Melanie Sadek Begins 2-Year Term as California Animal Welfare Association’s President
As leader of Pleasanton’s Valley Humane Society since 2011, Melanie Sadek has a wealth of experience in the animal welfare field—experience which has led to her taking the helm of the board of directors of theCalifornia Animal Welfare Association (CalAnimals). A member of the CalAnimals board of directors since 2016, Sadek assumed the role of association president on July 1, 2022, where she will serve for two years.
Representing more than 240 sheltering operations in the state of California, CalAnimals’ (www.calanimals.org) mission is to support the success of animal welfare and sheltering organizations in meeting the needs of animals and people in their communities. The organization provides industry-leading advocacy, training, education, and resources, and facilitates collaboration to address challenges and collectively improve the industry’s ability to save the lives of companion animals in California.
“I’m honored to represent the great organizations and people who make up CalAnimals’ membership,” said Sadek. “Collectively, we work to improve the lives of both animals and people in our state.”
Sadek has participated in and chaired various committees during her CalAnimals board service, most notably the Legislative committee, which researches and takes positions on CA animal welfare bills impacting companion animals. In this capacity, she was very involved in supporting California Assemblymember Richard Bloom’s animal blood banking bill (AB1282), which was signed into law last October. The law allows for the operation of voluntary canine blood banks similar to the model used for people, and ends the inhumane captive blood collection of dogs living their lives in cages. In 2021, Sadek also worked tirelessly to allow California shelters to provide animals with over-the-counter treatments to support healthier animals in shelter and prevent the spread of disease to the public through AB1535.
Sadek has a long history of community service both in and out of the animal welfare field. She was recognized in 2016 with the Tri-Valley Hero Award for Community Spirit, which celebrated her commitment to improving safety on school campuses, her dedication to traffic safety education, and improving the lives of both people and animals in our community. At a national level, Sadek serves on the Humane Animal Support Services Sustainability committee, which is evaluating sustainable lifesaving opportunities in U.S. shelters. Though she is dedicated to creating lifesaving opportunities nationally and statewide, Sadek remains fiercely committed to supporting the Tri-Valley, where she serves on the Pleasanton Police Chief’s Community Advisory Board and the Three Valleys Community Advisory Board. Her local support will be best illustrated in fall 2022, when Valley Humane opens the Phil Scholz Veterinary Surgery Center in Pleasanton. The surgery center will provide one-time surgical interventions to support shelter animals and the community.