Ann Sanders

Ann Sanders has worked for the state Labor Department for more than 27 years, but her labor of love has been to bring major improvements to the Humane Society of Saline County. She has had an abiding passion for animals since she was a child, and her three-and-a-half years as the volunteer president of the Humane Society has certainly tested that affection.

She took over leadership of an organization that had a bad image because too many animals had been kept in the small, rundown shelter. The animals were in poor health in unsanitary conditions, and the water at the site was contaminated.

Since Sanders became president, the society has built a new building, set up its own low-cost spay and neuter program, established a mobile unit to give animals vaccinations, built new kennels for dogs and obtained cages for cats. A fence surrounding the property also has been built.

Sanders is working on starting educational programs for the schools to teach children how to care for animals, and she’s hoping to get more veterinarians involved so they can take the mobile unit out to more remote areas of the county. Saline County has no animal control office, so the Humane Society facilities have to fit the bill, but it’s a no-kill shelter with the goal of adopting out the animals.

Ann said the secret to her success is “hard work and dedication. You have to believe in what you’re doing.” In addition to volunteering with the Humane Society for the past 30 years, she also served on the Bryant City Council for eight years and was a troop leader for the Girl Scouts. Her favorite saying is “If you need it, it will come.” She said that has been proven time and again after she started managing the Humane Society. Whenever a real need has arisen, somehow the need has been met.

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