Dr. Emily Weiss, creator and developer of the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match adoption program, will receive the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation’s Evie Award at the Stars to the Rescue Gala in Walnut Creek, Calif., on January 5, 2008. The Evie Award, named for the cat who inspired the ARF’s founding, recognizes individuals for their excellence in compassionate care of companion animals.

“We are extremely proud that our own Dr. Emily Weiss has been selected as the recipient of an Evie Award from the Animal Rescue Foundation,” said Ed Sayres, ASPCA president and CEO. “Dr. Weiss has always strived to fully understand animals in order to make their lives better.”

Weiss has long focused her energy on improving welfare for shelter animals, from her post graduate work on choosing service dogs from shelters to her development of the SAFER canine aggression assessment tool. Since joining the ASPCA in July 2005, Weiss has created the Meet Your Match adoption program, which helps match potential pet owners to their ideal canine and feline companions.

For more information about the ASPCA, visit www.aspca.org. To learn more about the Evie Award, visit the www.arf.net.