Remarkable Women: Ruth Thompson
We see her every week in our Jet Pet segments, highlighting shelter animals and usually making us laugh.
Unfortunately, she's also brought us heartbreaking stories of animal abuse and neglect.
Thompsom started the Association for Needy and Neglected Animals, or the ANNA Shelter, in June 2004.
The nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter has become a vital resource in our community.
'When I started the shelter, I literally wanted something really small, something I could do myself literally. That obviously has not happened, 39 employees later. We handle about 10,000 animals a year,' said Thompson.
For the past 21 years, Thompson has worked tirelessly to rescue unwanted, abused, neglected and stray animals, all while being a full-time mom, starting a successful for-profit business she started in her early 20s and helping her family at Rosebud Flower Shop.
'I try to stress this to my daughter, you know, to get up in the morning and feel good about what you do, to have a purpose,' said Thompson.
And despite the physical, mental and emotional toll running an animal shelter can have, Thompson said she wouldn't change a thing.
'I think that's the ticket. Find what you're passionate about,' she said.
Ruth Thompson — Truly a remarkable woman.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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