VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Our VOLUNTEER of the Month!!!

Congratulations to Kathie Fuller - our Volunteer of the Month!!

I started my volunteer work back in 2002 after adopting my dog Rossco from the SPCA. He had been at the shelter for more than eight months and I decided I wanted to help other dogs find their forever home. I started as the normal volunteer does; going to the shelter to walk the dogs and also helping with the mobile unit when it was out. I started working with Darryl, the volunteer coordinator at the time, in taking pictures of the dogs. Since I had all these pictures, I started making large posters for the shelter. This was when the SPCA had a facility at Compton Road.

One Saturday, I met Christina as she was playing with a dog. She asked me if I would take some pictures of the dog for her since she was trying to find a foster home for it. That is how I got started with Sheltered Paws. To be honest I can't remember what year that was. At my age, time just seems to run together. The time spent has been wonderful. I feel like I am really helping do something good. A wonderful dog finds a home and a family gains a great pet.

Because I already have more than enough pets in a small house, I am not able to foster. I use my other talents to help. I took over managing the SPDR PetFinder site. That made sense since I had all the pictures of the dogs to be posted. I put together the Goodie Bags that we provide for the long timer dogs at the shelter. The bags contain all sorts of treats, items, and information to help the new owner blend the new dog into the family. I also make a nice cage card with the dog's picture on it to hang on their kennel door to highlight that this is a special dog. I created and manage the SPDR Web site www.shelteredpaws.com. This is another tool in getting the word out to the public that there are some great dogs up for adoption.

One of my first big "events" with the SPCA also involved SPDR. The SPCA asked SPDR if we would take pictures of forty (40) dogs that were part of a large seizure. I took the pictures that were then posted on PetFinder. I was responsible for replying to all the emails from people wanting to see and adopt the dogs. It took us several months but all of the dogs were adopted. One fun part of this was a two day wash-the-dog event I set-up to get all these court dogs washed. They had been at the shelter for months and really needed to be "freshened" up and get lots of hugs and kisses from the SPDR ladies.

I had the opportunity to help when all the dogs and cats from Hurricane Katrina arrived at the shelter. That sure was a long night but very rewarding in seeing the dogs get comfortable after their long journey. I was part of a group of people that acted as helpers for the people fostering the hurricane dogs. People would call us with questions or issues they needed help with and we would get them their answers/help. It was amazing to see the outpouring of help and support from the people of Cincinnati for these pets.

People are always asking how I can do this volunteer work. All I have to do is look at my dog Rossco for my answer. I am sure that he isn't aware that his adoption put me on a path that just keeps going. Over the years I have seen so many great dogs go on to a better life. Some are therapy dogs but most are wonderful companion pets. I love to read feedback from the family's that have adopted dogs through our group. I guess you can say I am addicted to the warm fuzzy feelings I get after each successful adoption.

Granted volunteer work can be demanding of your time but if we didn't stand up and speak for the dogs, who will? I can be tired and mentally exhausted but just being around the dogs brightens me and lifts my spirits. I look forward to the Saturdays when I take pictures. My work with the dogs helped me make it through a hard year when my husband had a really bad accident at work, my back condition got worse, and then my son almost died from a serious MRSA infection. It was like all the dogs, not just mine sensed I needed help and support. Their love and licks helped me make it through the year. I get far more from my volunteer work than I give.

I would hope that if you ever decide to volunteer, remember that you not only help the dogs but you help yourself. Over the years I have heard the comments about how people don't like going to the shelter because it is depressing, noisy, and smelly. My answer to that is, how do you think the dogs feel. They are there 24/7 and can't walk out the door to go home. Sure I can sit at home with my feet propped up watching TV and not be depressed but I don't think that is what I ever want to do.

Sheltered Paws is a wonderful group of people that work with the dogs that people want to discard or walk away from. We are not an exclusive breed rescue that picks and chooses just the best of the dogs to help. We work hand-in-hand with the SPCA to place the dogs that have been in the shelter far too long. As we say, they have done their time. They may not all be cute fluffy puppies but they still have plenty of love to give to a deserving family.

On behalf of all of the volunteers and dogs of Sheltered Paws, we thank you, Kathie, for your continued hard work and dedication!

Donna Offen - a past Volunteer of the Month!!

How did you initially become involved with Sheltered Paws? I was a volunteer at the SPCA and I met Kathie Fuller, our media manager, during a photo shoot. After getting to know Kathie while volunteering at the SPCA, I was invited to a Sheltered Paws meeting in August of 2004 where I met the founder Christina Hamberg. In November of 2004, I took in my first foster, King. He was a very sweet and shy border collie mix that had been part of a publicized and very sad hoarding/neglect case.

How would you describe Sheltered Paws to someone who has never heard of this group? I tell people that we take dogs that really need to get out of the shelter environment and into a family setting. These dogs have either been at the shelter for a very long time or they are sick, injured or pregnant. We provide the medical care necessary and treat these dogs as members of our family until their own loving forever home is found. We change these dogs lives for the better, one at a time.

What is your favorite way to help Sheltered Paws? My favorite way to help is fostering - it is my passion. I love bringing home a dog who's been down on his luck and provide him with the means necessary to blossom into a happy and well adjusted dog. It's wonderful to watch their transformation from uncertain and many times unsocialized into a dog with confidence and appropriate behaviors.

Is there a particular foster you have an entertaining story about? Each of my foster dogs have been funny and entertaining in their own right. I can't think of one story that would trump another. For example Chaz would make funny "brrrrrr" noises when he'd shake his head. Eli would steal apples from the counter and shove the whole thing in his mouth like a pig at a luau. Kenny would curl up into a chair which was way to small for him. Spencer would throw his toys up in the air and catch them in his mouth. He'd play this game by himself for an hour or so. My current foster, Ben, tries to talk and it's very funny listening to him.

Is there a certain foster you were more attached to? Each foster I take in I feel I'm most attached to during the time they are with me. And then when I take in another foster I feel I'm most attached to that one...so it seems as though a pattern has formed and I feel most attached to the foster who I'm caring for at the time. However, I don't forget about prior fosters once they are in their forever homes. I still keep in touch with every family who's adopted one of my fosters. I love receiving pictures and hearing stories about what they've been up to.

What advice would you give to a new foster? - Be patient and remember these dogs need us. And I can't stress this enough - exercise your foster...I've found most behavior issues seem to correct themselves once a dog gets proper exercise. Personally I feel blessed that each of these dogs has come into my life. So if you can look at fostering as something to cherish and to be proud of then any behavior issues or blimps in the road won't seem like a big deal.

On behalf of all of the volunteers and dogs of Sheltered Paws, we thank you, Donna, for your continued hard work and dedication!

Kara Kees - a past Volunteer of the Month!!

Kara was introduced to Sheltered Paws Dog Rescue (SPDR) by playing sand volleyball with Christina Hamberg, the founder of SPDR. Kara was telling Christina about a dog that had been near their home by Lake Cumberland. The dog had been abandoned and didn't have the use of one leg. Kara was making the trip down to rescue the dog, and Christina told her about SPDR and the wonderful work that the group does.

Consequently, Kara began fostering dogs for SPDR in 2004. She is also single handedly coordinates two sand volleyball tournaments each year as fund raisers for SPDR. (One day tournament in the spring and one night tournament during late summer) We have had around 70 people participate at each tournament. Kara relates "It is a great way for people to show their support for the dogs!"

When asked if any particular foster made an impression on her, Kara has this to say: "All of the dogs that I have fostered for Sheltered Paws are special! How can they not be? We usually have no idea what each one has been through, and we have to assume that since they have been at the shelter, life hasn't been a bed of roses for them. Each dog has his or her own story and you just have to treat each one individually. What surprises me most is when I get a dog from the shelter, some who have been there for a year, and I bring him/her home, he/she is still house trained! Amazing how a dog can live for a year in a concrete cage and still remember to go outside and do their thing!"

Kara also offers this advice to new fosters - "The advice that I would give is to love the dogs and allow them a special place in your heart, but keep in mind that you are fostering the dogs in order to find them a great forever home. It was very hard for me to do this at first; I wasn't able to separate with the dogs and therefore, I now have 9 dogs of my own. Last year, though, I fostered 5 dogs and found new homes for all 5, much to my husband's relief!"

Kara, on behalf of Sheltered Paws, we applaud the time and effort you put into fostering and coordinating the sand volleyball fund raising tournaments. Thank you!!

Sheltered Paws is now on Facebook!!

If you are a Facebook member and want to learn more about your favorite dog rescue group, become one of Sheltered Paw's Facebook 'Fans'! Click here and you will be taken to SPDR's Facebook page where you can sign in or register to join Facebook and then become one of our Facebook 'Fans'. Be sure to check back from time to time to see what special events we have planned to help the dogs!