PRESS RELEASE

FOR INFORMATION:

Melanie Norton, Dir. of Public Relations Escondido Humane Society

(760) 839-7976 office/ (760) 505-9893 cell
Adrienne Castaneda, Executive Dir. Toby Wells Foundation
(858) 391-2973

ESCONDIDO HUMANE SOCIETY NAMES
VOLUNTEER CENTER IN HONOR OF TOBY WELLS

ESCONDIDO, CA—December 11, 2002—The Escondido Humane Society (EHS) has received a $20,000 contribution from the Toby Wells Foundation for the society’s new Animal Center scheduled to open in May. In recognition of Toby Wells’ humanitarian ideals, the humane society will name the volunteer center, the “Toby Wells Volunteer Center”.

The Toby Wells Foundation’s Executive Director, Adrienne M. Castaneda says, “It is so fitting that we are providing support for the Escondido Humane Society in honor of Toby, my incredible brother, as he believed strongly in caring for both people and animals.”

The Toby Wells Volunteer Center will accommodate EHS’s thriving volunteer program, which utilizes the help of both youths and adults. The center will offer regular volunteer orientations, volunteer training and video presentations. Since the loss of the EHS shelter to fire two years ago, most volunteers have been working at the society’s thrift store and at events. When the shelter opens in the spring, volunteer opportunities will increase to include adoption counselors, dog walkers and animal care helpers.

At the first of the year, the society will begin recruiting over 200 volunteers to staff EHS’s “Animal Walk and 10K Run”, March 23. In addition to the traditional dog walk around Kit Carson Park, the event will also include a run from the site of the old shelter to the new shelter on East Valley Parkway. For information on volunteer opportunities, contact EHS’s Director of Volunteer Services, Mary Lee Poremba at (760) 839-0050.

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