Her face will be unfamiliar to those who run our state government, but not for long.

"One of the main goals in my position as North Carolina state director for the Humane Society of the United States is working on state legislation," Arrington said. "So whenever session is in, I will be at the Capitol many days a week getting to know all of our state senators and representatives and working to get better laws."

Arrington, who became director of the HSUS state chapter last May, has become well known locally for her work in persuading Orange County to restrict the tethering of dogs, and Durham County to ban the practice altogether. Three years ago, in her spare time from her full-time job in accounting, she founded the Triangle-wide Coalition to Unchain Dogs. The organization not only pushed the county governments to take action, but also builds fences for residents who can't afford them, so they can let their dogs off their tethers. Thus far the group has built more than 100 fences, allowing more than 130 dogs to be unchained and run free safely.

For years Arrington has wanted to have her paid professional life involve helping animals. Last May her desire was fulfilled when she accepted the position with the HSUS.

In addition to lawmakers, she'll also be reaching out to citizens to let them know they need to get involved, too, in improving life for the animals of North Carolina.

"I think a lot of folks have the assumption you have to be a professional to be effective," Arrington said. "You can be a very effective citizen lobbyist. You have a lot of impact speaking to your representative."

On Feb. 12, Arrington will host an HSUS-sponsored North Carolina Humane Lobby Day at the Legislative Building in Raleigh. Its goal is to provide participants with a primer on lobbying so everyone can make his or her voice heard when animal legislation is pending.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. An RSVP is required by Feb. 5 for Arrington to set up appointments for participants with their state representatives and senators. Anyone interested should RSVP at co"/lobbyday_RaleighNC_Feb12/register.tcl.

"We are hoping to have something that afternoon with the governor's office too," Arrington said.

Arrington is excited about Lobby Day, an event that HSUS holds in as many states as it can.

"It is a great opportunity to show the force behind what I know we have here across the state," she said. "My goal is to have somebody from each district ther."

Arrington said she has told people who are unable to attend Lobby Day that they can call or e-mail their representatives on that day or set up a meeting with them in their home office.

""Face to face is the best," she said. "Just introduce yourself, tell them you are concerned about animal welfare in our state and that you are going to be active when the 2009 session starts."

The position with HSUS appealed to Arrington in part because of the organization's emphasis on coalition-building. She learned about that during her work getting the Coalition to Unchain Dogs up and running.

"We have the same philosophies," she said. "They are starting to reach the mainstream, and this is what we, the Coalition, had to do to be effective and make change. We need to get out and reach the people on the fence and talk to the people we want to educate. That is what we were doing with the Coalition and what the HSUS wants to do -- make animal protection an everyday thing."

The HSUS is working to have a state director in every state. Right now there are 35.

"North Carolina is an important state because we are right on the line heading between the northern and southern part of the country," Arrington said. "It is a little tougher historically in the South to get things done for the animals. We want North Carolina to be a leader and start changing things for the animals."

Arrington has been traveling the state meeting with animal rescue groups, shelters, and animal advocates learning their area's particular concerns and letting them how she can be a resource.

"I think we will get more accomplished if we work together," Arrington said. "A unified voice for the animals will be much louder. We don't have to agree on everything but we all want the same end result and we can learn from each other's successes and failures."

One priority of Arrington's job is to stop dog fighting. She said that North Carolina is one of the worst states in the nation for dog fighting, which exists here at every level, from street fighters to professional breeders. She will be working to help train law enforcement as well as assisting in shutting down dog fighting operations.

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Arrington is working to build coalitions so that the collection of voices will be better heard, but she is a firm believer in the power of the individual as well.

"You never know what will happen from one voice," Arrington said. "If I can convince anyone of anything, that is it. Take, for example, the Coalition to Unchain Dogs. We had no idea what that would turn into. You inspire others."