ANIMALTARIAN category Winner

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Lauren is the Executive Director and the heart and soul of The Animal Pad (TAP). TAPis known for rescuing some of the worst-case-scenario animals from the streets ofMexico and the US. They take on large projects, saving hundreds of animals at oncethat are found in the worst conditions. She is known for spending the night in somevery risky places and waiting for a known, abused pet to return so she can save them. There is nothing she wouldn’t do to save a pet and the growth at TAP represents her commitment to the cause. She volunteered for years as the Executive Director for TAP and finally brought the organization to a place where she is being paid for the first time this year. Lauren has spearheaded strong partnerships with veterinary hospitals in Mexico, where dogs are triaged until they become stable enough to bring to the US where they continue their healing, are fostered, and then adopted by families in San Diego County.

Dr. Laura Schultz has been fortunate to have contributed to animals and their advocates in many different environments including working in private practice and animal shelters, teaching at Mesa in the RVT program, working with the Army Veterinary Corp during overseas duty stations, and volunteering with marine stranding programs. Through each experience, Laura has gained invaluable tools to help her become a well-rounded and compassionate veterinarian, teacher, business owner, mother, and spouse. Laura established CoastView Veterinary Hospital in 2016 to provide exceptional, compassionate, low-stress, and convenient care to pet patients as well as clear and honest communication with their owners. Benjamin’s Fund was created at CoastView through the AVMF to help clients who may have financial restraints care for their animal’s unexpected illnesses. Laura is extremely proud of becoming the first “Fear Free Certified” hospital in California. Laura hopes that one day Fear Free practice will be the standard of care and not the exception as we all create positive change for patients and the profession. CoastView is a family, and they have an amazing team that supports each other and the Fear Free philosophy.

  Frosted Faces is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that delivers the promise of family and quality veterinary care for senior animals whose love and lives are in jeopardy.

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The Paws Family is comprised of compassionate veterinarians who strive to care for and support pets and their parents throughout the end-of-life process. They believe that in a pet’s final moments, they should be home, in the arms of their family.

They call her "Amazing Grace" and together with her partner “Kaia,” they serve with Love on a Leash, a nonprofit organization that provides volunteer pet therapy teams. For years, this partnership has been providing therapy to children testifying against their abusers, with Kaia laying her head down on the victim’s lap during very overwhelming situations in San Diego family courtrooms. These two also visit hospice centers, Rady’s Children’s Hospital, and even incarcerated people condemned to live the rest of their lives in prison, many in solitary confinement. As Grace’s owner said “THERAPY DOGS visits bring KINDNESS, COMPASSION, and LOVE to those in need. No human being should ever suffer ALONE. It has been a true privilege to meet so many incredible Wounded Warrior Veterans, Alzheimer’s elderly, special needs children, prisoners, dying hospice patients, and others less fortunate.” When therapy dogs enter a room and cuddle up to someone who desperately needs to feel hope, the results are powerful. Their handlers have committed to “NEVER FORGET THE FORGOTTEN!” It is their life’s meaning.

Dr. Andi Flory is a co-founder and Chief Medical officer of PetDx, the Liquid Biopsy Company for Pets, which is a San Diego-based molecular diagnostics company. Its flagship product, OncoK9®, enables veterinarians to detect cancer in dogs with a simple blood draw. As a first-in-class multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test, OncoK9 employs cutting-edge genomic analysis that leverages next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology and proprietary bioinformatics algorithms, empowering veterinarians to provide superior care to canine patients.