From Volunteer Coordinator, Alane:
This month I’d like to share the sometimes overlooked volunteer position to our organization, since the long hours happen in our volunteer’s own homes. I am referring to the wonderful dedication of our foster volunteers.
One definition of the word foster is “to promote the growth or development of; to further; to encourage”. To us, it has such a deeper meaning though. It means many sleepless nights, messes to clean up, putting a helpless animal as top priority in your life and endless, around the clock love that our shelter walls cannot provide.
We have dozens of volunteers, including staff, which provide our homeless animals with a safe, loving home and this month I want to say a special thank you to them all.
One such example of a truly dedicated person is Linda Liker, a staff member of ours for over 2 ½ years. She keeps careful record of all the babies she’s cared for; she is now up to 109 animals! I am endlessly astounded and appreciative of all of these individuals.
I asked Donna Breault, SPCA’s Foster Coordinator, if she would put into words just why our foster families are so important to this organization. She replied, “If it wasn’t for our foster families giving our pets a temporary loving home, many pets that come here wouldn’t have a chance, whether it be for their age, health or even just to socialize a scared and confused pet.” She says the most rewarding part of her job as foster coordinator for the SPCA is “seeing foster families bring the pets back; you can just see the passion and love for the pet in their eyes and the gratification they feel that they saved a life”.
When I asked Donna if one foster home stood out to her lately, she quickly answered back with Shari Garrett’s name. “Shari has been a wonderful foster mom, she is very compassionate and she not only once was brave enough to take a whole family of pups with the mom, she did it twice…with no hesitation”. Taking “back to back” mom’s with large litters (one of 8 puppies and one of 10); this family is truly remarkable!
Shari got her start here in March of 2008. After attending orientation, she assisted on and off-site for the past few years, and just recently her son Matt has jumped on board to help the animals as well. Nevertheless, the Garrett family is new to the role of fostering.
Having submitted their foster application a just few months back, they have not turned back, or said no to us yet!
Shari said she became interested in the fostering program when her children began looking for opportunities to earn community service hours required by their schools. The volunteer application listed fostering kittens or puppies as an opportunity, and it spurred their interest.
“Having three rescued dogs and a cat at home,” Shari said, “I have never had the experience of kittens or puppies at home. This seemed like a win-win situation for everyone. And I have to say it has been a delightful experience for my family, friends, neighbors and me.”
Shari’s family has naturally had a lot of fun with the puppies of course, but it’s also included a lot of hard work and lack of sleep. She recently had an emergency with two of the puppies in her care, who were in pain and bleeding from their rectum. She had to take them to the emergency clinic, since it was after hours for the SPCA. Her quick response and dedication to the pups was extraordinary.
Annie, Shari’s daughter, has helped her out tremendously in caring for all the foster pets. Shari said it has been “one of the best things they have ever done together.” It’s been a true bonding experience that has really brought her and her daughter closer. “This volunteer experience has given me many hours of happiness and literally hours of nonstop entertainment.”
Shari, you and your family have such a great attitude and provide our animals with magnificent care. We can’t save lives without amazing individuals like you. Thank you from all of us here.
To find out more about becoming a foster family for the SPCA, please visit us online at www.lovemyspca.com or call 863/646-7722
