Janet Wilder Dakin (June 3, 1910 – October 7, 1994), was an American philanthropist and zoologist, known for her animal advocacy and environmental work.
[1][2] In 1906, her father was appointed the United States Consul General in Hong Kong and in 1909, he was assigned to a similar position in Shanghai, where he served until 1914.
With those skills, she was named parliamentarian for conventions of the League of Women Voters and for the Alumnae Association of Mount Holyoke College.
[2] Janet Dakin consistently promoted state and federal legislative action intended to preserve open lands for wildlife, and make it available to the public for recreational and educational purposes.
[2][5][6] As a charter member of the Amherst Conservation Commission from 1962 to 1974, she help lead efforts to preserve the lands in the Holyoke Range.
As a result of her work, hundreds of thousands of pets were rescued and adopted, and more than 85,000 were spayed or neutered at the Dakin Community Clinic.