Spotlight Stories

For high school senior Grace, volunteering at North Shore Animal League America started as a school requirement, but quickly became something much more. “I always knew I wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter,” Grace told us. “When I had to complete service hours for class, I saw it as my chance. I had adopted a cat from Animal League America before and loved the organization. Once I started volunteering, I knew I wasn’t going to stop.”

For Saarah Shahid, volunteering at North Shore Animal League America was a natural step, inspired by a lifelong connection to animals. “I’ve always felt a special connection to animals, and I’ve wanted to help them in any way I can,” she shared.

For Gloria, the joy of seeing a once-homeless pet walk out the door with a loving family never fades. “Even after all these years, I still get excited when an older or hard-to-place animal gets adopted. That moment — that’s why I’m here.”

Growing up, there was never a time when a four-legged friend wasn’t part of Cliff’s household. When he retired after 35 years of service as a fire prevention and building codes official, he knew he wanted to spend his time giving back — and he knew it had to involve dogs. That decision led him to North Shore Animal League America, where for the past four and a half years, he has been a dedicated volunteer, helping our canine residents on their journey toward adoption.

When Norma McKinney Meeks passed away suddenly on Thanksgiving evening at her home in Ashland, Kentucky, North Shore Animal League America lost a friend, a colleague, and an inspiration. As an energetic and creative member of our community since the early 1990s, Norma combined her lifelong concern for animals with her expertise as an award-winning educator to promote adoption and humane education.