Shelter cat advocate wins service award
October 12, 2012
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Nadine Dolby holds her 2012 APSAC Community Spirit
Award next to Luis Lewin, vice president for Human Resources; Stacy Rogers (left),
Almost Home Humane Society's outreach manager; and Michelle Warren (second from
left), the humane society's executive director. (Purdue University photo/Andrew
Hancock) |
Nadine Dolby, professor of curriculum and instruction, on Tuesday (Oct. 9) received the 2012 Community Spirit Award for her volunteer work at Almost Home Humane Society in Lafayette.
Dolby received the award during a joint meeting of the Administrative and Professional Staff Advisory Committee and the Clerical and Service Staff Advisory Committee. Created by both committees, the award is given to those who set a high standard for service, who encourage a sustained commitment to civic participation and who inspire others to make service a central part of their lives. This is the second year the award has been given.
For the past five years, Dolby has volunteered at the humane society. She has done done considerable work there with the shelter's adoptable cats, according to her award nomination forms. She has helped socialize cats, conducted educational and outreach programs, volunteered at fundraising and outreach events, and has been involved in a community service partnership between the humane society and Oakland High School in Lafayette.
In addition to her regular volunteering duties, Dolby recently began an initiative to write about individual cats, producing detailed descriptions -- which include their personality traits and social habits -- to ensure that adopters find the cat that best meets their family's needs.
Stacy Rogers, the humane society's outreach manager, says these efforts have been particularly valuable to the organization.
"We currently have more than 200 adoptable cats," Rogers wrote in a letter submitted with Dolby's nomination.
"Giving potential adopters the opportunity to learn something more in depth about each cat's personality is a wonderful way to improve the adoption experience and to increase the chance of finding placement for an adult cat."
In 2011, Dolby and a fellow humane society volunteer received the Marcile Eddy Shining Light Award from United Way of Greater Lafayette. The annual award recognizes local residents' outstanding volunteer efforts.
Dolby says a concern about homeless pets and a desire to help the community motivate her volunteer work.
"This reward reminds us that the most important things in our lives are not the things we can buy, but things we can share with and do for others -- for other humans, for animals and for the planet," Dolby says.
"In musician Pat Humphries' words, we should cherish the beings that we live beside. That truly is the spirit of community, and it is what I think this award celebrates. I am honored to receive it."
Writer: Amanda Hamon, 49-61325, ahamon@purdue.edu