Animal services professionals and volunteers were honored for their outstanding assistance to animals, animal owners and their communities during the 1^st Annual COG Animal Services Awards.The event, the first of its kind in the country, also recognized local elected officials and businesses for their strong support of animal services in the region.

Debra Duel of the Washington Humane Society was awarded for her work on a humane education program that has become a model for exposing children to animals and helping prevent future animal abuse. A group of six volunteers were honored for their dedicated service to their local animal shelter where they have logged 1,800 hours of work.

“We are seeing more and more funds being provided to improve the care of sheltered animals, the prevention of animal cruelty, to educate our youth, provide reduced cost spay and neuter, and increase the opportunity for adoption,” said Fairfax Supervisor Penelope Gross, who won the Animal Service Award for Elected Official of the Year. “Animal shelters are part of our community and serve the entire community.”

Since 2000, the committee has provided the animal services community an opportunity to meet and address mutual, regional concerns on animal care and protection as well as related public safety and health concerns. It has worked on a dangerous dog ordinance, animal disaster planning, and the reduction of wildlife-vehicle collisions.

"I am truly proud of the outstanding service provided by the Animal Control Officers and animal-care organizations in the Washington metropolitan area,” said Dr. Jacqueline Brown, Prince George's County CAO, in recognition of today’s award winners. “Their hard work and dedication make our community a better place in which to live, work and play.”

Liz Crenshaw served as the Mistress of Ceremonies and accepted a special media award for NBC-4’s support to the animal services community. The awards were sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), Petco Foundation, American Humane Association, and the Humane Society of the United States.

Full List of Award Winners

Administrative/Customer Team: Faye Logan & Adina Howard, Prince George’s County Animal Welfare League

Adoption Team: Betty Bear, Claudia Prather, Khari Dixon, Feri Abendipour, Christine Johns & Kathy Schonley & Maureen McCabe, Frederick County Animal Control

Animal Care Technician Team: Eugene Hill, Washington Animal Rescue League

Animal Control Officers/Humane Officer Team: Ted Deppner, Washington Humane Society/District of Columbia Animal Shelter

Corporation: Law Firm of Covington & Burling, District of Columbia

Humane Education Team: Debra K. Duel, Washington Humane Society

Elected Official of the Year: Penelope Gross, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Animal Rescue Story: Jennifer Roberts, Mary Zambrano and Andrew Sanderson, Fairfax County Animal Services Division

Veterinary Team: Dr. Peter Glassman and staff, Friendship Hospital for Animals

Volunteer Team: Mary O’Malley, Shizue “Susie” Cooper, Peter “Pete” Barnes, Nancy Fluhr, Jami Ojala, Michael “Mickey” Lasky, Fairfax County Animal Services Division

Wildlife Rehabilitation Team: Chris Montouri, Polly Hoffman, Brittany Davis & Amber Vencion of  Second Chance Wildlife Center

Media: Liz Crenshaw and NBC-4; Washington Post Animal Watch section