A Badge-Toting Stake Relief Society President For the past year, Paulette Dean has been the Stake Relief Society President of the Greensboro N.C., Stake. She’s a member of the Danville, Va., ward, a little more than an hour’s drive from Greensboro, which means she’s on the road a lot. Of course, that can probably be said of a lot of Stake Relief Society Presidents. Paulette, however, has probably spent the day testifying in court against people charged with animal neglect and abuse, speaking before community organizations, helping police officers corral vicious pit bulls, leading a team to rescue a kitten in a storm drain or legally seizing starving dogs from their uncaring owners. Not your typical Stake Relief Society President, Paulette has served as the executive director of the Danville Area Humane Society since 1992 and been a court-appointed humane investigator, complete with official badge, since 1996. The animal shelter she oversees takes in more than 5,000 animals a year. She also has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since she was about 10 years old and works daily with two artificial hips (one which has been replaced, so that makes three hips), two artificial knees, an artificial elbow and a lot of pain in the rest of her joints daily. (She’s also the sister of the writer of this article, but she’d been amazing even if she weren’t.) The physical discomfort she endures with little complaining, keeping good a promise she made to the Lord years ago. “When I first found out more than 40 years ago that I have rheumatoid arthritis, I made specific promises to the Lord,” she said. “I promised Him I would never complain, that I would learn the lessons He wants me to, and that I would not use it as an excuse not to serve. I have found, however, that mine is still the greater debt. The blessings have outweighed any pain and any demand placed upon me.” Besides daily, unrelenting pain, every few months, she has what she calls “flare-ups” that increase her pain and require stronger medicines, but even though she might have a more pronounced limp, never slow her down in serving the Lord and helping animals. Animal Champion No Comments | Post or read comments |