For Kim Leon, loving animals has always come naturally. Long before she ever walked through the doors of the Wake County Animal Center, she was the kind of person who noticed animals, worried about them and wanted to help. “I’ve been an animal lover ever since I was a little kid,” Kim says simply, as if there were no other way to be.
Leon, who worked as a kindergarten assistant for 23 years, first connected with the Animal Center about 12 years ago after a coworker asked if she wanted to volunteer. At the time, Leon already had a miniature schnauzer of her own. She agreed to try volunteering and began as a dog walker.
“I fell in love with it,” Leon said. “The shelter is always crowded, and there are so many dogs in need. I felt so bad for all the pups.”…