SPRINGFIELD – When you walk into the Dakin Humane Society you see a variety of animals, supplies, and employees. What you don’t see, however, are the volunteers and community members that make it possible for Dakin to help the animals that they do.

Now, in celebration of their 50th anniversary, Dakin is bringing back their Humane Awards to honor those making a difference for animals in their community.

The awards began in 2011, but stopped a few years later according to Stacey Price, Dakin’s director of Development and Marketing. While Price isn’t sure why the awards stopped, she said they ended when Dakin was experiencing a time of transition.

Price said the Humane Awards are Dakin’s way of recognizing those who have given so much to the community.

“I think we’ve been so successful because the community supports us so much, and this is our way of recognizing them back for their individual efforts or their company efforts,” Price said. “Because we wouldn’t be as successful as we are with helping and saving as many lives if it wasn’t for the people that support us.”

Individuals can be nominated for five different awards, including, the Frances M. Well Award, the Youth Award, Champion Award, Richard and Nathalie Woodbury Philanthropy Award, and Animal Hero Award.

In addition to the awards open to public nomination, Price told Reminder Publishing there is also a Janet Dakin Lifetime Achievement Award. That award, however, is different as it is not open to public nomination. Instead Dakin’s Leadership Society and directors will select nominees for the award.

While each award is unique in its criteria, each has the same mission: to honor those who honor animals.

Each nominee must have made a positive impact through animals in their community, demonstrated passion and commitment to animals, exemplified compassion towards others, and have made a difference in the Western and Central Massachusetts, along with Northern Connecticut residents can be nominated by others, or nominate themselves, online at Dakinhumane.org/humane-awards.html until midnight on July 29.

“This isn’t something that’s just limited to Dakin volunteers or people who support Dakin only,” Price said. “It’s just anybody in the community really that has a passion for animals and has done some good work to help animals.”

Once nominations are closed, an independent board of judges will then select the winners of the awards by voting for one of the finalists selected by directors and staff from Dakin. The three finalists in each category will then be invited to Dakin’s Mutts and Mimosas event on Sept. 22 at the Quonquont Farm in Whately, where they will be honored and winners will be announced.

Winners will be given a physical award and be honored in the weeks following with social media posts, articles, and mentions in Dakin’s blog. Additionally, Price said they will become a part of Dakin’s history.

“Their names will essentially be added to our history of Humane Award winners, which we think is a very notable accomplishment,” Price told Reminder Publishing.

While this is the first time in several years the awards are being held, Price said Dakin plans to continue the awards in years to come.

“It feels like the right thing to do because we wouldn’t be where we are without the people,” she said. “When you look back at our history of 50 years, we wouldn’t be where we are as a leader in animal welfare and be able to help hundreds of thousands of animals over the years if it wasn’t for the individuals that help us.”