Ross Township resident Joseph “Sonny” Hanlon received the 2025 Animal Friends Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year for his years of service to animals and veterans alike.
The Animal Friends Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual who has served Animal Friends’ mission and vision for at least 20 years.
“In our 82-year history, this award has been bestowed on only a few individuals. Like those who came before him, Sonny Hanlon embodies our founding beliefs and has improved the lives of thousands of animals and people throughout our region,” said Cindy Cole, Animal Friends’ chief communications officer.
For more than 30 years, Hanlon and his wife, Lynne, have supported Animal Friends. They have been married for 57 years. Hanlon credits his wife’s passion for animal advocacy as his motivation to get involved with Animal Friends.
The couple once attended an event “when Animal Friends was rolling out for Pets for Vets. I said, ‘They’re looking for people to help and I’m sitting here on my butt,’ ” Hanlon said.
As a Vietnam War veteran, Hanlon understands the struggles that servicemen and women face after returning home. In 2014, when Animal Friends’ veterans program was in its early stages, Hanlon became one of the first members of the Veterans Ambassadors Council.
Hanlon is often spotted wearing his “Vietnam Veteran” Stetson hat, always on the lookout for fellow veterans who might need a furry friend.
“I wear that black Stetson hat, and that tells the veterans in these crowded rooms who I am. They see that black hat, they say, ‘That’s Sonny Hanlon, if you need a dog or a cat, that’s the guy to go see,’ ” Hanlon said.
Hanlon has helped countless animals find good homes during his time with Animal Friends. (He and his wife have two toy poodles, Twilight and Twinkle.)
“In just the past year and a half, Hanlon has participated in at least 37 outreach events and personally spoken with an estimated 1,174 people about Animal Friends for Veterans. Over the years, we estimate he has reached more than 10,500 veterans,” Cole said.
One of Hanlon’s strongest connections made through Animal Friends is an Iraq War veteran named Patrick. He helped Patrick adopt his dog, Zulu, and then became a steady presence in his life.
“I called Patrick last July to see how he’s doing,” Hanlon said. “He said, ‘I just built my own house. Me and my girlfriend are married now. I got my two kids back.’ When he said that, I’m telling you, my legs still tingle. I couldn’t believe it went that far. All this from getting a little beagle that nobody else wanted. Two problems, one solution — that’s been the goal for Animal Friends with the program they have there.”
On being recognized for his work with the Animal Friends Lifetime Achievement Award, Hanlon said, “I was really taken back by it. I mean, it’s pretty sad when you see a guy that’s supposed to be a big tough Vietnam veteran crying in front of everybody but it blew me away.”
Hanlon retired from Animal Friends in December because of health constraints but still keeps brochures on him.
“I push the program heavily because I totally believe in it. I’ve been very honored to work with the finest people in the world at Animal Friends,” he said.
Animal Friends For Veterans is a comprehensive adoption and resource support program offering veterans and their pets a safety net of services, including:
• Personalized pet matches for veterans looking for a companion animal.
• Pet food assistance through their Chow Wagon pet food bank.
• 20% off all veterinary services and medication at their Animal Wellness Center clinic.
• 20% off selected dog training classes at Animal Friends; and
• Temporary emergency pet boarding for dogs, cats or rabbits of veterans in times of hardship.
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