For over twenty years Linda Stuurman has led Last Hope and in those twenty years she has reshaped, expanded, and broadened the scope of the organization.

I met Linda in 1993 when she instituted our first inexpensive rabies clinic for the public. She has since introduced a dog program, early neutering /spaying of kittens, a free neutering/spaying day for feral cats, conferences on TNR, the first ever pit bull conference on Long Island, a fix-a-feral program, a Kentucky dog rescue and now our collaboration with the town of Hempstead on the Bully Breed Brigade event and the showing of the documentary, Beyond the Myth, about pit bulls and breed discrimination on Nov. 13^th.

Our cats are shown in seven pet stores, a center for cats and a center with cats and dogs.

Linda is never content with what she has accomplished. She is always an innovator and visionary.  She attends conferences, at her own expense, to learn what’s new in animal rescue and when she thinks it will benefit the animals of Long Island she institutes it.

There isn’t one municipal shelter on Long Island that doesn’t want to work with Linda and Last Hope.  Linda is not an egotist.  She is one of the the humblest people I know.  She holds no grudges and only wants what is best for the animals.

She lives at exit 66 on the expressway and travels to NYC daily and yet if an emergency arises she will be the first one to answer the call.  A week ago we received a call about a cat lying in the snow and who went out but Linda.  She is a hands on person and she would never ask any of us to do what she wouldn’t.

Linda, you are one of a kind, and deserve to be congratulated and praised for your leadership of Last Hope and all that the organization has accomplished in our first thirty years.

You’ve come a long way baby!

Written by Maureen Griffin

Presented to Linda Stuurman on Nov.10, 2011 on the occasion of the 30^th Anniversary Dinner of Last Hope at the Woodbury Country Club