Longtime Evergreen Animal Protective League President Jackie Bell, who died Sept. 8, loved animals and caring for them. But she also realized that caring for animals required extending that compassion to their owners.
“I always thought of her as Robin Hood,” said current EAPL president Kelly Burns. “She was always big on helping families keep their animals. If that meant taking them food or supplies, she would do it. There were times she would help furnish people’s homes so they had a place to take care of their pet.
“She went above and beyond that way,” Burns continued. “It wasn’t that anyone asked her to do it. She just said, ‘Let’s help the people, too,’ and did it herself.”
Bell’s approach — a novelty at the time — became integrated into EAPL’s philosophy. The nonprofit offers financial assistance for neutering and helps educate pet owners about caring for their pets.
“That’s definitely become a big part of our organization, making sure we’re helping people take care of their animals,” Burns said.
Bell, 85, led EAPL for 43 years. The league launched in 1981 to aid lost, abandoned, and suffering animals. She became its president in 1983.
EAPL director Elizabeth Pruitt said she was immediately impressed with Bell when she began volunteering at Evergreen’s Chow Down pet supply store several years ago.
“She got me involved with EAPL and I admired her,” she said. “She definitely showed us what it really means to love animals and put them first. I hope to be half the person she was at EAPL.”
Longtime Evergreen resident Betsy Hays, who’s currently president of the Evergreen Park & Recreation District, echoed those sentiments.
“Jackie Bell was an icon in our community,” she said. “The legacy she has left to remind us about the importance of caring for animals is one we all should embrace.”
Bell also fostered many cats and dogs over the years, and had a particular fondness for “hard luck cases,” Burns said — senior animals and those suffering fatal illnesses.
“She’d give them a place to be until they passed,” Burns said, adding that in addition to her deep compassion, Bell had a consistently light-hearted side. “She was funny. Sometimes doing rescue can be depressing and hard, but she always kept her sense of humor. I miss that about her.”
The Evergreen Chamber of Commerce honored Bell during its May 2024 Women in Business luncheon. According to the chamber, in the 40-plus years Bell served as president, she and her volunteers saved nearly 20,000 animals.
“Jackie has gone out to classrooms, scout troops, summer Bible camps and other events, year after year, tirelessly spreading the word about rescuing animals and good health pet care,” the chamber’s tribute to her reads. “In her 40+ years, Jackie has lugged countless heavy bags of dog/cat food, kennels, pens, dogs, cats, toys, blankets, dog beds, in and out of vans to hundreds of pet adoption events, fund raising events and educational talks.”
Bell’s husband Bill, who was a strong supporter of her work at EAPL, passed away in 2022. The couple moved to Evergreen in 1971.
While they had no children, Burns said the animals Bell cared for were her children.
“Everything revolved around EAPL for her,” she said. “She was always so very humble about it, too. It was just something she did because in her mind it was the right thing to do. The recognition was insubstantial to her.”
A celebration of Bell’s life and legacy is set for 3-7 p.m. Oct. 8 at The Barn at Evergreen Memorial Park, 26624 N Turkey Creek Rd, Evergreen. In lieu of flowers, people are urged to consider donating in Bell’s name to EAPL.