Western Pa. veterinary nurse nominated for American Humane Hero award

Crisis Center North, a nonprofit counseling and resource center based in the North Hills area, has been getting attention the past few years.

First it was for Penny, one of CCN’s therapy dogs that also travels to magisterial court to support domestic violence victims. Penny has been in the running multiple times for the American Humane Hero Dog Award.

Late last year, the center got attention for receiving a half-million-dollar U.S. Justice Department grant to expand all aspects of its PAWS for Empowerment program, and to help provide emergency and transitional housing for people with pets who are caught in a domestic violence situation.

This summer, the attention is going to Cheri Herschell, a legal advocate and canine intervention specialist with CCN, who has been nominated for an American Humane Hero Veterinary Nurse Award.

Grace Coleman, CCN’s executive director, said she first met Herschell at a canine “Good Citizen” class in 2010.

Coleman said that after the class, while her primary goal was to begin integrating shelter dogs into CCN’s services, “my second goal was to ensure that Cheri joined our team.”

At CCN, Herschell trains staff on appropriate interactions with working dogs, certifies canine handler teams who work hands-on with domestic violence victims, and creates guidelines for working dogs to ensure their mental and physical health.

“I’m humbled and honored to receive a nomination from Grace,” said Herschell, 40, of Zelienople, who has been a certified veterinary technician since 2003. “Her vision for the PAWS for Empowerment program was really something.”

Through that program, Herschell has also maintained contact with the veterinary industry by talking with vets and clinics about her research into the correlation between domestic violence directed toward animals and toward humans. She recently was given a national platform to impart that message, as a featured speaker during the American Veterinary Medical Association’s conference in Philadelphia in late July.

“It was the first time I’ve been able to discuss the intersectionality of animal abuse and domestic violence,” she said. “There’s a very strong correlation there, and it’s a topic that a lot of vets aren’t familiar with — but it’s very prevalent.”

Coleman said Herschell’s background as a veterinary nurse lets her connect with an industry that plays a valuable role in keeping both human and animal victims safe.

“Cheri has reached over 600 veterinary professionals with a tiered curriculum designed to help vets recognize their role as advocates in the fight against family violence,” Coleman said. “We’re delighted Cheri (could take) her message to a national audience, which will encourage vets to partner with their local domestic violence organizations, be advocates in the prevention of family violence and keep both ends of the leash safe.”

Voting for the American Humane Veterinary Nurse Hero Award is open to the public until Sept. 15. To vote, see HeroVetAwards.org.