William “Billy” Staffa left this world at the age of 48. His love for animals was the greatest I have ever seen. I met Billy in 2006 while I was walking my dogs at Robert E. Lee Park. My dog Terra was 12 years old, and after walking over 1 mile, she decided she was not going to walk any further. She weighed 65 lbs, and I could not carry her, also she was in pain, so when I tried to lift her she growled, and wanted to bite me. This was part of her personality. Billy came to the rescue. He picked her up, and walked her all the way to my vehicle. At that moment I knew he was extraordinary. Terra did not growl or try to bite him. I had never seen anyone with this connection to animals.

Billy’s connection to animals was evident when he worked as a mammalogist at the National Aquarium where he presented the mammals and a conservation message four times a day to thousands of people. Billy spent several hours per day in the water with the mammals making a one on one connection with them.

His first love was definitely animals, but his second love was children. Not just any children, but children with challenged backgrounds. Billy joined the Children’s Guild in 1997.

The Children's Guild offers special education day school programs for boys and girls ages 3 - 21 who are emotionally disturbed, on the autism spectrum and/or who have multiple disabilities that interfere with attending regular school programs. Students also may have secondary problems, such as learning disabilities, health impairments, attention deficit disorder, or speech and language problems.

Billy helped develop the Animal Interaction Program at the Children’s Guild. The students learn to care for animals, opening new dimensions of learning to love and care for the animal kingdom. Billy believed every living thing had a soul and should be treated as living beings. He was a vegetarian in honor of animals and the Universe.

Billy was a free spirit and tremendously connected to nature. He impacted the lives of so many children and adults. One can only hope to make selfless contributions before we leave this earth.

A no-kill animal rescue shelter will be built in honor of William ‘Billy’ Staffa. 100% of all funds collected will be used in the building of this shelter. All donations are 100% tax deductible.