AGC PRESENTS GAPY AWARD TO ANN BOLLENS

In action at its recent annual meeting, the American Greyhound Council (AGC) presented the 2011 Greyhound Adoption Person of the Year (GAPY) Award to Florida adoption volunteer Ann Bollens. Bollens accepted the award at the annual meeting of the American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA) on February 27 in Las Vegas. She and her husband, Skip, attended the session as guests of the AGC. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGC President Bill Lee, who presented the trophy, said Bollens has been a driving force in greyhound adoption since 1998, when she helped found Greyhound Pets of America Emerald Coast Chapter. The northwest Florida group focuses primarily on finding adoptive homes for greyhounds retiring from Ebro and Pensacola tracks. In 2010 alone, Ann and her organization moved more than 900 greyhounds into adoptive homes.

“Those who nominated Ann for the Greyhound Adoption Person of the Year Award used words like ‘tireless,’ ‘dedicated’ and ‘hero,’” Lee said. “When you look at her contributions to greyhound adoption, it’s easy to see why.”

In her acceptance remarks, Bollens responded, “I am deeply honored to accept this award, not just for myself but on behalf of all the terrific people in GPA-Emerald Coast who have helped make a difference for greyhounds. It has been a labor of love for me, as it is for so many members of the adoption community.”

Bollens said that cooperation with members of the greyhound racing community has been the key to her success in securing homes for retired greyhounds. 

“We never could have accomplished what we did without the help and participation of the kennel operators, breeders and others in the greyhound racing industry,” Ann said. “When everyone works together for the sake of the dogs, that’s when great things happen.”

AGC will begin accepting nominations for the 2012 GAPY award on April 1. The nomination form will be available online via the AGC website. The 2012 award trophy will be named in honor of Linda Jensen, the 2010 award recipient and adoption pioneer who passed away late in 2011.