Awards

Ohio SPCA Director, Teresa Landon, was presented the 2005 Animal Kingdom Kindred Spirit Award by the Doris Day Animal Foundation.

Holly E. Hazard, Executive Director of the Doris Day Animal Foundation said of Landon, “Through your work investigating animal cruelty cases, pushing to prosecute offenders, and rescuing and rehabilitating innocent animal victims, you have set a shining example for others to follow.”

Teresa Landon with goat, Matilda, one of over 200 goats she helped rescue.

“In the face of what can seem like society’s limitless indifference and cruelty towards animals, people are often tempted to look the other way or give up in despair when they come across non-human beings in distress. Fortunately for the dogs of Morgan and Adams counties; a mange ridden mother dog and her four pups; and animals throughout the state of Ohio, your empathy and compassion compel you to act where others might not. Thank you, Ms. Landon, for proving that one person really can help make this a kinder world.”

“As founder and director of the Ohio SPCA, Ms. Landon has personally responded to animal abuse complaints in rural southern Ohio, and then worked with prosecutors, sheriff departments, and the media to prosecute the offenders and alert the public. With her own funds, she has rescued many innocent animals and rehabilitated them, both physically and emotionally. Ms. Landon also helped persuade the Morgan County animal shelter to stop shooting dogs as a method of euthanasia by obtaining video footage, and ultimately shaming the county commissioners into ending the practice. She also successfully sued Adams County, Ohio to stop shooting dogs as a method of euthanasia and severely limited their use of the gas chamber which is currently allowed under Ohio law.” (2005)