DAKIN HUMANE SOCIETY RECOGNIZES FIVE LONG-TIME EMPLOYEES 

Springfield, MA (1/8/26) – Dakin Humane Society recently honored five staff members who reached their 10^th year of employment at a team ceremony held at its Springfield location.  The five employees were given gift bags that contained, among other items, a personalized zip-up hoodie with the Dakin logo as well as their first names followed by the title “Dakin Legend.”

An anonymous Dakin supporter who feels passionately about team members being by far the greatest asset to Dakin and the animals who enter the organization’s care, generously funded this recognition effort.

The five team members honored were:

Kayla Begnoche – Humane Resources Manager

Albert Fuster – Maintenance Technician

Marisol Lopez – Veterinary Technician

Amanda Rock – Senior Animal Resource Counselor

Sarah Pentowski – Admissions & Capacity Coordinator

According to Executive Director Meg Talbert, “Last year, we proudly introduced our Dakin Legends—and honored 13 staff members who have dedicated ten or more years to our mission. This year, we continued the tradition by celebrating our newest Legends, who reached their 10-year milestones in 2025. It is truly a joy to recognize these remarkable individuals who pour their hearts into their work every single day, providing compassionate care to pets in need and supporting the countless people in our community who love their companions.”

Currently, more than 20% of Dakin’s staff have worked for the nonprofit organization for at least 10 years, while 44% were hired five or more years ago.

Dakin Humane Society, located in Springfield, MA, is a 501 (c) (3) organization that delivers effective, innovative services that improve the lives of animals in need and the people who care about them. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in western Massachusetts, and a national leader in animal welfare. In a typical year, the organization shelters, treats and fosters more than 20,000 animals and has performed over 144,000 spay/neuter surgeries since 2009, making it one of New England’s largest spay/neuter providers.  Dakin’s Pet Health Center, a non-emergency veterinary resource for pet dogs and cats, has seen more than 16,000 total patient visits since it opened in 2022.  Dakin is a local non-profit organization that relies solely on contributions from individuals and businesses that care about animals to bring its services to the community.  For more information, visit www.dakinhumane.org.