Every Dog's, and Dog Lover's, Best Friend

I met Ann eight years ago through Uintah Animal Care (UAC), a charitable organization that she was instrumental in founding whose members fostered and re-homed shelter dogs and cats.  As everyone who knew her knows, Ann had an abiding love for dogs - not just for Cedar and Stikine (whom she cherished), but for all dogs. 

Ann channeled that love into effective advocacy, never giving up on the fight (and, it was a fight - fought by Ann with innate grace, diplomacy, understanding and dogged determination) to have Uintah County build, fund and operate a more humane shelter; offer vouchers for discounted spay and neuter surgeries; and allow UAC members to try to save the lives of abandoned companion animals.

Largely through Ann's diplomatic determination, the shelter was built; vouchers were offered; and UAC was able to find forever homes for thousands of abandoned dogs and cats.

When she passed away, Ann was working with another coalition of dog lovers - UROMP, which she, again, was instrumental in founding - to have a dog park established in Vernal.  She'd been pursuing that effort for the past 20 years.  It will be difficult for us to continue that "fight" without Ann's physical presence:  she was a natural-born leader, always keeping us focused on the tasks we needed to accomplish and, as Jacque Hobbs wrote, repeatedly commending us with a "good job, everyone", no matter how small a "success" we achieved.

I know that, with her dogged determination to make the Uintah Basin a more hospitable home for companion animals, Ann hasn't given up the fight for a dog park and is still guiding and encouraging us.  I also believe that, with her guidance and encouragement, the dog park will become a reality.  As a tribute to every dog's, and dog lover's, best friend, I hope the park is named the "Ann Shaffer Elder Dog Park".

Shadow, Daisy, Skip, Scamp (all of whom are rescues, thanks in part to Ann) and I extend our deepest condolences to Tom, Cedar, Stikine and Ann's family and friends - human and canine alike.

Sandy Hansen