Dr. Julie Levy holds a dog currently up for adoption at the Alachua County Animal Services facility in Gainesville.

Julie Levy, D.V.M., Ph.D., a professor of shelter medicine at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, has received the 2017 Avanzino Leadership Award from Maddie’s Fund.

Maddie’s Fund, a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals, has supported the college’s shelter medicine program with more than $11 million in grants since its inception in 2008. The award was presented to Levy in recognition of her outstanding leadership and significant achievements in saving animal lives.

Named for Rich Avanzino, the father of the no-kill movement and Maddie’s Fund president from 1999 to 2015, the award honors outstanding leadership in the animal welfare community. Presented along with a $25,000 grant to a nonprofit or government organization designated by recipient, the honor is bestowed for demonstrating significant achievement in lifesaving, showing the courage to look beyond the status quo and making bold decisions to improve the lives of dogs and cats, and being a champion of the no-kill movement.