Local Award Honors People Who Help Pets
Jeff Levitt, right, is pictured with Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA.
The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA held its second annual Animal Compassion Awards to recognize and pay tribute to the extraordinary animals and animal lovers throughout San Diego County. Nominations were collected in three categories, Animal Impact, Humane Hero and Pet-Friendly Destination.
Military couple 1st Lieutenant Alisa Sieber-Johnson and Lieutenant Shawn Johnson founded Dogs on Deployment, a non-profit which provides an online network for service members to find volunteers who will board their pets during their owner’s service commitments. They received the Animal Impact Award.
In 2013, San Diego became the 32nd city in North America to prohibit retail pet sales, making it illegal to sell dogs, cats and rabbits within city limits, thanks to San Diego City Councilwoman Lorie Zapf. She received the Humane Hero Award.
Jeff Levitt, owner of SHADES Oceanfront Bistro in Ocean Beach, and his family, have created a place that both people and their pets love to visit. Beyond that, SHADES has helped the San Diego Humane Society and other animal welfare groups find homes for more than 175 pets in the past two years. He received the Pet-Friendly Destination Award.
“We live in one of the pet-friendliest cities in the nation, and what better reason to honor the people in our community who have inspired the special and unique bond that we share with animals,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA.
Category: Animals, Local News
