Pet Community Center Establishes Donor Society Honoring Phran Galante

Phran Galante

Pet Community Center, Nashville’s only low-cost spay/neuter and wellness veterinary clinic, has established Phrannie’s Phriends, a donor society for those contributing $1,000 or more annually to the nonprofit, in memory of animal welfare visionary Phran Galante, who died in 2019.

Galante was a pioneer in the animal welfare field in Nashville. In 1996, the city’s Metro Animal Control shelter was ranked as the worst in the nation, and she helped lead the Animal Care Task Force and pushed city leaders for change. Galante personally volunteered in the shelter, cleaning, feeding, and caring for the animals until finally in 2001 a new shelter opened under new leadership.

Nashville still had a lot of work to do back then as the city struggled with a shelter euthanasia rate in the 80% range, and Galante was at the forefront as she stepped into the Chair role to lead a coalition effort known as the United Partnership for Animal Welfare and served on the advisory board of Metro Animal Care and Control

Over the next five years, Galante led efforts including a rewrite of city ordinances, spearheading outreach clinics in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and lobbying to end puppy mills and animal fighting. In 2017, PCC honored Galante with the Jourdan Parenteau Leadership in Animal Welfare Award, their highest honor.

“Phran’s support of the Pet Community Center has helped us to spay, neuter, and provide veterinary care to more than 85,000 dogs and cats,” said Natalie Corwin, president and CEO of PCC. “These preventative efforts helped tip the scales at Metro Animal Care and Control, moving the euthanasia rate from 80% in 2011 to under 10% in 2018 and 2019. We are thrilled to establish Phrannie’s Phriends in her memory.”

Donations to Phrannie’s Phriends may be made at petcommunitycenter.org/phrannies-phriends.