Cynthia Bathurst
Born
Birmingham, Alabama
EducationBA, Ph.D
Alma materUniversity of Alabama; University of Iowa
Occupation(s)Animal advocacy, director of Project Safe Humane
Known forAnimal rights advocacy; Safe Humane Chicago's Court Case Dog program

Cynthia Bathurst (born in Birmingham, Alabama) is an animal welfare advocate, winner of a national veterinary award, and founder and director of Safe Humane Chicago, a nonprofit which includes the first of its kind Court Case Dog Program.

Education

Bathurst is a 1974 graduate, with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, of the University of Alabama. While at Alabama, she was one of two students who in 1973 were given the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for "their excellence of character and service to humanity."[1] In 1979 she received her doctorate degree in English from the University of Iowa.

Animal advocacy

Bathurst worked in mathematics research and analysis for 25 years while volunteering in animal welfare until 2007 when she founded Safe Humane Chicago, a community-wide coalition of government agencies, religious groups, police, animal welfare groups that operates under the Dog Advisory Work Group, or D.A.W.G., a court advocacy program, also founded by Bathurst, to help curb violence against animals by focusing on the principle that a safe community is a humane one.[2]

In 2008, she was named national director of the animal welfare group Best Friends Animal Society's Project Safe Humane program.[3]

The Chicago Tribune, in a profile of Bathurst, wrote, "Over a quarter-century, she has built relationships with law enforcement and child and animal welfare officials, government and church leaders, and people in the business world, and she draws on that pool of expertise when there's a problem to be solved." The Tribune also reported that more than 60 groups have lined up behind Bathurst to get an anti-violence message out to citizens in high-crime areas.[4] She testified at Chicago's City Hall during a November 2009 licensing committee session considering a dog-limit ordinance, which was voted down that day.[5]

Tails Magazine described her as, "A legendary local community organizer (who) envisions a safer world for people through compassion for animals."[6] And a USA Today article quoted community leaders, including Bathurst, about their fight against dogfighting.[7]

In 2009, Bathurst was given the American Veterinary Medical Association's Humane Award for her efforts in preventing animal abuse.[8] She was also featured by the Alabama Press-Register in an article about her continuing fight against animal violence.[9]

In early 2010, the Court Case Dog Program, spearheaded by Bathurst, Safe Humane Chicago and with support from Best Friends and Chicago Animal Care and Control, was launched. Working with local judges, the program educates youth and rescues, trains and finds homes for dogs confiscated from owners in criminal court cases.[10]

Bathurst is also an advisor on the National Canine Research Council, is a member of Chicago's Commission on Animal Care and Control, and is president of the Chicago Animal Shelter Alliance. In addition, she co-chairs the Task Force on Companion Animal Welfare and Public Safety for the Chicago City Council, and is a member of the Chicago City Clerk's Dog Owner Task Force, as well as vice-chair of the Cook County Partners Against Animal Cruelty Advisory Board.[11]

When Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle supported a stray dog, Bathurst, through her affiliation with Best Friends, screened foster homes for the dog.[12] She was quoted in a February 2011 article on Major League Baseball's news site, MLB.com, in support of Buehrle and his wife's efforts to help people and their pets.[13]

In January 2012, Forbes' Web site featured Safe Humane Chicago's Court Case Dog program on its Crime, She Writes blog about the number of dogs who have gone through the program since it began.[14]

Bathurst co-authored, with four others, an instructional manual to help law-enforcement officers deal humanely with dogs in their communities. The guide, titled The Problem of Dog-Related Incidents and Encounters, was published in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services.[15]

Appearances

Bathurst spoke in February 2010 at the University of Illinois Humane Education Seminar about "Building a Safe and Humane Community."[16]

In 2011, she was a presenter at Chicago VeganMania, giving a workshop titled "Lifetime Bonds: At-Risk Youth and At-Risk Dogs Helping One Another."[17] She participated in April 2011 at the University of Kansas School of Law's symposium on prosecuting animal cruelty.[18]

She is a regular speaker each year at Best Friends' annual No More Homeless Pets Conference.[19]

She spoke before the Federal Communications Commission at a July 13, 2011, public hearing about consideration of a merger between Comcast and NBC Universal effecting TV coverage of Safe Humane Chicago's events and programs.[20] She has also appeared on Chicago's WGN Radio.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  2. ↑ "Court Advocates for Animals | Animal Law Coalition". animallawcoalition.com. October 2008. Archived from the original on 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  3. ↑ "Best Friends' news site, "Safe Humane Chicago and Best Friends Partner for Safer Neighborhoods," March 31, 2008". Archived from the original on July 13, 2012.
  4. ↑ Hagerman, William (October 29, 2009). "Dogged determination: Cynthia Bathurst works to stop violence by helping animals and people peacefully co-exist". Deseret News. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  5. ↑ "ChicagoNow, "Just Arrest Me Now - Dog Limit Proposal Dies," November 30, 2009". Archived from the original on October 8, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Tails Magazine, "Local Hero – Dog's Best Friend," September 2011". Archived from the original on 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  7. ↑ "A fight to save urban youth from dogfighting - USATODAY.com". USA Today. Archived from the original on 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  8. ↑ "AVMA Humane Award, list of recipients". Archived from the original on February 2, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Dog's best friend: Birmingham native tries to stop violence against animals". al. October 20, 2009. Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Chicago Sun Times, "Program gives court case dogs a new lease on life," October 20, 2010".
  11. ↑ "Chicago Tribune blog, "Steve Dale Pet World," "Chicago Unites Against Dog Fighting"". Archived from the original on 2010-12-04. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  12. ↑ "The Telegraph, "Rescued dog to get special treatment: Truman's story of loyalty touched White Sox pitcher," March 16, 2009". Archived from the original on January 16, 2012.
  13. ↑ ""cynthia bathurst" wife board - Yahoo Search Results". search.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  14. ↑ Scott, Cathy. "Justice And A Safe Haven For Chicago's Court Case Dogs". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2018-07-07. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  15. ↑ "Yahoo! News (via Forbes.com), "New Law Enforcement Resource For Dealing With Dogs," Nov. 7, 2011". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  16. ↑ "University of Illinois, "The 2010 Humane Education Seminar," Speakers and Topics". Archived from the original on 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  17. ↑ "Chicago VeganMania workshop presenter, titled "Lifetime Bonds: At-Risk Youth and At-Risk Dogs Helping One Another."". Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  18. ↑ "Symposium to gather experts on prosecuting animal cruelty cases - KU News". archive.news.ku.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  19. ↑ "No More Homeless Pets Conference speakers list Dec. 30, 2009". Archived from the original on 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  20. ↑ "FCC public hearing, July 13, 2011". Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  21. ↑ "ChicagoNow.com, "Steve Dale Returns to WGN Radio," January 2011". Archived from the original on February 19, 2012.
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