Adrienne Smith of Jefferson was honored by the Animal Rescue League, the Iowa Voters for Companion Animals and others as “humane citizen activist hero” last Monday, Feb. 9. She received the special recognition at a luncheon held during a Lobby Day organized by the Humane Society of Iowa and other animal rights groups at the capitol. The framed certificate is signed by Tom Colvin, executive director of the Animal Rescue League and Mary LaHaye of Iowa Voters for Companion Animals.
Smith was instrumental in the passage of legislation in the 2014 session that allows family pets to be included in the protective orders put in place in domestic abuse cases. For information about the legislation and the process, click here: SF 2118
More than 100 persons were present at the luncheon. Smith and her husband Rich both planned to attend and hear guest speaker Dr Franklin McMillan of Kanab, UT. His topic, the emotional toll on animals in puppy mills, interested them. One of their cats was sick that day, though, and Rich missed the trip to Des Moines to take the cat to the veterinarian. They didn’t know of the plans to honor Adrienne at the luncheon.
In presenting the award, Colvin said he had worked for several years to get similar legislation passed but made no progress. It was Smith, who visited with legislators and told them stories of her work advocating for victims of domestic abuse, that finally “gave the bill legs.”
Smith wasn’t looking for recognition in working toward the legislation, she said. “Still, it feels nice to be recognized by my peers. It was a nice surprise,” she said.
