Salem City Club presents: The Power of the People - Animal Bond

This program is presented in partnership with Salem Reads, the community reading program of the Salem Public Library Foundation and the Salem Public Library. This year’s Salem Reads book selection is Walking with Peety: The Dog Who Saved My Life by Eric O’Grey with Mark Dagostino. For information on Salem Reads programs in the community this February, please visit the 2021 Salem Reads Webpage. BJ Andersen, Executive Director of the Willamette Humane Society, believes that Walking with Peety: The Dog Who Saved My Life and the Willamette Humane Society value something in common: the power of the people-animal bond. Join us to hear Andersen speak about the Willamette Humane Society, the challenges and rewards of working in animal welfare, successfully matching companion animals with people, and the positive impacts of pets on people in our community. BJ Andersen grew up with a love for animals, especially horses. After receiving a degree in Equine Studies from the Meredith Manor International Equestrian Center, Andersen took a job caring for the horses of the San Francisco Mounted Police. In 1995, she accepted a position as Kennel Manager at Willamette Humane Society. In 1997, she earned a BA degree in Environmental Science, Art, and Philosophy from Marylhurst University. After assuming increasing responsibility at WHS, Andersen was named Executive Director in 2014. In 2015, the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators named Andersen as one of 126 certified Animal Welfare Administrators in the United States. If you’ve ever owned a pet or never owned a pet, this program is for you!