Senior Couple Devotes Their Time to Helping Animals in Need

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Brenda and Marty Winnick. Read their story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend, but for Marty and Brenda Winnick, it’s cats—and each other. Married for 41 years, the couple, both 82, share a bond that shines through their tireless volunteer work. Since 2016, they’ve dedicated themselves to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, taking on countless roles to help animals in need. Their journey with Best Friends began while they were still living in Florida. One visit to the sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, and they were hooked.

“Every two months, we’d come and visit, stay for about two or three weeks, go back to Florida for a couple of months, and then come back again,” Marty recalled. “Until we finally decided, ‘Yeah, it’s time to move.’”

After settling in Kanab four years ago, their volunteer work ramped up. Now, they devote over 45 hours each month to a variety of roles—from preparing frittatas for Wild Friends sanctuary residents to baking desserts for human visitors at Angel Village Café. But their most impactful work is with the Best Friends mobile clinic, which provides much-needed veterinary care to pets in the Navajo Nation, an area with limited access to pet services.

The mobile clinic, which runs once a month for a weekend, offers free or low-cost spay and neutering, vaccinations, and wellness exams. Brenda manages check-ins, ensuring everything runs smoothly, while Marty helps sterilize surgical instruments for surgeries. “I’ve seen them do things like remove tumors and amputate a leg on a dog—and there’s no bill for it,” Brenda said.

“When we go there, we usually bring two or three vets so we can knock out 120 spay and neuters in a weekend,” Marty added. “It’s long hours, but by the time Sunday night rolls around and we’re getting ready to go home, we look at each other and say, ‘Yeah, we did good.’”

Michelle Weaver, director of Sanctuary Outreach at Best Friends Animal Society, praises the Winnicks’ dedication: “Brenda and Marty have supported these mobile clinics from the beginning,” Weaver said. “The clinic days are long, and you’re working in a place with limited resources, but they’ve been incredible at problem-solving and making things run smoothly.” And even when they’re not physically at the clinic, they’re still helping. “They come in beforehand to prepare paperwork and medical supplies,” Weaver added. “They truly care about this work, and they’re just amazing people who are so generous with their time and energy.”

Beyond their work with the mobile clinic, the Winnicks also dedicate time to another vital role—laser therapy for cats. Every week, they administer treatments to about 11 cats at Cat World, helping ease pain from arthritis, wounds and trauma. Most of their patients are incontinent and have limited mobility, but laser therapy brings them relief.

Despite their packed volunteering schedule, the Winnicks show no signs of slowing down.
“Don’t sit around,” Marty said. “It’s satisfying to go out and help without expecting anything. That’s what volunteering means to us.”

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Marty and Brenda? Find local volunteer opportunities.