Tricia Tialdo found a local charity that matches her love of animals — the Belleville Area Humane Society.

You really couldn’t blame Illinois REALTOR® Tricia Tialdo if she saw the slogan “Until they all have homes” on the Belleville Area Humane Society website and decided it was the perfect place for her to volunteer.

Tialdo, whose family had Old English Sheepdogs during her childhood, was actually drawn to the Humane Society by a friend on the board of directors. The broker at Tialdo Realty in Belleville joined the board in 2011. The slogan just happens to sound like it’s somehow linked to her full-time job.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve our community and to make a difference,” Tialdo says of her efforts on the Humane Society’s board. “Our shared mission is to find a forever family for every homeless animal in our community.”

She grew up in the Belleville area, as her parents built the family real estate business. After earning a financial management degree from Clemson University, she returned home to make her mark in real estate. She also got her first dog, a Labrador retriever.

Her love of animals and great experiences with fellow volunteers have kept her enthusiastic about the Humane Society. Her favorite story about animals there involves a Labrador mix who came to the shelter almost completely bald because of a skin problem.

Tricia Tialdo met St. Louis Blues Center David Backes at an “Athletes for Animals” event.

“She had spent two years as an outside dog and her physical condition had to be addressed before she could be adopted,” said Tialdo. “By treating her skin with antibiotics and special shampoos, she grew back a new, shiny black coat. She was then adopted by her forever family last Halloween, and she frolics in a home with three children who love her unconditionally.”

Tialdo is a member of the REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois (RASI), where she was the 2005 REALTOR® of the Year, the 2013 RASI Community Involvement Award recipient and the 2014 President. She’s also been regularly involved with state committees since 2011. In 2016, she’s part of the Illinois Bi-Centennial Task Force Working Group, the Political Fundraising Working Group, the Professional Standards Committee, the REALTORS® Political Involvement Committee, the Spring Conference Working Group and the State Legislative Contacts Working Group.

Watch the Illinois REALTORS® blog for weekly stories about the community involvement of Illinois REALTORS® during the association’s 100th anniversary year. If you have an idea for a REALTOR® to highlight with an article, please send it to [email protected]. #MemberMonday