Betty Peyton, like many children growing up, wanted to be a veterinarian. She had the grades, was inducted into the National Honor Society and even graduated in the top 20 of her class. However due to her slight dyslexia, she was always averse to reading, though that didn’t stop Betty from building a career caring for animals. Betty is now the director for the Humane Society of Madison County in London, Ohio.
Betty has been volunteering for the Humane Society of Madison County (HSMC) for 10 years. In 2000, Betty agreed to help the HSMC with fundraising and the keeping of their financial records and was quickly elected to the board of directors. It was difficult for Betty to visit the shelter however, as one of her own dogs had just passed away.
“That’s the toughest part of the job,” Betty says, ”you fall in love with these animals.” Having to make the decision to euthanize an animal is never an easy one, but it is one that falls on the lap of the director. Fortunately for Betty, because of her hard work, the HSMC hasn’t had to put down an adoptable animal in seven years. Through her connections with other shelters that have higher foot traffic, she has been able to ensure that every adoptable animal coming through the doors of her shelter finds a loving home.
Married in 1985, Betty says that her husband George has always been her biggest supporter. George is a man who is constantly envisioning fantastic ideas and is the type who will stop at nothing to ensure that his goals are achieved. Betty and George own White Tiger Graphics, a screen printing company, London State Theater and are currently working to open Lost or Forgotten, a photo studio that will be available for rent by photographers.
Betty doesn’t currently have any children, per say, but admits that she treats her four dogs as if they were children of her own. Betty has two pit bull terrier mixes named Alarm and Differ, and two labs named Aegir and Idunn who were named after a Greek god and goddess, respectively. All four of her children – dogs – were adopted from the HSMC.
For the past six years, the HSMC has been a happy participant in the Tour for Life which is put on by the North Shore Animal League and Purina. The Tour for Life is a cross-country road trip constructed of two tour busses that travel from state to state helping to find homes for abandoned cats and dogs.
It is Betty’s hope that through Sunny 95’s “20 Outstanding Women You Should Know!” program, she’ll be able to raise visibility for the HSMC and continue inspiring people to adopt new furry friends. The HSMC is a non profit organization and relies on the help of charitable individuals to keep the shelter alive and running.