Linda Fauth is a longtime animal advocate on Whidbey Island, Washington. She was instrumental in getting Whidbey Animal Improvement Foundation (WAIF) up and running in its early days. Today, this organization manages two minimal kill shelters and two cat adoption centers that care for and place hundreds of dogs and cats into loving homes every year.
A few years ago, with Linda's leadership and encouragement WAIF made the decision that no animal would be adopted from its facilities that had not been spayed or neutered. Linda planned, organized, and built the operating room and the prep and recovery area. She has overseen and managed the surgical program ever since, scheduling teams of veterinarians and volunteer assistants and she has personally assisted with many of the surgeries. Because of her, thousands of Whidbey Island cats and dogs have been safely altered including many feral cats.
Linda is nominated by Mary Jo Adams who says, "About a year ago, Linda fell and broke her hip, requiring hip replacement surgery. As soon as she was back on her feet, Linda was back at the shelter and working in the spay/neuter clinic limping a bit but as enthusiastic as ever. When it comes to caring for the animals of Whidbey Island, Linda Fauth is an example of the kind of person we should all aspire to be. She is a hero."
