Michelson Found Animals Celebrates Animal Advocates At The 7th Annual Gala
Companies Honored With Inaugural Pet Pawsitive Awards
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelson Found Animals Foundation, a non-profit social enterprise committed to saving pets and enriching lives, held its 7th annual Gala on October 6, 2018. Hosted by founder Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson, it was a celebration of the efforts of local officials, businesses, individuals and organizations focused on improving the lives of pets and their people, and a recognition of the joy pets bring to our lives.
The evening included two sets of awards. As with past years, the Foundation presented the Leaders in Animal Welfare Awards to individuals for their exceptional dedication and advocacy for companion animals. Typically, these awards recognize a government official and an animal welfare organization. The 2018 honorees were Los Angeles City Councilmember, Paul Koretz, and Gina Knepp, Animal Care Services Manager at Front Street Animal Shelter in Sacramento, California.
This year, in recognition of the growing number of pet friendly businesses, the Foundation expanded its awards program to present the inaugural Pet Pawsitive Awards. With over two-thirds of U.S. households owning pets and a growing appreciation of pets as integral to our lives, these awards recognize organizations with pet friendly policies and initiatives that benefit their employees and customers, enrich the community and make a positive impact on pets and their people. The recipients were Angel City Brewery, represented by General Manager Brad Fullerton, and TruAmerica, led by President and CEO Robert Hart.
"Each year, I look forward to meeting the impressive individuals and organizations who are doing incredible work for pets in their communities and across the country," said Dr. Gary Michelson, founder of Michelson Found Animals Foundation. "Whether spearheading animal rights legislation or making the world a little more pet friendly, their combined efforts play a huge role in the future of animal welfare. I am grateful for what they do and am honored to work beside them to further our mutual goal of saving animals and enriching lives."
This year's Leaders in Animal Welfare honorees were:
- Los Angeles City Councilmember, Paul Koretz spearheaded the LA City ordinance in 2012 that requires pet stores to source animals from shelters and rescues, recently authored legislation encouraging more rental housing to become pet-friendly and authored the City's requirements to create and preserve wildlife corridors in urban areas.
- Gina Knepp, Animal Care Services Manager, Front Street Animal Shelter, has focused on Innovative programs that educate and support underserved, low income pet owners in the Sacramento area – ranging from educating and providing access to microchips and low cost spay/neuter services, to helping find shelter for homeless people with pets during extreme cold weather. As a result, Front Street has reduced the number of animals their shelter takes in, reduced length of stay for the pets in their care and reunited more lost pets with their owners.
The Pet Pawsitive Award recipients were:
- Downtown Los Angeles-based brewery and community space, Angel City Brewery caters to pet parents through a variety of initiatives and services. The pet friendly venue offers a doggie water station, and features a special wall showcasing adoptable pets. Angel City Brewery hosts regular pet adoption events and parties that benefit local animal welfare groups. These pet friendly policies and practices enrich the community and benefit pets in need.
- Real estate investment and management firm TruAmerica is on a mission to provide people and their pets with a great experience at home. With 37,000 apartments from coast to coast, TruAmerica operates pet friendly communities which include award winning dog parks, dog centers, dog spas and more. Many of TruAmerica's apartment communities regularly host special events and activities tailored to pet owners and prospective owners including 'Yappy Hour' and adoption events, all of which encourage pet owners to lease at their communities and enjoy the pet friendly amenities.
"We're so honored to be included in this group of animal lovers," said Angel City Brewery General Manager, Bradford Fullerton. "When we opened the public house nearly six years ago, we always wanted it to be a place where communities could come together, and our furry friends are a crucial part of that mission. We look forward to celebrating with a pint of Angel City IPA and a big old bone for our brewery dogs!"
"Pets are an enriching part of our lives that add a positive element to family life, which is why we adopted welcoming policies related to pets and their owners who reside in our safe pet friendly communities within our entire 37,000-unit apartment portfolio," said TruAmerica President and CEO, Robert Hart. "It is an honor to be recognized by Michelson Found Animals which does so much to enrich the lives of pets and the people who love them."
Guests of the private event enjoyed cocktails and vegan hors d'oeuvres during a reception that featured adoptable animals available at Michelson Found Animals Adopt and Shop. During the dinner presentation, leaders in animal welfare discussed challenges and opportunities within the industry and accepted awards for their efforts.
For more information, go to foundanimals.org, and go to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for more pet trends, insights, news and cuteness.
View and download images of all honorees here.
For more information, go to foundanimals.org, and go to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for more pet trends, insights, news and cuteness.
About the Michelson Found Animals Foundation:
Michelson Found Animals Foundation is a leading animal welfare non-profit organization committed to keeping pets safe at home with the pet parents who love them. With a mission of Saving Pets, Enriching Lives, Found Animals is advancing the health and safety of pets through the first free, national microchip registry, solutions-based programs addressing pet adoption, microchipping, low-cost spay neuter services and grants for research into non-surgical spay and neuter methods. The foundation provides educational resources for pet parents and support for a variety of animal welfare organizations and is also supporting start up innovation in the pet care industry with the Leap Venture Studio. Generously funded by Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson, Found Animals has helped more than 1.5 million pets since it was founded in 2005. Follow our progress online at www.FoundAnimals.org, or via social media at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
SOURCE Michelson Found Animals Foundation
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