Joanna Bundros

Position: With help from Beverly Marshman, Barbara Thrasher started and now runs BONES (Better Options for Neglected Strays) Pet Rescue in the economically depressed area of Covelo, California, home to several Native American tribes. For 30 years, BONES has taken in stray animals and placed them in foster care until a permanent home is found.

Getting the word out: At first, Thrasher took in strays as she discovered them: puppies abandoned in a ditch, cats wandering the streets. Then, she and her volunteers held educational sessions about pet rescue. Other people in Covelo paid attention, especially the children’s groups she spoke to, and they would summon her when they found strays. Now, BONES has grown so much that it actually goes to animal shelters and takes home some of the most desperate cases—dogs who can’t walk, blind cats, elderly pets. She and a team of dedicated volunteers regularly house about 100 animals in their homes.

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