Trailblazer Honorees

At the Humane Society of the United States, we are committed to cultivating diverse emerging leaders. The Trailblazers in Animal Welfare Award is available to those working and volunteering in animal welfare.

The Trailblazer in Animal Welfare Award recognizes the unsung heroes in animal protection who are breaking barriers and forging new paths toward a more equitable and inclusive animal protection movement. The Trailblazers in Animal Welfare Award recipients are animal welfare professionals who represent, work alongside and serve historically marginalized and underserved communities to provide equitable access to animal care support services.

This award is designed to recognize individuals from around the country who have demonstrated a passion for protecting animals while increasing the representation of racial and ethnic minorities, women, men, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities, to ensure all underrepresented groups at all levels of the animal welfare movement are welcome at Animal Care Expo. The Trailblazer Award includes on-site recognition and a grant to attend Expo, including full conference registration, hotel and flight. All are welcome to apply.

2024 Spark Award winner

Altamush Saeed

Charity Doings Foundation USA/Pakistan

Altamush Saeed is our Inaugural 2024 Spark Award Honoree. We named this standout Trailblazer the Spark Award because it takes a spark to ignite a flame and blaze a trail. And our honoree is blazing trails across the globe! We are proud to have partnered with Altamush and Charity Doings Foundation by providing a grant from Humane Society International to support his initiatives for building Pakistan's first Disaster Zone Farm Animal Shelter, which is now operational.

 

 

 

 

2024 Trailblazer Honorees

Collin Akemoto

Hawaiian Humane Society

“It has been proven that pets help with our mental health. They help us feel loved, less lonely, lower blood pressure-stress-anxiety. The love we give our pets increase our serotonin and dopamine levels which increases the “feel good” emotions. We need to help keep pets with their owners always, but especially with the unhoused/underserved communities. This will assist to keep their mental health level in a positive state and keep any other negative emotions they experience through their circumstances lower.”

Oné Carrington

Ahimsa House

“Love and care for animals is a shared experience amongst the human race. Despite this universality, marginalized groups do not see themselves in this movement and are often targeted as opponents. But we know that a slew of systematic and interpersonal biases results in this division. This is why having various voices in this movement is important to address our particular needs and fill these gaps.”

Jasmine 'Lady' Crisp

Love for Animals, Inc. Outreach

“To me, diversity provides a safe space for individuals to have representation that amplifies the voices and feelings of that community. Representation is crucial when my community is seeking support, education, and guidance because the people feel like they can relate to those who look like them. I am familiar with the challenges faced by urban communities, allowing me to address them without passing judgment or demonizing anyone, making solutions for my people instead of taking resources away. In relating to their lives, I become a beacon of hope as a success story they can touch. I look like them, I speak like them and more importantly, I understand them more than ever. They can listen better and take direction without feeling ashamed when they realize they are just like me. It’s so important for a little black/brown boy or girl to know it is a space for them in this industry.”

Christine Davis

SPCA Serving Erie County

“Animals are universal and have the power to transcend cultural, economic, language, and social barriers. People from all walks of life will experience animals whether it is a positive or negative but often a large majority of communities are excluded or disregarded when it comes to animal issues. Animal welfare has not been the most inclusive field which has led to a lot of bias and lack of equitable status. It is important that more diverse voices have a seat at the table because of their lived experiences and unique perspectives. It is important to welcome all voices in animal protection, a lack of diversity means that voices are being missed and we need to work harder to make room at the table for these voices. Especially, if want to overcome biases and stigmatization of specific groups of people who have animals and live in the very communities, we are tasked with serving.”

Connie Donnellan

Asheville Humane Society

“My inclusive vision for the future of the animal welfare movement is one where every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, has equal access to resources, support, and education to care for and advocate for animals. It's a future where cultural diversity is celebrated and respected, and where inclusivity is ingrained in every aspect of our work. I envision a collaborative and intersectional approach to animal welfare that recognizes the interconnectedness of social justice issues and actively works to dismantle barriers to compassion and care for all beings.”

Sandra Duran

City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Dept.

“I have a passion for animals and I am pleased to provide them the care, dignity, respect, and compassion they deserve while they wait to be adopted. The work I do to help animals find a home and the aspirations I have for my future in animal care give me the drive and motivation that is needed to strive for a better future for animals. [Representation] serves as an ability to speak on behalf of those without a voice.”

Memo Fachino

Wisconsin Humane Society

“Asking for help can be intimidating and often embarrassing. Approaching an organization that isn't able to understand your language, your needs, or identify with your reality can make accessing help almost impossible. Reflecting in your organization the community that you serve, their culture, their faces, their language, and their experiences, allows for more intentional protocols and proactive programs, and promotes building stronger and lasting relationships with the people and the animals they love. Being able to share a common ground and a common goal helps us care for our animals better, and brings us together in the work we do every day.”

Luz Eugenia Esmeralda

Austin Pets Alive!

“Saviorism and privilege have had a crippling impact on defining what a “good home” looks like for pets and people. By addressing the foundational injustices of underserved communities is how we can make a longstanding impact on becoming more human and humane to the family as a whole. Being a voice for the voiceless and saving them all REQUIRES listening, learning, and collaboration from all walks of life.”

Maggie Hernandez

The Anti-Cruelty Society 

“Pet equity and access to care in underserved and historically marginalized communities are important to me because I have seen firsthand the impact that it has when you get involved with them directly. You start learning more about what they need, you gain their trust to become a voice alongside them and be able to meet them where they are. Everyone deserves to have pet equity and access to care because it is a necessity. This not only helps the animals but the pet owners who care for them so much and do the best that they can for them.”

Colette Junod

Justice for Paws Animal Rescue

“Animal welfare is intertwined with broader social justice concerns like race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Effectively addressing these intersections demands a diverse array of voices and experiences within the movement. Diversity fosters accessibility and inclusivity, dismantling barriers to participation and ensuring that all individuals feel embraced and respected in the quest for animal protection objectives.”

Leticia Lopez

Animal Fix Clinic

“Pet equity is extremely important to me because I believe that everyone should have the same treatment regardless of their race, gender or financial situation. As someone who can relate to many of our clients, I have witnessed and experienced the different treatment clients get when they might not have the money to help their pet. I believe that by promoting and helping clients get access to affordable veterinary care and resources, we can contribute to reducing the number of animals suffering from preventable illnesses or having to euthanize their pet because of cost. Also, it helps with clients being able to afford spay and neuter surgeries which helps less animals ending up at a shelter. At the end, what really matters is that regardless of their circumstances, clients should have the ability to provide a healthy and loving environment for their pets.”

Lissette Peralta

Humane Society of Greater Miami

“Representation shows the next generation of young animal welfare advocates they can have a seat at the table in this movement. When I meet with students in our shelter, I want them to see that the daughter of immigrants from an inner-city school can hold a leadership position in our community. The animal protection movement needs diverse perspectives to effectively care for our most vulnerable communities.”

Nicole Perez

Placer SPCA

“Diversity in our field is so incredibly important because we all have so many different experiences to share and learn from each other. We all think differently, have different strengths and weaknesses, and figuring out how to use all that to the best of our advantage could lead to endless possibilities. Our differences can be what strengthens us by forcing people to look beyond privilege and pride, and promote solutions like furthering education opportunities and improving access to care in our communities.”

Lex Quarles

Humane Animal Partners

“Community engagement can be easier to facilitate when the helpers reflect the backgrounds of those needing help. People appreciate it when they have a connection to someone who can better understand things from their perspective.”

Tiffany Roland

SPCA of Wake County

“I am a firm believer that “If you can see it, you can be it.” I’ve made a point to be the representation that I didn’t get to see growing up or working my way up in the animal service industry. You will never know an opportunity is available if you don’t get to see it, and it takes a village to cultivate the next generation to further our positive impact on the lives of animals and each other.”

Miguel Sheets

The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County

“I’ve seen many families shy away from having pets because they are discouraged from doing so. They don’t speak the same language as the staff in the shelter, they cannot afford vet care, or they don’t have adequate transportation to the shelter or pet supply store, for example. I want to give support [to] those community members that may have historically been ignored by our industry. Nearly everyone could benefit from a pet, and we can help empty our shelters if we gave equitable access to those animals to those people.”

Kimberly Thompson

Bitter Root Humane Association 

“Pet equity and access to care in underserved and historically marginalized communities is important to me because every animal deserve the absolute best care when they need it in the community that they are in. The lack of resources in these areas make it stressful for not only for the workers and volunteers, but also for the animals in their care, which can cause the animals to be in the shelter for longer periods of time and that is not good for them.”

Jessica Umunnabuike

San Diego Humane Society

“I’d love to see a future where the animal protection movement is aligned with the broader equity issues faced by the communities we serve, and where inclusion is co-owned by everyone, not just one role or leader, and is actionable from every individual’s sphere of influence. To me, inclusion is seen when we celebrate and amplify what makes each of us unique, when we elevate our colleagues, when we interact with our guests with empathy and without judgment, and when we examine how we are serving our neighboring communities. Every interaction we have with a staff member, guest, volunteer, donor and community member is a building block of another person’s experience of feeling included in the animal protection movement, so the way we treat each other matters!”

Dr. Faye Varias

Hearts Alive Village

“Pets often play a crucial role in the well-being of individuals and families. Access to pets and veterinary care can contribute to emotional support, companionship, and a sense of purpose, particularly in underserved communities where other forms of support may be limited. Providing access to pet care resources in underserved communities empowers individuals with knowledge about responsible pet ownership. Education on topics such as nutrition, preventive care, and behavioral training can enhance the overall well-being of both. Lack of access to veterinary care can contribute to situations where pet owners feel they have no choice but to surrender their animals. By providing affordable and accessible care, communities can help prevent unnecessary animal surrenders and support the longevity of the human-animal bond.”

2024 DEI Trailblazer Mentors

Daniella Barragan

Humane Society of Greater Kansas City

“Representation is pivotal in my line of work because it ensures that diverse voices are heard and perspectives are considered, especially from those that live within the communities we serve. Without representation, there's a risk of overlooking important issues and solutions. By embracing diversity, we foster innovation and creativity, leading to more effective strategies and outcomes. Additionally, representation fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment among individuals who may have previously felt marginalized or excluded. Ultimately, by prioritizing representation, we strive for inclusivity and equity, which are essential for addressing the complex challenges within our field and creating lasting positive change.”

Julia Bonsell

The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County

“I have been affected directly by access to care and equity as a pet owner in my community before entering the animal welfare sector. I take the chance now to educate as many that enter the field of how this industry became an industry. Coming from a marginalized community, there is an automatic preconceived notion that your pet deserves a "better" home. This idea is what I work daily to change.”

Diana Mabel Cruz

Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART LA)

“Representation is important in the line of work that I do because it allows us to better connect with and earn the trust of our community members.”

Bobbi Favel

Chippewa Cree Tribe

“Pet equity and access to care in underserved communities is important to me because our native communities are typically underserved in all aspects, but that does not mean our people or our pets do not deserve access to care or equality, or do any communities for that matter. In our culture, our pets (dogs, cats, horses, etc.) are an important aspect to our way of life. They provide protection, give peace of mind, and play integral parts in some of our ceremonies and within our beliefs. So, they deserve equal access to care but that is sometimes impossible due to the ruralness of many of our communities. For that reason, we must be innovative and diligent in our efforts to provide equity and access to care in our communities by sharing our stories and our successes with others in hopes it will provide opportunities that will benefit others who are faced with those same challenges.”

Jenna Herne

Akwesasne Animal Society

“As a member of an underserved community, it is imperative that my fellow tribal members have access to programs and services that can support them by helping to keep their pets healthy. Due to past traumas it is difficult for our tribal members to know who to ask for help and where to go to get help for their pets. I feel that by having diversity in the animal protection movement we can open up services to underserved communities.”

Sydney Mollentine

The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City

“Diversity is vital to the growth and forward movement of any business. Animal welfare has historically lacked BIPOC members, generally speaking, animal welfare has been a "white woman problem" – we see predominantly white people trying to fix systemic issues in cities and areas that they don't understand. As we turn a page in our book, putting in the work toward being more diverse as a whole animal welfare community, and build programs aimed at helping the underserved, and minority communities, we have to have diversity in leadership to truly instill change. BIPOC members deserve a seat at this table.”

Dianne Prado

Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team

“Everyone is deserving of the love of a pet - regardless of race and ethnicity, and housing and economic status.”

Rachael Villaseñor

The Anti-Cruelty Society

“Representation is important in our line of work because all voices need to be heard to make impactful change. When varied voices are represented a picture is painted in full color, advocating the voices that have been underrepresented and ignored for too long.”

Dr. Michelle Williams

Hearts Alive Village

“Pet equity and access to care in underserved and historically marginalized communities is very important to me for several reasons. Pets in underserved communities deserve access to the same level of care as pets in more affluent areas. Ensuring equitable access to veterinary care helps prevent suffering and improves the overall welfare of animals. Pets are often integral members of families in all communities, providing companionship, emotional support, and even therapeutic benefits. Access to veterinary care not only benefits the animals themselves but also contributes to public health by preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases and promoting responsible pet ownership.”

2023 DEI Trailblazer Honorees

Altamush Saeed

Center for Animal Law Studies, Lewis and Clark Law School
Charity Doings Foundation
Portland, OR

“As the second animal rights lawyer from Pakistan to study Animal Law LLM at Lewis and Clark, back home in Pakistan, I have been running a nonprofit called Charity Doings Foundation… We [provide] food and emergency veterinary care to livestock animals affected by the ongoing Pakistan floods which at one point had drowned one-third of the country and killed over a million livestock animals. I aim to use this as a precedent to amend Pakistan's disaster laws to include animal protection measures.”

Bryan Canty

Etowah Valley Humane Society
Cartersville, GA

“Since 2010, EVHS has rescued over 28,000 lives and reduced euthanasia in Bartow County, Georgia, by 95.5%—from 82% to 3.7%. In addition, NO healthy animals have beeneuthanized in over three years! We are working on four years of ‘no-kill’ status.”

Cierra Hughes

Maricopa County Animal Care and Control
Phoenix, AZ

“I am proud to be able to offer a resource to our community that promotes responsible rehoming. I piloted a Last Litter program for our shelter in 2021. The Last Litter program supports pet owners by coordinating free spay surgery for the mother and offering adoption outlets for the litter at the shelter. Intake fees are waived through this program, and litters adopted out through our shelter are altered, vaccinated and microchipped before going to their new homes.”

Dr. Danielle Lasley 

High volume s/n veterinarian in the LA area
Los Angeles, CA

“[I have] performed thousands of high-volume, high-quality spays and neuters for underserved communities as a spay and neuter surgeon. I spearhead events for the local communities around the shelter where I work—the Palmdale Animal Care Center. These events range from free monthly vaccine clinics, public-owned spay and neuter, and community cat spay and neuter. We've been hosting events at our local parks in which we offer free vet exams, free microchips, free vaccines and free pet food.” 

Helen Traphagan 

Humane Society of Greater Kansas City 
Kansas City, KS

“[At our] Humane Society, I have seen a commitment to increase the number of bilingual staff members, which made adoptions and obtaining veterinary care easier for our community. Important forms and documents are available in English and in Spanish, so language barriers aren't a concern [when people are seeking medical care or wanting to adopt].... I set a personal goal to adopt out 100 cats [over the course of] 100 days, and I reached that goal with five days to spare!”

Kelvina Lee 

Zuni Animal Care Services
Zuni, NM

“I have been able to run this clinic on my own as the veterinary technician, creating exam sheets, organizing vaccine drives or appointments at our clinic and setting up spays and neuters with new organizations for the pueblo. Also doing PSA of the diseases in the village for outreach until COVID restrictions are lifted. I have been able to help this reservation with all the knowledge I have gained from previous jobs.”

Lora Luton 

Maui Humane Society 
Puunene, HI

“[Having] turned my passion of fostering dogs into a career, [now I can] place foster dogs [and] save a lot more lives.... My family has joined me in the fostering journey. My daughter was 2 years old when she started fostering, and she still talks about our two fospice dogs and how much she misses them and wishes she could help more. I am proud of the dogs we helped rehab, the dogs we showed ‘you deserve to be loved,’ and the dogs we gave a loving peaceful home to in their final days.” 

Marisa Hernandez 

Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering
Salt Lake City, UT

“I am the owner and co-founder of Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering, the first and only pet-retention-based organization in Utah. I volunteer my boarding facility to house animals in our temporary sheltering program. We provide other programming, such as a mobile pet food pantry, grooming and vaccinations. All our services are free. I am proud of the services I can provide to my community as a Latina business owner.” 

Pornin Tauthong 

Animal Care Centers of NYC 
New York, NY

“In December 2022, I was awarded a certificate of Fear Free excellence in recognition for exemplifying a Fear Free work ethic and decreasing fear, anxiety, stress and frustration for shelter animals. I am proud of this accomplishment because I integrate appropriate techniques and tools to improve the overall well-being of animals with whom I interact and handle. Implementing a considerate approach in my work as a feline behavior specialist has positively impacted the ability for cats to adjust to the shelter environment, thus allowing opportunities to focus on behavior modification, which increases the likelihood of cats being adopted and achieving our organization's mission of ending animal homelessness.” 

Ramona Griffin 

Illinois Humane
Chicago Animal Care and Control
PAWS Chicago 
Chicago, IL

“[My commitment to promoting inclusion is through] the Veterinary Assistant Apprenticeship program—[a paid, 12-week training program focused on hiring from] Englewood, a back-of-the-yard community [and veterinary desert]. The program is open to anyone who wants to explore a career with animals. After completion of the training program, we then hire them at our medical center and help them to apply to vet school if they wish. [We also] provide pet pantries, vaccine clinics, doggie day out and doggie overnight, agility and nose work program at our municipal shelter.” 

Renena McCaskill 

Detroit Animal Care and Control 
Detroit, MI

“I [am proud to have] started an adoption and foster program at Detroit Animal Care and Control with the help and backing of Friends of DACC, of which I am currently the founder and nonvoting board member....My vision for inclusion is to have more [BIPOC] advocates who strive to make a difference and provide knowledge to the right community leaders to push for change.” 

Dr. SaiRadha Ganesan 

Northwest Spay and Neuter Center
Tacoma, WA

“Prior to my current role as lead veterinarian for the Northwest Spay Neuter Center, I worked for the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society. This is the only animal shelter within the North Central Washington. I helped lead the transition into a clinic facility for the shelter and worked as the sole shelter veterinarian. During this time, while serving the shelter population, I helped to expand our income-qualified spay/neuter services. I also provided several soft-tissue procedures for income-qualified families in the area. I am proud of the services we were able to expand as it was a reflection of my own growth as a leader.” 

Shirrice Conney

Maryland SPCA 
Baltimore, MD

“I started out at my job in the kennel many years ago and rose through departments to become the surgery/exam tech that I am today. I have had my hand in changing the lives of hundreds of animals and people every single year, but what I am most proud of is being able to connect with the pets and people in our community at their level on their streets and provide them with food, information, health services and in some cases shelter and building fences. Our outreach program has grown so much, from not having one at all to contributing to multiple clinics and pet food giveaways, all year, at no cost to the community.”