In 1978, she founded her animal welfare organization at a time when more than 17 million homeless dogs were slaughtered each year and spaying and neutering were nearly unheard of. Over the previous four decades, animal welfare awareness has greatly increased, and euthanasia rates have dropped to around 2.5 million, but there is still much work to be done. DDAF's awards benefit nonprofit organizations and initiatives that aid animals and the people who love them all around the country.