Sharon Cody's name added to Mission Viejo Wall of Recognition

Sharon Cody, a longtime community advocate and visionary, was recognized this week for her vast contributions to Mission Viejo by having her name added to the City's Wall of Recognition.

The Wall of Recognition at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center pays homage to people who make significant and lasting contributions to our community.

Sharon has certainly done that.  Her incredible efforts began more than three decades ago when she led the effort to organize and run a computer lab at Carl Hankey Elementary School, recruiting parents and working with teachers. She was also a grass-roots organizer for the building of more school facilities to accommodate the City's population growth.

An ardent animal activist, Sharon has worked since 1984 to raise community awareness of the County's inhumane treatment of animals. Over the years, she has lobbied against its animal "control" philosophy and has fought the County's policy of euthanizing dogs only 72 hours after their capture. Sharon's vision to have a pro-life, humane animal services center that provides the best shelter and care for lost and abandoned animals until they can be adopted has earned her accolades and recognition from across the state, nation and abroad.

So, it's no surprise that Sharon is the president of the nonprofit Dedicated Animal Welfare Group (DAWG), the fundraising arm of the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center. Since its formation in 1995, DAWG has increased awareness of animal issues and raised funds for the medical care of stray and abandoned animals. In fact, the organization has contributed $80,000 to $100,000 in medical care each year.

For the last 23 years, Sharon has chaired and helped to run the annual DAWG Walk, which raises community awareness as well as funds for the humane treatment of animals. If that weren't enough, she has long coordinated the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center's foster program, spending endless hours working with the foster care providers throughout the community and coordinating all spay/neuter surgeries.

Through Sharon's efforts, the lives of more than 42,000 animals have been saved.

Nominations for the Wall of Recognition go through four levels of approval with the City Council giving the final consent.  Sharon's name will be forever etched on this wall for her dedication to Mission Viejo.

If you are interested in nominating someone who has provided extraordinary, lasting and highly significant service contributions to our community, download this application:  WallofRecognitionPolicyandApplication.pdf.