Central Coast top 100 Most Influential: #16 Dee Walton

WHEN it comes to animal welfare across the Central Coast, this woman has led the way in both the northern and southern areas. She is known for going out of her way to ensure the safety of all animals.

Dee Walton has been named the number 16 Most Influential person on the Central Coast for her dedication to animals.

• The Central Coast top 100 Most Influential people as voted by you
• #18 The Environmentalist
• #19 The Artist

THERE’s nothing like the power of radio and celebrity endorsement to pump up someone’s profile.

Dee Walton was catapulted into the Top 20 thanks to the highly rated SEA FM breakfast show Gawndy & Ash Pollard who led a campaign for Ms Walton early in the nomination period.

Ms Walton’s work with Central Coast animals speaks for itself, and she is known across the Coast for her work at SoCares Animal Care Facility in Charmhaven and Central Coast Animal Care Facility in Erina, where she is now president.

Dee Walton comes in at #16

Her passion for animals shines, according to Central Coast Animal Care Facility’s vice president Kim Pickavance. The pair took over the Erina facility in July 2016.

“She just goes out of her way,” Ms Pickavance said.

“When people haven’t been able to afford the council fees to get their dog out of the impound, she has helped out.

“She has also done free microchipping days where she has gone out to people’s homes. She has a heart of gold as far as animals are concerned. She is an amazing kind of girl.”

In a previous interview with the Express Advocate, Ms Walton said “giving up was not an option” when it came to finding suitable homes for animals.

Ms Walton has a huge passion for animals

“We use any means we can to find homes including social media, such as Facebook,” she said.

“We also work very closely with a variety of rescue groups and if we can’t find a suitable owner ourselves we call on them for support. Our animals go all over the state and even to Victoria. If it isn’t working the animal comes back to us and we find a new owner.”

She is a strong advocate for microchipping so owners can be found quickly.

One of the reader nominations said “this woman literally goes to ends of the earth for animals”.

“Will doorknock houses to find owners of lost animals,” they wrote.

“I fear a world without her. So many animals would be forsaken without her. Yes there are others like her but she goes a bit further.”

Tomorrow we profile number 15 in the top 100, a social justice crusader.