ESCONDIDO HUMANE SOCIETY HONORS 'CHAMPIONS OF ANIMALS 2001'

Our 8th ANNUAL DINNER OF CHAMPIONS on August 22, 2001 was an outstanding success!!

The fund to rebuild the Escondido Humane Society's (EHS) shelter has now topped the $2.4 million mark after our Society's recent Dinner of Champions fundraising gala, where animals who survived the devastating January fire were reunited with people who helped to save them.

During the evening, PETsMART Charities officially presented $37,000 to purchase and equip a mobile adoption van. Iams Foods donated $15,000 to the new shelter-building fund and an anonymous gift of $11,000 also was announced.

The Society honored two area veterinarians who cared for fire-injured animals, Gary Gallerstein of Acacia Animal Hospital and David Zanders of West Bernardo Veterinary Clinic. Gallerstein organized area vets and volunteers to provide urgent medical care immediately after the fire, and his animal hospital was the primary care center for weeks afterwards. Zanders also helped coordinate care for the fire survivors and continues to provide spay and neuter services for all cats adopted through EHS mobile adoption sites at PETsMART. Both vets are Society board members. 

Nora Hooper, coordinator of the EHS Thrift Store, was named the Society's employee of the year. Hooper was honored for managing the store, as it became a command center in the days after the fire. She handled thousands of donations, telephone calls and staff coordination. - more - The Society also named four Volunteers of the Year who provided crucial help both before and following the fire: Fran McKelvey; Perry Patterson, Michelle Johnson and Maryanne Haller. McKelvey, nicknamed "the cat lady," was recognized for her attention to adoptable felines and introducing them to prospective new owners. Patterson arranged for cell phones, volunteer buttons and special t-shirts, as well as helping staff the phones. Johnson volunteered care for animals injured by the fire and helped find them new homes. Haller organized the data-entry of thousands of donor checks at Palomar Community Bank as well as coordinating thank-you letters. The Hidden Valley Obedience Club was honored for raising funds, refurbishing the field next to the ruined shelter and continuing to offer services to families adopting fire survivor dogs. 

"We are very grateful to PETsMART and the North County Times for sponsoring such a successful event," said Phil Morgan, Society executive director. "We also extend special thanks to our host, Geni Cavitt of Channel 10, for guiding us through both laughter and tears during the celebration." In addition, the event marked the beginning of the Society's Capital Campaign, which seeks to raise an additional $6 million to fund construction of a state-of-the-art animal-care complex that eventually will include a shelter providing a four-fold increase in capacity over the old shelter, and greatly expanded care programs. 

Also attending the event at the California Center for the Arts were Escondido Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler; San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater; EHS Board President Tom Knight; North County Times Associate Publisher Kevin Leap; John Van Zante of the Helen Woodward Animal Center; Carol Rea, community education officer for the Escondido Fire Department; and eight of the fire survivor dogs. 

The Escondido Humane Society is dedicated to promoting responsible pet ownership by teaching compassion, respect and caring treatment for all living creatures. The society advocates eliminating animal abuse, pet overpopulation and homelessness, and finds new homes for surrendered, stray and abandoned animals.