Walking into The Association for Needy and Neglected Animals (ANNA) Shelter on a Tuesday morning is a lesson in controlled chaos. Before the doors even unlock, the entire facility is filled with the sound of dogs barking and cats meowing, all waiting for a turn at a second chance. At the center of this whirlwind is Ruth Thompson, a woman who navigates the noise with the calm of someone who has been spinning these particular plates for 22 years.
Despite being the architect of one of Erie’s most successful nonprofits, Thompson recoils slightly at the mention of formal titles. “People say ‘executive director’ and I’m like, I’m just the girl that works there,” she says humbly. “I don’t ever want to feel bigger or better than anybody. I’m just like everybody else.”
That grounded, “just like everyone else” mentality is the bedrock of what she calls the “ANNA Family.” It’s a philosophy that clearly resonates with the people of Erie – the shelter recently achieved a sweep in the Erie Reader’s Best of Erie awards, taking home Best Nonprofit and Best Place to Adopt a Pet (for 12 years running), while also being named a runner-up for Best Place to Work. For Thompson, these accolades are a reflection of a shared local victory…