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NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ -
Riverside, CA, United States, 2009/05/19 - Pat Starwich, Jim Cloyd and Harvey Long, all of Riverside, CA, are the recipients of Riverside Humane Society’s annual Friends of the Animals Award.
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The Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center (RHSPAC) has awarded three Riverside, CA, men its 2009 Friends of the Animals award. Pat Starwich, Jim Cloyd and Harvey Long were recognized for their dedication to and work on behalf of the animals at RHSPAC.
Recipients of the annual award are selected through a write-in vote by fellow volunteers, as well as the society’s staff and board of directors. The awards were presented at the annual volunteer appreciation picnic at Fairmount Park.
Also recognized was volunteer Katie Wider of Riverside. Wider has served for 13 years as chairwoman of the society’s annual major fundraiser, Walk With The Animals, held at Fairmount Park. She is passing on this responsibility, but will continue as an active volunteer with RHSPAC.
All three men have been volunteers since 2005 and commit several hours every week to socializing and training dogs. Each of them also works in the Junior Boot Camp program which was started in 2007 for the purpose of rehabilitating dogs with special behavioral needs so that they more readily adjust to life in a forever home. To date more than 60 dogs have gone from the program to successful adoptions.
Starwich particularly enjoys working with dogs that need a little extra care and attention, dogs that are not socialized or trained or may not have enjoyed “a dog’s life” prior to coming to RHSPAC. Even a foot injury didn’t keep Starwich away from the animals. Not able to walk dogs for a period of time, he spent his ‘recuperative’ weeks socializing cats the center’s cattery.
Cloyd also is a Headstart mentor. In this capacity he trains one-on-one new volunteers in the Headstart program which provides dogs with basic obedience training and good manners.
In addition to working with the dogs, Long is always available to lend a hand at annual special events such as Walk With The Animals and the rummage sale, and helps out in the center’s Critter Corner pet store. And when tools and an extra pair of hands are needed for sprucing up the dogs’ play yards, Long is there.
What’s more, these men are living proof that working with homeless dogs can tug at the heartstrings and create an inseparable bond. Each has adopted a lucky canine companion from RHSPAC.
To learn more about volunteering, contact Jackie Lamirande at 951-688-4340 x306.
The Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center (petsadoption.com), located at 6165 Industrial Ave., Riverside, CA, is a non-profit public benefit charitable organization. The center accepts owner turn-ins of cats and dogs and transfers from area animal-control agencies. Prior to adoption, each animal is either spayed or neutered, vaccinated, evaluated for behavior issues, and microchipped. Each animal is also monitored for physical, emotional and mental health, and receives ongoing socialization.
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