Anna Stout, executive director of the Roice-Hurst Humane Society animal shelter and adoption center in Grand Junction, has received credentials as an animal welfare administrator.

Stout received the Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) designation from the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. She’s one of 207 people to hold the designation worldwide.

In addition to meeting eligibility requirements for leadership and management, Stout passed an exam covering best practices in animal welfare administration.

Carl Hughes, president of the Roice-Hurst Humane Society board of directors, praised Stout for receiving the certification. “For any nonprofit shelter to have a CAWA designee as their executive director is an incredible accomplishment and speaks to Anna’s strong commitment to the shelter and to the community.”

Jim Tedford, chief executive officer of the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, agreed. “Certified Animal Welfare Administrators have demonstrated that they hold specialized qualifications and a commitment to high standards and ethical practices in our industry. We respect their dedication to their own professional development and their pursuit of leadership excellence.”

The membership association develops leaders, promotes standards of practice and cultivates collaboration to advance the animal welfare profession.

Stout joined the Roice-Hurst Humane Society in 2015, bringing with her more than a decade of experience as a small business owner and founder of a nonprofit organization. She operated Transfinem Language and Cultural Services and founded the Foundation for Cultural Exchange. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado Mesa University and master’s degree from the University of Denver.

In 2018, Stout won the Health Links Director’s Award, and Roice-Hurst was among five finalists for the Champion of Innovation Award recognizing efforts to promote workplace health and safety.

The Roice-Hurst Humane Society provides housing, medical treatment and care for dogs and cats until their adoption. The animal shelter does not euthanize healthy, adoptable animals. Roice-Hurst also provides resources for pet owners, including free and low-cost pet food and supplies, vaccination services and animal behavior counseling. For more information, visit https://rhhumanesociety.org.