Calling All Power Girls: Use Your Voice to Change the World!

by Angie Friers

The official definition of “power” is the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or alter the course of events. Having power comes with great responsibility and using your power to change the world is what strong Power Girls do.

A Powerful Discovery

As Executive Director of the SPCA of Brevard, a no-kill animal shelter that houses more than 300 animals on a daily basis, I like to believe I’m a Power Girl. But I didn't always believe that. I grew up in the hills of Ohio and spent my days playing outside with my sister and enjoying everything that country living had to offer. We had some cows, a horse, many cats, and one stray dog that found us over the years. I didn’t particularly get attached to any of them. I’d like to say that I had a passion for helping animals back then, but I didn’t. Like any typical teen, I got caught up in the excitement of Friday night football games and hanging out with my friends at the local Taco Bell.

But as I got older and ventured out into the world, I felt I was missing something. I needed a purpose in life and I found it after a visit to an animal shelter in Columbus, Ohio. I walked out of there sobbing. It was like nothing I’d ever seen. Hundreds of dogs and cats were sitting there waiting for someone to adopt them and most wouldn’t make it out alive. That was the start of me becoming a Power Girl and doing what I could to change the animal world.

Powering Up!

Because all good things take time, it took me a few years to figure out my place in the land of animal welfare. I left Ohio, moved to Chicago and then Florida, got married and adopted a dog from a rescue. Things were starting to click. I was picking up steam on my Power Girl journey.

I didn’t feel like adopting was enough though, so I started volunteering for the non-profit where we had adopted. I worked their tent at adoption events.

I picked dogs up from kill shelters. I fundraised and begged for donations, and I fell in love with making a difference. 80% of the people involved with animal welfare in the United States are female. And I can guarantee every single one of those girls is strong and powerful. Whether they’re transporting a dog to safety or being on the front lines of changing animal welfare laws, they all have one thing in common…a desire to leave this world a better place than they found it.

What is your passion? What do you want to change in the world?

Find a group of friends that share your dream and knock it out of the park. The sky is the limit for girls and Power Girls can accomplish anything.

Power Potential is All Around!

Get inspired by those around you, too. I am inspired every single day by my sister and gregarious niece, for example. They make me want to be a better, stronger, and more powerful woman because they strive to be those things, as well. I want to leave the world a better place not only for the animals we share our lives with, but because there is an entirely new generation of animal lovers and rescuers who are going to take my place someday.

Discover Your Power!

I’ve been involved with animal welfare and rescue for over 15 years. I’ve been lucky enough to become a Power Girl in my field and help change the lives of homeless animals on a daily basis, but it doesn’t take a life of dedication to change the world in which we all live.

Some of us have a passion…something that drives us to get up each day and go out into the world to make it a better place. But, even little gestures can make a huge difference. My passion is saving an animal’s life. Yours might be volunteering at a homeless shelter or collecting school supplies for families who can’t afford them.

One of my very favorite quotes is “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” I live by that motto every single day.

Regardless of what your passion is, use your strong and powerful voice to make a difference and change the world!

Bio:
As Executive Director of the SPCA of Brevard, Angie has been involved with animal rescue and welfare for over a decade. She firmly believes that we can become a “no-kill” nation with the community’s help. Angie is married to Brian, who is an Osceola County Firefighter/Paramedic, and they are the proud parents to four amazing boxers, Essie, Cabo, Nash, and Grady, all who were adopted from local boxer rescues. Two of her dogs are deaf and she takes a special interest in attending many local school functions and rescue events to speak of the importance and rewards of adopting a special needs dog. In Angie’s spare time she runs and is training for her third half-marathon this fall.