Point Park University math professor by day, animal advocate always, Natalie Ahwesh continues to be a powerful voice for animal rights in Pittsburgh. As vice president of Humane Action Pittsburgh, Ahwesh has advocated for animal protective legislation, including a ban on bullhooks at Pittsburgh circuses and state laws aimed at ending puppy mills. She is also spearheading a statewide task force that will combat Pennsylvania puppy mills and says she aims to keep the animal protection dialogue moving forward in Pennsylvania while continuing her efforts to make Pittsburgh into “America’s Model Humane City.” Ahwesh attended Pitt and lives in the South Side.

Christine Bagtas is a matchmaker, finding homes for cats in need through her work at Colony Cafe, Pittsburgh’s first cat cafe. Since the cafe opened to the public in Pittsburgh’s Strip District in 2017, Bagtas has facilitated adoptions of more than 200 rescue cats, the vast majority being adults or seniors, typically the hardest to place in new homes. In Bagtas’s role as cat loft manager, she’s responsible for the daily care of adoptable cats, ensuring their health and well-being, drawing on her background as a veterinary assistant. “I moved to Pittsburgh a little over two years ago and made the choice to step away from the clinical environment,” Bagtas told The Incline. “I sought a position where I still had the opportunity to work with animals but in a low-stress environment. I’m fortunate to be involved in finding shelter cats their forever homes!” Bagatas attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and lives in East Liberty.

Andrea Brown has always been surrounded by animals. The vet tech at Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic said her earliest memories are populated by a veritable menagerie — baby chicks, fish, love birds, toads, chinchillas, frogs, rabbits, crayfish, and finally cats and dogs. She’s continued to care for all types ever since, working as a vet technician and even starting her own bakery for cats, Brown Dog Pet Bakery & Boutique. (The name is a nod to her first dog, Brownie.) “Even as a shy, quiet child, I always felt the need to stand up and speak out for those I felt were without a voice,” Brown told The Incline. “This included other children, animals, anyone that I perceived needed me. A large part of small animal (read: owned pets) care is client education. My motto is, ‘If owners knew better, they would do better.’ I try to equip my pet parents with the tools and education necessary to provide the best at home care to my patients.” Brown attended Point Park University and lives in Swisshelm Park.

Blake Dube's award-winning startup Aeronics was originally focused on creating more portable oxygen systems for people with respiratory disease. But that scope expanded slightly when a local veterinarian told Dube and his co-founders that animals and their caretakers could benefit as well. The result of that conversation was Pawprint Oxygen, a small, portable oxygen delivery system made by Aeronics for vets or owners whose pets are in emergency respiratory distress. “We love working with veterinarians and pet owners,” Dube told The Incline, “and seeing Pawprint Oxygen grow and help pets has been incredibly rewarding.” Dube attended Pitt and lives in the South Side.

While working in veterans services after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Melissa Ernst combined her two passions: helping her veterans with PTSD, depression, or anxiety and animal therapy. During that time, Ernst got involved with Animal Friends. Two years later, Melissa transitioned into full-time employment at Animal Friends where she serves as the development coordinator and assists with the Pets for Vets, a program that pairs veterans with specially trained companion animals. Ernst is a graduate of the Pitt and lives in McCandless with her dogs, Oden, a long-haired German Shepherd, and Ares, a rescued pit-mix.

With her in-home pet walking and care company, Jackie Pajan says her goal is simple: “To alleviate stress, elevate well-being, and encourage good health and happiness in both people and their pets.” But it also works both ways. With her dog Ryley diagnosed with cancer, Pajan is able to help other people care for their pets through her work, something she describes as a source of personal fulfillment. “I just want to make people, and animals, feel less alone and more connected in every way that I can,” Pajan explained. “Good health, happiness, and a feeling of connection help everyone — animals and humans alike — live longer. I hope my work in this world adds to that.” Pajan attended the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and lives in Export.

As chief veterinary officer with the largest shelter in Pittsburgh, Ariella Samson cares for Pittsburgh’s homeless animals — and lots of them. Samson began as a staff veterinarian at the Humane Animal Rescue and now works as its chief veterinary officer. But beyond medical duties, Samson’s nominator said it’s her emphasis on education and progressive thinking that have helped propel the organization’s mission of caring for abandoned, neglected, and injured animals and reuniting lost pets with their caregivers or finding them new homes. Samson attended the University of Maryland and completed a specialty internship in shelter medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Squirrel Hill.

At-risk animals have a friend in Alexis Simonow. As foster program manager at Humane Animal Rescue, Simonow helps find homes for dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, and other animals that enter the organization's shelters on the North Side and East End. Simonow manages the Foster Animal Program, which places animals at risk in the shelter or on medication with volunteer foster parents for varying lengths of times. “The Foster Program does wonders at better allocating resources at the shelters, relieving stress on the animals, and preparing animals for adoption instead of euthanizing them,” Simonow's nominator told The Incline, adding, “Alexis is a Super Animal Advocate! I wouldn't be surprised at all if she's running the shelter in the years ahead.” Simonow attended Brookdale Community College and lives in Dormont.

Fiona Tam grew up in Toronto and took her first veterinary job in Pittsburgh after completing her residency in 2011. But while she planned to return to Toronto, Tam fell in love with Pittsburgh and her job here, and so she decided to stay. In the years since, Tam’s patients have fallen in love with her, praising her work and bedside manner and, for example, nominating here for awards and recognitions like this. “The best part of my job is witnessing the wonders of the human-animal bond every day and being able to play a part in strengthening that relationship,” Tam said. Tam attended the University of Toronto and lives in Monroeville with her three cats — Tiggeroo, Daniel, and Towanda.

Emily Zadjura has built her own foster-based nonprofit rescue in Pittsburgh, working tirelessly to help animals who are homeless, stray, sick, disabled, pregnant, or feral receive the care they need. Since its inception, The Foster Farm has successfully adopted out hundreds of animals, some as far away as Puerto Rico, as well as in rural areas in the southern United States. Zadjura relies solely on donations to operate the nonprofit and does not receive any compensation for her efforts. Zadjura attended West Virginia University and lives in Swissvale.