Finger lakes SPCA honors volunteers

Teresa Sagona-Utz, pictured at right, received a Lifesaving Rescue Award at the SPCA's annual banquet earlier this month. PHOTO PROVIDED

The Finger Lakes SPCA this month held its 12th Annual Volunteer Dinner Banquet at the Bath Country Club. The evening featured the recognition of 87 individual volunteers and five groups for their outstanding volunteer service to the Finger Lakes SPCA.

Vicki Mosgrove, executive director, and board member Lyn Klement welcomed all the guests, promising they would do their best to share the organization's appreciation for the hard work of their volunteers. "We would like our volunteers to know that we feel we can never thank you enough for all you do and give, and we are sure the Finger Lakes SPCA boasts some of the most dedicated volunteers to be found anywhere," said Mosgrove.

All volunteers who were recognized and received award certificates had met Volunteer Program acceptance requirements and contributed at least 15 hours of time from April 2007-March 2008.

Special awards were presented to community members, including:

• A special Lifesaving Rescue Award was presented to Teresa Sagona-Utz and Forest View-Gang Mills Fire Department for their heroic rescue of two dogs (Buddy and Bailey) who had fallen through the ice on a backyard pond earlier this year.

• The Third Annual Humanitarian & Animal Protection Excellence Award was given to Deputy Sheriff Jennifer Reed for exceptional efforts to protect both animals and people within Steuben County.

• The Outstanding Humane Organization Collaborative Volunteer Award was presented to Scottsville Veterinary Adoptions Inc. to recognize their outstanding efforts to support and work with the Finger Lakes SPCA, Inc. over the past 13 years.

Individual volunteers and groups also were recognized with certificates and carnations for their outstanding service.

• The Hugh Award was presented next to Gary Utter. This honor is bestowed upon those volunteers making the biggest time commitment to the direct care of the orphan animals and the recipient has to exemplify the traits of compassion, humanity, kindness, diligence and perseverance. Utter's significant donation of time devoted to improving the quality of life for numerous orphan dogs earned him this distinction along with his perseverant volunteer efforts to meet continual Shelter maintenance needs.

• Alison Hapeman was also honored with the HUGH Award for her contribution of hundreds of hours toward working with a very special needs animal and foster care assistance in addition to giving of herself in support of countless SPCA fund-raisers and promotional events.

• Volunteer Bonnie Covell also received the special distinction of a Volunteer Dedication Award. This award is given to a volunteer for outstanding commitment and support of the F.L.SPCA. Covell has been volunteering for eight years and has given the most on-site volunteer hours managing and manning one of the SPCA's biggest fund-raising programs.

• Dave Peterson was recognized with the Outstanding Volunteer Service Project Award for devoting countless hours toward a critical kennel renovation project as well as helping with a myriad of other important repairs.

Two other distinctive awards were presented to the veterinary community: Dr. Karen Doucette, president of the SPCA board of directors, and Dr. Susan Farmer were recognized with the Outstanding Humane Veterinarian Service Award for their substantial donation of professional medical services and compassion to the SPCA's shelter animals in addition to the gift of significant time on various committees building the Shelter's future.