Pat Sanford Animal Welfare Award

A generous donation in honor of Pat Sanford supported a grants program to improve animal welfare in Orange County. The last year for this grant was 2025. The deadline has passed and applications are now closed. We appreciate every applicant! 

About Pat Sanford & the Grant

Sanford was the former Executive Director of the Animal Protection Society of Orange County (APS), where she served for 17 years until her retirement in 2002. During her time at APS, she implemented many important programs, including a huge push for spay/neuter to combat the county’s growing pet overpopulation program. During her tenure, she helped expand the size and capacity of the APS twice, grew its budget and resources, and created a wildlife rehabilitation component that would carry on beyond her retirement.

Sanford was a major voice for humane animal euthanasia in North Carolina, pushing for euthanasia by injection over the use of carbon monoxide. She acknowledged that many of those ultimately euthanized had come from less than ideal backgrounds with hard lives and deserved a compassionate end when euthanasia was the only option. After her retirement, Sanford continued her work for Orange County animals and, for several years, served on the county’s Animal Services Advisory Board. 

Ms. Sanford’s accomplishments in the field of animal welfare are vast and her contributions helped Orange County become and remain one of the leading counties in the state and country for animal placement, recovery, and overall well-being. The grants awarded in her honor support efforts that exemplify the same dedication and commitment to animal welfare in Orange County.

Application & Deadlines

The application deadline for 2025 was October 9th. The maximum award was $500.

Annual Award Winners

  • 2016 Winner: Pet Pals
  • 2017 Winners: Independent Animal Rescue and the North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center
  • 2018 Winner: Hope Animal Rescue
  • 2019 Winner: Trestle Leaf Web Design 
  • 2020 Winner: Carolina Boxer Rescue
  • 2021 Winner: Our Wild Neighbors
  • 2022 Winner: Meals on Wheels of Orange County
  • 2023 Winner: Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness
  • 2024 Winner: Independent Animal Rescue
  • 2025 Winner: Longleaf Animal Rescue