Animal Law Section to Present 2017 Sadie Award

Animal Law Section to Present 2017 Sadie Award

The Animal Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan will present Connie Page and the late Thomas Conner with the 2017 Sadie Award for their extensive work on behalf of the Ingham County Animal Shelter at a reception from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, at Midtown Brewing Co. in Lansing.

Page and Conner devoted themselves to hands-on animal care, fostered dozens of kittens and older cats to prepare them for adoption, and worked countless hours by providing adoption counseling and cleaning cages at the Ingham County Animal Shelter in Mason.

After retiring from the faculty of Michigan State University, Page and Conner worked to boost adoptions of shelter animals, especially cats. They invested time and creativity to plan events and programs, spent hours designing adoption programs, applied for grant funding and set up adoption events. They promoted activities at the shelter, photographed cats for the shelter’s website, distributed colorful handouts with photos of animals, created flyers for special adoption events, organized and operated mobile adoption stations at pet stores and special events, wrote letters in support of shelter activities, and appeared weekly with adoption-ready cats and kittens on Lansing’s local CBS affiliate, WLNS-TV6.

The Animal Law Section Sadie Award was created to recognize contributions to the well-being of animals made by Michigan residents not involved in the legal or legislative systems. The award was named in memory of Sadie, a beloved family dog who died as the result of animal cruelty.

The reception will feature complimentary appetizers. To reserve your spot at the reception, contact Tracy Sonneborn at sonnebornt@gmail.com by Tuesday, May 16.