LAKE COUNTY
Wilkins appointed animal care and control director
The Lake County Board of Supervisors is excited to announce the appointment of Gregory Wilkins as Animal Care and Control Director, following a nationwide recruiting effort. He brings more than a decade of diverse experiences in animal care and leadership roles.
His appointment is retroactive to Monday, Oct 21. 2024. Since 2012, Wilkins has served in a variety of animal care-focused capacities across six states, working his way from veterinary and kennel technician roles to high responsibility shelter and program management positions.
Wilkins most recently served as Shelter Manager for Dallas (TX) Animal Services, leading the major metropolitan city government’s animal care and behavior efforts while supervising a robust team of 45 employees. Over the prior seven years, he held leadership positions including four years as Shelter Manager for Escambia County (Pensacola, FL), Manager and Shelter Operation Manager of Hillsborough County (FL) Pet Resources, and Manager of Lifesaving Programs for Best Friends Animal Society in Northwest Arkansas.
These progressively responsible assignments brought significant opportunity to build knowledge and experience supportive of Wilkins’ goal to lead an animal welfare organization.
The appointment comes in the way of a section of this year’s Civil Grand Jury report for 2023-24 which sought to educate the public and improve conditions at the Clearlake Animal. Shelter. Among the problems highlighted by the Grand Jury was the fact that the shelter was overcrowded “due to the high rate of new animals entering the shelter making it hard, if not impossible, to care for all the animals in a humane way.”
The Grand Jury among other findings reported that a 10-year $375,000 contract with North Bay Animal Services had no provision for an increase in overtime and there continues to be “an overall lack of communication between NBAS and the community.” Among their recommendations was one noting that the city of Clearlake limit the population to 40 to 45 dogs and that the City Council ensure that NBAS improve communication with the public. Clearlake is by no means the only part of Lake County dealing with the problem of strays and animal control.
“This important appointment provides our Animal Care and Control department the foundation to move forward in serving our communities,” notes Bruno Sabatier, chair of the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
“Our Board is confident Gregory Wilkins has the skills and experience to effectively manage the full breadth of Animal Care and Control’s services, including our Veterinary Clinic. His strong passion for animal welfare is well demonstrated, and we look forward to his leadership in the department. We are very pleased Director Wilkins has chosen Lake County to continue his career; he is joining a developing team that mirrors his dedication to continual growth and providing the best possible services.”
“The Board of Supervisors’ trust means a lot,” affirms Wilkins. “Lake County is a beautiful place, and it has already become clear to me residents care deeply about the well-being of their animals. I am really excited to get to know everyone and help build on the strengths that are already here in Lake County’s communities. I am very happy to be here!”
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WASHINGTON
Project Cure CRC awards nearly $5 million in research funding
Project Cure CRC, the breakthrough research fund of the leading nonprofit Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance), has announced five new awardees of funds to advance urgent science in the colorectal cancer space. To date, 10 research grants have been awarded for a grand total of almost $5 million in critically needed funding.
Recipients of the most recent grants totaling almost $1 million include investigators from the University of California, San Francisco, Indiana University, University of Saskatchewan, Georgetown University, and Anglia Ruskin University. Researchers will focus on various topics in colorectal cancer, including radioimmunotherapy, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), CRISPR technology, and the protein drug ProAgio.
The Alliance, the nation’s nonprofit leader dedicated to colorectal cancer, launched Project Cure CRC in late 2023 as part of its mission to end colorectal cancer in our lifetime. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths overall, yet it is less known and less funded than other less deadly cancers.
Last December, the Alliance held an international summit with renowned CRC experts to identify research areas of urgent necessity and develop a framework for evaluating proposals. In March, the organization opened its first request for proposals, based on input gathered at the summit. Since then, researchers across the country have submitted more than 200 initial proposals. The Alliance will host the second annual Cure CRC Summit this December, convening the world’s top scientists to consider innovative ideas and areas of need.
“Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men under 50 and second leading cause for all men and women combined, yet it is still grossly underfunded,” said Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. “We initiated Project Cure CRC to make a difference in outcomes for the millions of people affected by this disease, and are committed to working with experts, industry, and donors to achieve that goal.”
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