One Person Can Make a Difference

Follow the path of individuals who have mustered extraordinary perseverance and determination to make a difference for the animals in their communities.

• Dr. Annette Litster: Supercharged by a Love of Cats and Research

  November 2011
  It’s a long way from Brisbane, Australia to West Lafayette, Indiana, but Dr. Litster’s journey to Purdue University has been a boon for shelter medicine in the U.S.  Read More

• Meet Dr. Rebecca Bukowy, Maddie’s Post-DVM Fellow

  November 2011
  Caring for shelter pets and conducting important research is all in a day’s work for this veterinarian from Purdue.  Read More

• Dr. Barbara Hanek's Incredible Journey: A Shelter Medicine Veterinarian Tells Her Story

  April 2011
  A look at how a Chicago veterinarian made the change from private practice to shelter medicine – and why she'll never go back!  Read More

• Sherri Franklin: Fairy Godmother to Senior Dogs

  June 2010
  Sherri founded Muttville, an organization devoted to finding homes for senior canines, and in just three years, has placed nearly 700 dogs.  Read More

• Passing the Word

  June 2010
  Concerned that Maddie’s Matchmaker Adoptathon wasn’t getting the publicity it deserved, Katherine Boswell went on a one-woman crusade to do something about it.  Read More

• Banking on Dogs and Cats

  2008
  Paula Fasseas is a high powered bank executive in Chicago, but her passion is homeless dogs and cats. Increasingly, she's put her time, talent, and influence to work on their behalf, with incredible results.  Read More

• Making a Case for Animal Law

  2005
  Tireless efforts enabled Barbara Gislason to get animal law recognized and respected within the legal profession.  Read More

• Friend of Ferals

  2001
  A love of feral cats led Sally Mackler to establish one of the earliest and most successful feral cat spay/neuter programs.  Read More

• Starting from Scratch

  2001
  Pat Sherman was working as a grocery store checker when she got a notion she couldn't shake loose. "I just knew this area needed a humane society." And so she created one.  Read More

• Changing Owners into Guardians

  2001
  Rita Anderson, a grandmother of two, led an unassuming life until the plight of a neighbor's Dalmatian plunged her into local politics and a battle to win a new ordinance.  Read More

• Kanaloa's Story

  2000
  The Pelletiers saved the life of one dog and in exchange, he changed their lives forever.  Read More

• Tough Choices for a Beloved Best Friend

  March 2010
  When devastating news came on Linda and Ken Morris’s wedding anniversary, they made a radical decision about the future of their beloved dog, D’ogi.  Read More