Riverside Humane Society Honors Carlotta Mellon, Former Chief of Staff to Mayor Ron Loveridge, as Volunteer of the Year

RIVERSIDE, CA, May 28, 2007 — Carlotta Mellon of Riverside recently received the 2007 “Friends of the Animals” award from the Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center (RHSPAC) in recognition of her dedication and work on behalf of the animals at the center. Each year the humane society’s team of volunteers selects one member from their ranks to be honored. The award was presented at RHSPAC’s annual volunteer recognition picnic where board members as well as individuals who provide services to the organization also were acknowledged.

Mellon is one of 146 volunteers with RHSPAC who in 2006 gave 15,156 hours of their time. Length of service for the volunteers ranges from less than one year to 18 years. Volunteers are involved with dog and cat socialization, Head Start and agility training for dogs, pet-assisted therapy, pet behavior help line, foster care, humane education/community outreach, office support, special events and fundraising.

Mellon started volunteering at RHSPAC in 2004 after retiring from a career in public service. She was chief of staff to Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, appointments secretary to Gov. Jerry Brown, and more recently executive director of the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts in Alta Loma.

“I’m very concerned about the large numbers of dogs and cats that are euthanized each year,” Mellon says. “I wanted to get involved with the humane society in order to promote spay/neuter and pet adoptions.”

“I get hooked on the animals,” she adds with a grin. “I’m involved in a lot of organizations, as either a volunteer or board member, but I enjoy this the most. It’s very rewarding because I know I’m making a difference for animals as well as humans.”

Since becoming a RHSPAC volunteer, Mellon has helped develop the society’s humane education program and is the volunteer humane education outreach coordinator. She’s also helping to develop a video for schools on caring for animals and the importance of spaying and neutering to address the issue of pet overpopulation. Through the outreach program volunteers make presentations at schools, libraries, events and more, as well as work in conjunction with Riverside City/County Dept. of Animal Services.

“Carlotta’s devotion in working with the animals seems to be unending,” says Cathy Walling, executive director of RHSPAC. “She has jumped onboard with our Capital Campaign Committee and has been magnificent in her vision and leadership in charging ahead.”

But her devotion to the animals doesn’t stop with humane education and fundraising. In addition to regularly participating in dog and cat socialization and the pet-assisted therapy program, she has donated money for equipment for the cattery and is a monthly sponsor of a cat. When her work is done at the center, she may be found fostering a litter of kittens in her home which she shares with her husband Knox Mellon, executive director of the California Missions Foundation, and their eight cats.

“We are so very fortunate to have Carlotta as a volunteer,” Walling states, “not only because of her background in community service and her willingness to put in the hours volunteering at the shelter, but because Carlotta always brings an abundance of delightful energy every time she comes. We count on it and so do the animals!”

Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center, a non-profit public benefit charitable organization, is located at 5791 Fremont St. in Riverside. RHSPAC accepts owner turn-ins of cats and dogs and transfers from area animal-control shelters. No healthy, adoptable animal is ever put to sleep. Prior to adoption, each animal is either spayed or neutered and microchipped, receives all necessary vaccinations and medical care, is monitored for physical, emotional and mental health, and is socialized. For more information, visit www.petsadoption.org.