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One of her many volunteer jobs is working with the schools to teach children responsible pet ownership.
"I see about 800 kids a year," said this Balsam resident. "I believe in starting with the young kids because they turn around and teach their parents."
In addition to visiting the public schools, McLeod presents programs at the public library in which she uses role-play to teach children pet responsibility and the advantages of spaying and neutering. One of the strong points she stresses to children is that dogs are part of the family, not just a possession.
McLeod also works with the elderly using pet therapy in nursing homes. She coordinated a canine drill team for entertaining patients at Mountain Trace. As a result, several nursing homes now use in-house therapy dogs.
As a member of Therapy Dogs International, she trains local residents who want to use their dogs for pet therapy.
"Therapy dogs must be obedient," she stressed. "They have to walk on a leash comfortably and respond to commands like 'sit,' 'down,' 'heel' and 'stay,' and they can't be afraid of a wheelchair."
Any breed can be trained to be a therapy dog, she said, pointing out one of her most successful therapy dogs was a pit bull.
"Obedient dogs are happy dogs," said McLeod, who teaches obedience. "If a dog isn't obedient say he keeps pulling at his leash, or he won't come on command the owner gets upset and hollers. That stresses the dog."
All of McLeod's dogs are certified AKC good citizens.
"People are amazed at how well they behave," said McLeod, who is qualified to give the AKC Good Citizen Awards.
If your dog is chewing on your shoe, don't smack the dog with a newspaper and take the shoe away, advises McLeod, who uses positive training.
"Instead, you firmly say 'no,' take the shoe away and give them a chew toy instead," McLeod said. "In training, dogs aren't the problem. The problem is the owner, so we first have to train the owner to train the dog.
"Dogs are pretty smart," McLeod said from years of experience, "You have to be one step ahead of them."
McLeod said she was born loving animals. "When it came cold weather and time to butcher the hogs, they had to lock me in my bedroom because I would just cry and cry," she said.
Over the years her compassion has only grown. Every week you can find her at the animal shelter, where she tries to save as many dogs as she can. Once a foster child, McLeod fosters dogs in her own home until the right family can be found.
Last week, she carried home a 3-month-old long-haired Chihuahua that had been abused and was very fearful of humans. The little trembling dog, which she quickly named "Chico," backed into the far corner of its cage and snarled when anyone approached.
"He was so pitiful," said McLeod, who began talking gently to him. "Only 3 months old and he thinks life is miserable. He hasn't even had a chance to be a happy, playful puppy."
After just three days in her foster care, Chico began to show the loving nature that McLeod said she could sense was hidden underneath his fear. The changed Chico, who had been scared to death of people, now followed McLeod's every step and eagerly jumped in her lap to be petted and cuddled.
"Dogs just adore her," Gray said of McLeod. "We can be in an arena during competition and when Bettie calls her dog, all other dogs come running, too. She's just amazing."
Two years ago McLeod spearheaded a "Pennies for Puppies" program at Hazelwood Elementary School in Haywood County that resulted in students raising enough money to upgrade the shelter's puppy pens, making them more comfortable and safe.
She served on a task force that overturned a breed-specific, dangerous-dog policy. The task force's efforts resulted in a policy that defines dangerous dogs by their behavior, not breed.
"Making a difference for the animals, that's what matters," McLeod said of her tireless volunteerism.
For more information about the Western Carolina Dog Fanciers Association, contact Gray at 586-8248.
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Bettie McLeod, joined here by her silkie terrier Jennie and sheltie Wee Robbie McLeod, received the American Kennel Club's Community Achievement Award. McLeod earned the prestigious national award for her efforts in the area of public education and responsible pet ownership.