County manager appoints new Animal Services manager

RELEASE DATE: May 10, 2013

TAVARES — County Manager David Heath has filled a key leadership position within the county government. Cynthia Lynn Nason, who has a robust background as an animal welfare professional, will start Monday, May 13 as the new manager of Lake County Animal Services, which is part of the county’s Conservation & Compliance Department. 

“Cyndi has successfully directed two animal-rescue and shelter operations, with demonstrated experience in increasing adoptions, improving animal care and managing a large number of staff,” Heath said. “We are confident that she will serve as an effective administrator for this important function of our organization.” 

Nason was the Adoption Centers director at the Humane Society of Missouri for eight years, and prior to that role, she was the executive director of the Northeast Missouri Humane Society for three years. For the past two years, she has served as a consultant for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

Nason is professionally certified through the American Humane Association and the Florida State Animal Response Coalition. She has served on the leadership committee for the Tampa Bay Area Disaster Animal Response Team, and has volunteered with the Clearwater Chapter of the National Audubon Society. 

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Lake County media contact:
Peter Benyola
Public Information Officer
Office: 352-343-9609; Cell: 352-460-2851

http://www.lakecountyfl.gov/media/news_releases/news_release.aspx?id=2126&utm_source=newsreleases&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NR051013

Animal foster programs are a great way to make a hands-on difference

We all know one of the best ways to help your local shelter is to donate your time as a volunteer. But what about volunteering your home to some needy animals? Shelters nationwide often need help caring for their pets until they’re ready for adoption. Animal foster programs are a great way to make a hands-on difference in the lives of animals in your community.

For example, just like our program ASPCA’s Foster Care Program matches animal-loving Good Samaritans like you with pregnant and nursing cats, underweight kittens and puppies and recovering dogs and cats. The animals are cared for in the volunteer's home until they are ready to be placed into the adoption program.  If you would like to foster an animal please fill out an application by clicking here.

We are asking animal shelters across the USA to take a pledge not to kill any savable animals on June 11, 2013

What is a day?
There are many ways to answer that question.
A day is 24 hours. A day is how we measure how much time we spend at work. A day can be something we look forward to, a celebration of some kind. But in U.S. animal shelters, a day represents 10,411 lives needlessly lost.
To most people, June 11 is Just One Day. But, June 11 is a day that will change everything for about 10,000 companion animals, and a day that can change the world. On June 11, 2013, we can be a No Kill nation.
We are asking animal shelters across the USA to take a pledge not to kill any savable animals on June 11, 2013. For Just One Day, "Euthanasia Technicians" will put down their syringes and pick up cameras. Instead of injecting animals with lethal doses of sodium phenobarbital, they will photograph them and post them on the Internet, on Facebook, on twitter. On June 11, 2013, they will market their animals to the public, they will reach out to rescue groups, they will host adoption events with discounted rates, they will stay open for extended hours, and they will ask their communities to help them empty the shelter the good way.
Instead of going into body bags in freezers, the animals will go out the front door in the loving arms of families. At the end of the day, the shelters will be emptier than when the day started. And, no one will have had to die in order to make that happen. To help them succeed, the No Kill Advocacy Center, Animal Ark and Animal Wise Radio are teaming up to offer shelters the tools they need to be successful.
We have a model press release and promotion plan. We have a guide to adopting your way out of killing. We have adoption promotion posters. And so much more, all sent free of charge to those organizations that take the pledge.
On average, if each animal shelter in the USA adopts out or transferees to rescue groups an extra three animals on June 11, the USA can become a no kill nation, even if it is for Just One Day. And if we can do it then, we can also do it on June 12 for Just Another Day. . .
Add your organization or community to the list by taking the pledge!

Why June 11?