Congratulations to the VFHS award winners for 2010!  Our recipients received their awards at a luncheon on March 26, 2010 during the VFHS annual conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

BRAVO AWARD - Robin McVoy

This year's recipient of the Bravo Award is Robin McVoy. Robin, an attorney at the firm of Sands Anderson Marks & Miller, was nominated by Ring Dog Rescue. Robin continuously helps Ring Dog with its mission of saving bully breed dogs from discrimination and euthanasia, and she has also established an animal law practice that has helped individuals throughout Virginia. Robin sits on the board of VFHS.

COMPASSION AWARD - Richmond SPCA

The Richmond SPCA is an organization that has continued to step up to the plate for animals whether it be providing low- or no-cost spay and neuter, finding homes for thousands of animals in the Richmond area, legislative efforts, taking animals from puppy mill raids or large scale busts again and again, or humane education. The Richmond SPCA continues to set an example.

HUMANITARIAN AWARD - Richard "Ricky" Warren

Ricky Warren, the Chief Animal Control Officer in Middlesex County, Virginia, is known for living the mission statement of his department: "To serve and protect the public and promote a safer community through responsible animal ownership and humane care." As a result of his efforts, and his willingness to work with other shelters and rescue groups, euthanasia at his shelter has dropped from 43% to 14% in three years. Ricky currently serves on the Virginia Animal Control Association (VACA) Board of Directors.

AYRSHIRE AWARD - Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA

The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, a national leader for its life saving programs, has been championing spay/neuter for years. Through its subsidized spay/neuter programs and feral cat clinics in partnership with Voices for Animals, the SPCA has provided resources since 2005 to assure that over 21,000 animals in its community and surrounding communities have been spayed and neutered, with over 18,000 of these surgeries performed directly in its clinic.

COMPANION AWARD - Cousteau

Cousteau was adopted from a shelter as a puppy and trained by Service Dogs of Virginia. He is now a facility dog at the community re-integration program at Virginia NeuroCare (VANC) in Charlottesville. Under the supervision of Occupational Therapist Kellie Doolittle, "Cous" has been a great addition to the therapy department and has benefited veterans injured in Afghanistan and Iraq in many ways. He leads his own cognitive group therapy sessions, where he uses his own training to re-teach the clients higher level cognitive functions such as sequencing, timing, and planning. Cous does everything from teaching appropriate public interactions to bringing up the morale of soldiers when they are having a bad day.

VETERINARY PARTNERSHIP AWARD - Patrick Denney, DVM

Dr. Denney, who is Chief of Staff, Surgery, at Pender Veterinary Centre in Fairfax, was nominated by the Fauquier SPCA for his compassion and devotion to helping those who cannot afford to pay for their animals' veterinary care. Dr. Denney has volunteered at many of the SPCA's feral cat spay/neuter clinics, and works with several rescue groups seeing their fosters and doing what is needed for them at a reduced cost. For the past three years, while attending work camps with his children, he has set up accounts with the local veterinarians to help impoverished families care for their pets. He also volunteers to do low cost surgeries for the veterinary technicians program.

VFHS also presented three PRESIDENT'S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE:

President's Award for Excellence in Animal Welfare

This award was presented to the Communications Department of the City of Charlottesville and accepted by Ric Barrack and Joe Rice. The Communications Department has dedicated its resources to promoting and helping animals in its community, including production and airing of a high quality television program for the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA called "Whiskers and Tails." It has also recently produced an uplifting SPCA public service announcement featuring Academy Award winning actress Sissy Spacek.

President's Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement

This award was presented to Gillian Deegan, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Botetourt County, Virginia. Jill not only handles the animal cruelty and neglect cases in her county but also serves as a resource to law enforcement throughout Virginia. She has also worked part time as a veterinary assistant in a local veterinary clinic. Jill goes above and beyond the call of duty every day.

President's Award for Excellence in Animal Welfare and Law Enforcement

This award was presented to Michelle Welch, an Assistant Attorney General in the Virginia Attorney General's office. In addition to working on the prosecution of animal cruelty and neglect cases throughout Virginia, Michelle frequently trains prosecutors, animal control officers, and law enforcement officers on the state of Virginia animal law. Michelle is Vice President of the Virginia Animal Fighting Taskforce and sits on the Board of VFHS, where she acts as co-chair of the Legislative Committee.