Mona Ahmed is known for showing up wherever an animal needs help, sometimes, as the joke goes, even in her “four-inch heels.”

That dedication took center stage at Fresno County’s State of the County event, where Ahmed received the Chairman’s Outstanding Service to Fresno County Award for her years of animal rescue work across the Central Valley.

Ahmed, founder of Fosters 4 Rescues Fresno and Fresno Furry Friends, said her work now touches hundreds of animals every month, from dogs and cats to animals not normally associated with rescue groups.

“I do like almost 700 to 800 animals a month. Cats, dogs, turtles, birds, goats, ducks, you name it. I haven’t done a snake yet,” Ahmed said.

She traces much of her dedication to the loss of her first dog, a German Shepherd named Rex. That experience changed the way she viewed animals and the people willing to put themselves at risk to save them.

Fresno Operation Stretches Across US, Canada

That work has since grown into a network of foster homes, veterinarians, pilots, volunteer drivers, and rescue organizations stretching across several states and into Canada.

Every other week, Ahmed said volunteers transport between 80 and 145 animals north, stopping at rescue organizations along the way. Some animals ultimately continue into Canada, while others are taken by groups in Oregon, Washington, and Montana.

The work does not leave much time for rest, she told GV Wire.

“Hardly ever sleep. I was up till 2 a.m. and I woke up at 4 a.m. today,” Ahmed said.

After the State of the County event, Ahmed said she still had to return home and prepare vans for another transport, label crates, and organize the animals that would be delivered to each rescue.

Ahmed said lowering the cost and increasing the availability of spay and neuter services remain critical to reducing Fresno County’s animal population. She also pointed to restrictions on backyard breeding as an important part of addressing overcrowding.

She said her organization frequently takes dogs and cats from breeders who no longer want to continue breeding them and works to place the animals with rescues.

‘I Never Expected Something Like This’

Ahmed said Thursday’s recognition came as a surprise.

“I was very honored when I heard that I would be getting this award for sure. I never expected something like this,” Ahmed said.

She also credited Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld for supporting animal-related efforts over the years.

Bredefeld said recognizing Ahmed was a way for the county to highlight people whose work often happens outside the spotlight.

“Mona Ahmed has been for many, many years saving animals, and animals are helpless. They rely on us for their love, compassion to take care of them. Too many are out in the street, too many end up in shelters, not enough get adopted. So she’s doing God’s work, and we wanted to recognize that,” Bredefeld said.

Bredefeld Outlines Fresno County Priorities

Beyond the recognition of community members such as Ahmed, Bredefeld used the State of the County event to highlight priorities for the Board of Supervisors, including public safety and economic development.

Bredefeld said supporting law enforcement remains the county’s top priority, pointing to the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, probation, and public defenders as agencies the county must continue supporting.

“Well continuing to make sure that we have a safe, thriving community. We support our law enforcement and we have lot of law enforcement from the district attorney to the sheriffs, probation, public defenders. So we have to support them and we’re going to continue to do that. That’s the first and foremost priority,” Bredefeld said.

Focus on Limiting Government, Maintaining Economic Environment

He also said the county should maintain an economic environment where residents and businesses can prosper while limiting government interference.

Bredefeld pointed to actions taken by the board involving substance-use programs and monitoring of sex offenders as examples of issues that supervisors have addressed.

“This is a board that’s been very proactive on dealing with those things and we’re going to continue to do that,” Bredefeld said.

But amid discussion of county government, law enforcement, and the economy, Ahmed’s recognition offered another theme for the event: highlighting residents whose work is centered on helping others.

For Ahmed, the goal is ultimately less about an award and more about getting animals out of shelters and into homes.

“I hope more people see this and they help animals and I hope people go to the shelters to adopt because that’s what we want,” Ahmed said.

Watch the Full State of the County

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.