Impact Story: Teresa Scherl Gerdsen

Passion, Compassion and Trust 

Nearly 15 years ago, Teresa Scherl Gerdsen attended a mega-adoption event for shelter animals. It was there that she first learned about UCAN—and immediately fell in love with its mission: keeping pets and people together at home.  

What stood out to her most, even then, was that UCAN was fundamentally different from other animal nonprofits.

“UCAN is solution-focused,” Teresa explains. “They go after the root cause of the problem.”

That problem is the sheer volume of homeless animals, which leads to overcrowded shelters and heartbreaking outcomes. While adoption and fostering are critical, Teresa sees them as incomplete answers.

“Adoption is wonderful,” she says. “But as long as there are more animals coming in than there are going out — a revolving door — it’s a band-aid.”

The real issue is that too many unplanned or unwanted animals are being born, and there simply aren’t enough homes to take them in. 

UCAN addresses that reality head-on—by preventing the crisis before it begins. Through affordable spay and neuter services and basic veterinary care, UCAN reduces the number of animals entering shelters in the first place.

“We don’t want the dog to be put in a shelter,” Teresa says. “If we solve the root cause, we can actually change the model of the shelter.”

She’s seen firsthand what happens when we don’t. Animals stuck in kennels for 23 hours a day often experience “shelter shock,” making them harder to adopt the longer they stay. 

UCAN’s work keeps pets where they belong—at home, with the families who love them—while also serving the broader goal of a more compassionate Cincinnati.

“UCAN can change the system for good.”

When asked why she and her husband, Jamie, choose to support UCAN, Teresa doesn’t hesitate: “Trust.”

She describes UCAN’s CEO, Melanie Corwin, a transparent and exceptional steward of donor dollars. “Your donation isn’t diluted by overhead or unnecessary expenses,” Teresa explains. “It goes directly to the mission.”

“Melanie acts like every dollar is her own,” Teresa says. “She left a career as an attorney to run UCAN. That speaks volumes about her character and her commitment.”

One moment, in particular, brought UCAN’s mission home for Teresa on a deeply personal level. 

While volunteering at a UCAN Pet Food Giveaway in a low-income neighborhood, a family approached with a beautiful young gray pit bull. The dog’s skin was in terrible condition, and it was clear he had not been neutered. Instead of judgment, Melanie responded with compassion.

“She treated them with such grace and dignity,” Teresa remembers. “She invited them to come to the clinic when they could, no judgment.”

The woman, clearly distressed, explained: “He was always itchin’, but we didn’t know what to do.” She loved her dog but lacked access, knowledge, and resources. 

“That moment stayed with me,” Teresa says. “It made me appreciate UCAN even more. They meet people where they are, without shame, and offer real solutions.”

For Teresa, that combination—compassion, effectiveness, and trust—is why her support is unwavering.

“UCAN is where I can have the greatest impact,” she says. “Because they don’t just help animals. They keep families together—and they change the system for good.”

Talk about impact.