courageously saved his new family from their burning home. By waking them in the middle of the night (before smoke detectors sounded), Keiko alerted the Jones family that their home was fully ablaze. His efforts allowed them to exit safely, only minutes before the home exploded. Before becoming part of the Jones family, Keiko was enrolled in a training program to become a partner for a physically disabled person. Keiko was not trained in fire rescue nor with the hearing impaired (his new human has a hearing aid which was not being worn when Keiko struggled to wake him). It was his own intelligence and keen sensory system that detected the extreme danger, then his love and persistence that alerted his humans until they ran for safety. Now, six months later, the Jones’s can’t imagine their life without Keiko. Keiko is proof that guardian angels can come in any size or shape–some even have four legs! 2007 Purple Paw Awards Honorable Mentions: Rama Draper (cat), Zannah Lyle, Gail Palo, Mary Ellen Zydell 2006 Purple Paw Award Recipients  JOHN DAWSON and TAMMY OSBORN, STAR98 Radio The John and Tammy Morning Show on STAR98 is one of Tallahassee’s most popular radio shows. It is easy to see why when you tune in and listen. John and Tammy truly care about their community and especially homeless animals. Every Friday for the past three years, they have hosted Furry Friends Friday, a promotional spot that features LCHS pets. Hundreds of animals have found their forever homes with the help of John and Tammy! STAR98 has also designated LCHS as the beneficiary of a portion of the funds raised at Dog-O-Ween for the past three years. Tammy is an honorary board member of the LCHS as well. John and Tammy have gone above and beyond for companion animals. We thank them for all they have done and continue to do for the animals!  PAM HOUMERE Pam Houmere has been active in animal rescue in the Tallahassee area for almost three decades. She has worked diligently to promote animal well-being through rescue efforts involving horses, cats, and wildlife, but her true passion is dogs of every size and shape. With her husband, Bill Armstrong, she founded a local Rottweiler rescue organization and has worked to dispel myths about her beloved breed. She has been a Leon County Humane Society foster parent for 28 years and has always been there for the dogs that are difficult to deal with and hard to place into a new home. Pam was recently featured in Ken Foster’s book, The Dogs Who Found Me, and the stories he tells illustrate just how far she will go to help an animal. Pam is always eager to teach others and goes above and beyond for dogs in desperate need. The Leon County Humane Society and the community as a whole are fortunate to have her.  DOROTHY "DOT" PENTON, Animal Control Officer Animal Control Officer Dorothy Penton works to promote animal welfare in Leon County on a daily basis through her job. Be it through education or enforcement, she is constantly encouraging pet owners to secure and care for their animals. On February 22, 2006, Dorothy responded to a call from a distraught family whose pet Basset Hound had entered a culvert and could not get out. Dorothy crawled into the culvert to try and free the pet. Unable to reach the dog due to the culvert’s size and length, she was forced back out. However, she was able to determine the location of the pet, so that a section of pipe could be cut near the dog without endangering the dog. Once the section was cut the dog was able to advance to the opening and was safely plucked from the culvert by its grateful owner. Dorothy is known for her “can do” attitude and for helping those in need, human or animal.  JACKIE BLUE, Canine Survivor “We have a badly wounded dog here who needs some special help.” That was the message last June that sent the LCHS foster parent who specializes in dachshunds hurrying to the local shelter. An immediate vet visit confirmed the worst: deep, painful burns caused by a hot or caustic substance. Soon Jackie Blue looked like his name should be “Franken-Doxie” with surgical staples running the length of his back – which if you are a dachshund is a really long scar! Despite obvious pain and fear, he cooperated patiently with weeks of medical treatment. In a loving foster home with his doxie sisters and brother to play with, the haunted look in his eyes began to fade. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY: Jackie is living happily ever after in a permanent home of his own. His foster mom says, “If you didn’t see the scar, you might never guess what this little guy has been through.” He’s an amazing dog and a testimony to the resilient good nature of our four-legged companions. 2005 Purple Paw Award Recipients  JODY ELLIS, Ellis Design & Photography  ROY LAIN  EMMY the CAT Emmy, a new momma cat, delivered a litter of kittens a few days before Hurricane Katrina destroyed their hometown Waveland, Mississippi. 2004 Purple Paw Award Recipients NORTH FLORIDA ANIMAL HOSPITAL (NFAH) has been owned by Dr. George Simmons since 1989, and has always been a friend to LCHS. NFAH is known as the top orthopedic specialist in town. Over the years NFAH has provided medical treatment to a variety of LCHS animals for free or at reduced rates. NFAH has always seen the importance of contributing to the community by providing free spay and neutering to animals adopted from the Tallahassee Leon Animal Service Center. Dr. Simmons served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Animal Service Center for several years, and currently Dr. Lynn Hagood, serves on that committee. NFAH has always supported the Humane Society in every endeavor. ALAN COX, Principal Chiles High School Governor Lawton Chiles mandated in 1994 that all Florida counties were required to accommodate animals in emergency events. Alan Cox, Principal of Chiles High, did just that when he allowed Chiles High School to be the pet accessible shelter in our community during Hurricane Frances. LCHS thanks Alan Cox for his decision to work with the Red Cross to enable Chiles High School to serve as a pet friendly shelter in our area during Hurricane Frances. We sincerely thank him for being a forward thinker in a time when school administration can be perceived as bureaucratic. As the capital city of Florida, we should be leading the efforts to partner in ways that ultimately saves more human lives. By offering a pet friendly shelter, many who would not have evacuated because of their pets, sought shelter as they should. According to Alan Cox, an animal owner himself, he would not want to leave his dog, Barney, home should he find himself in an emergency evacuation. LCHS applauds Mr. Cox for understanding the plight faced by pet owners and his decision to do something about it! JUDITH GOYETTE of OIL-DRI CORPORTATION OF AMERICA Judith Goyette's company Oil-Dri Corporation of America, a manufacturer of cat litter, went above and beyond the call of duty when it generously agreed to donate 56 tons of Jonny Cat and Cat's Pride brand cat litter to the LCHS. This incredible donation consists of 11,268 bags of cat litter valued at $22,500! LCHS has already delivered over 12 tons of cat litter to the Tallahassee-Leon Community Animal Service Center. Additional recipients of free cat litter include Wakulla County Animal Shelter, Gadsden County Humane Society, Jefferson County Humane Society, Elder Care Services, St. Francis Wildlife, Extended Circle animal Haven, Big Dog Rescue, Goose Creek Wildlife, as well as others. ROMEO is a two year old neutered male flat coated retriever/lab mix, who sadly spent the first years of his life chained to a tree in his owner's backyard. He frequently did without food or water, and when he was fed his chain would often become so badly tangled that he couldn't reach his bowl to eat. He was filthy, hungry, and had no shelter during cold winters or summer's heat and thunderstorms. LCHS rescued Romeo and provided him with a home for over seven months. While at LCHS, we learned that Romeo is both friendly and intelligent.He is so smart that when he did not have a human to play with, he would drop a ball from the top steps of the LCHS deck, let it roll down, retrieve it, then repeat this game over and over. Unfortunately, Romeo developed food aggression because of his past abuse and could not be fed in the presence of other animals. He was also, understandably, terrified of thunderstorms. But, all that changed when he was adopted by Carol Skuthan. He is no longer cold, tired, hungry, thirsty or dirty. Although LCHS provided Romeo with a safe place to live, food to eat and toys to play with, Carol has given this special needs animal something LCHS hopes for all its fosters, A HOME OF HIS OWN! PRESLEY f/k/a SUNNY Sunny, renamed Presley by his adoptive owner Sandra Garber, because as she said he just looks like a Presley, is a big, beautiful, loving long-haired orange neutered male tabby who arrived at LCHS from the Jefferson County Humane Society. Outwardly, he looked and acted perfectly healthy, but during his physical exam, by Tim Mountain, DVM, a past Purple Paw winner himself, it was discovered Sunny had a significant heart murmur. Several things could have been the cause and Sunny's treatment and prognosis depended on an accurate diagnosis. North Florida Animal Hospital, luckily had the equipment to perform a cardiac ultrasound. The ultrasound could see Sunny's heart as it worked, and the murmur was due to a thickened heart muscle, which if untreated could lead to premature death. Medication was recommended, and with proper daily medication, Sunny's outlook was-well-sunny! That is until the day Sandra decided to adopt him. Suddenly Sunny's life became positively glowing! Not only did he get a new home to roam and play in, but he received a much more fitting name for such a handsome and regal feline. 2003 Purple Paw Award Recipients  OTFRIED "REED" GUHRTDr. Guhrt is a Tallahassee veterinarian who has volunteered both his time (after hours and otherwise) and skills (spaying, neutering, giving shots, and providing emergency care) to help the humane society's foster animals (including turtles, ferrets and other exotic pets) without charge or at reduced rates. In his practice at Paws & Claws Animal Medical Clinic, Dr. Guhrt has treated hundreds of animals from the Leon County Humane Society and many other area shelters and rescues. Matthew J. Aresco, a graduate student at Florida State University who has saved turtles and other creatures from being killed by cars on U.S. Highway 27 while trying to cross from Lake Jackson to Little Lake Jackson. Aresco installed and continues to maintain a barrier fence that diverts the animals to a culvert. For more about this compassion-in-action project and the effort under way to create a permanent ecopassage, see www.lakejacksonturtles.org Jane Holmes-Cain, a humane society volunteer responsible for keeping countless Tallahassee dogs clean. In 1997, Holmes-Cain became the society's official Dog Wash Coordinator, and she's been organizing dog-wash fund-raisers - and washing people's pooches - ever since. Steve and Ruth Ann Recla, a Tallahassee couple who rescued two abandoned, malnourished, 4-month-old pups. They used their vacation money to nurture the animals, suffering from internal injuries, back to health. "They were just little skeletons with fur," Ruth Ann said. The dogs, Jake and Cody (whose front leg was amputated) now live with the Reclas, their two cats and one other pet pooch. Southeast K-9 Search and Rescue, Inc., a nonprofit group of volunteers who locate missing persons and, occasionally, lost pets. The unit recently found a lost dog that had been hit by a car and wandered into the woods near its home. |
Hannah Ziegler
Kim Libroth
Stephanie Perkins
Jim Croushorn
