News
Bill Smith ASPCA’s Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
November 08, 2007, 1:48PM MT
By Nicole Saunders
Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue, has won the ASPCA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue, has won the ASPCA Lifetime Achievement Award.
By Jodi Wendling, Lancaster County Representative, PA Community.
He has been an animal lover since his childhood. After seeing the effects that Lancaster County Puppy Mills can have on dogs, he decided it was his lifelong passion.
Bill has worked tirelessly rescuing animals from many different counties in PA, pulling them from many Breeders who decide the dogs are of no use to them once they have any slight “defect”. In 1997, he opened his own rescue, Main Line Animal Rescue in Chester County, PA. He has since saved thousands of animals on his own, with the help of many volunteers, and 99% of his pets are adopted. His Rescue houses about 100 dogs, plus many cats. He and his volunteer staff of about 85 people take excellent care of these animals. His new kennel facility is due to open in January.
He also finds time to create billboards to remind people of the effects on dogs in Puppy Mills. He is an avid protester against these large commercial breeding facilities. Since he himself drives around to rescue these poor animals, he knows what will become of them by letting them stay in the mills.
At 46, it may seem a young age to be considered for Lifetime Achievement, but when you consider his dedication to rescuing these animals it is like a lifetime of hard work already.
For More Information
Click here for Inquirer Staff Writer Amy Worden’s story on Bill.
Click here for more information on the 2007 ASPCA Humane Awards.
Pictured above: Rockette, Main Line Rescue’s current featured pet.
Picture courtesy of Main Line Animal Rescue, and by Mary Hunt Davis Photography
Posted by Nicole, PA Team Leader