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Not all of our volunteers assist “hands on” in the Adoption Center or Medical Center. For some, self-described “tender hearted” or “emotional” individuals, we offer a variety of solutions to aid our homeless pets. From off-site events, to office work, to posting flyers about upcoming events; all of these ways help our organization operate, and continue to save lives of homeless animals in our community. Without these integral “outside” roles, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
Jill Bainbridge is one such individual who finds it “too difficult” to help inside our Adoption Center, but she has shined out in the community. This month I want to honor Jill for all of her work and dedication to the cause. Originally from Pennsylvania, near Valley Forge, Jill has been a Lakeland resident for over 16 years. She’s married and has two pets; Oscar, an Indian-Ring neck Parrot who is 16 years old, and Peppermint Patti, “a very sweet cat” who “found us,” she says. She says she’s always wanted to do something with animals but never had the stomach to be a vet. Once she retired, she says it gave her “the opportunity to help, if only in a little way, doing something to help animals. They’ve always given so much to me. It makes me feel good about myself that I can give back a little.”
Jill started volunteering with us in December 2009. Since she began, she has logged more than 80 hours with us. Jill is kind, professional and very dependable. She is always willing to be on call if we’re in a pinch at the last minute for events. Jill has assisted at Lakeside Village Adoption & Pet Boutique, Pet Supermarket, pet therapy and so much more. She even drives to Davenport for us and fills in knowing it’s a tough location to staff with volunteers. Katy Campbell, SPCA staff member who works with Jill at several off-sites, says “Jill is a reliable volunteer willing to work with both cats and dogs. She is friendly and always willing to talk to the public about the pet she’s handling and the programs that the SPCA offers. Jill’s helpfulness and cheerful attitude make her a real asset to the SPCA.”
Jill says her favorite things to do are off-site adoption events, especially the networking events like the Women’s Show at the Lakeland Center and the “Resident Appreciation Event” recently at Beacon Hill Colony. She adds, “It gets the animals out and exposed to the public and I get to network with other people.” She also truly enjoys her trips to the nursing homes for pet therapy, realizing the enormous impact this program has on the residents’ day. Most recently, Jill has taken on some extra projects and helped in the Administration Department. She assisted the fundraising committee by placing Pets on Parade posters and brochures, and she now heads up the donation canister program. She visits the 30-40 business owners every few weeks, empties the donation boxes and keeps careful account of when and where she goes. Her organization with this program has really been a blessing. By Jill tracking which locations are successful and which ones are not producing much revenue, it has allowed us to find the fundraising canisters “better homes”. We now can raise more money for our animals in need.
Jill says she is honored to be chosen as our Volunteer of the Month. She adds, “I am so pleased about the people I have met through the SPCA. So many caring people… it’s so heartwarming.”
We would like to thank you, Jill, and our team of dedicated volunteers, for your part in changing the lives of animals in need.
Though you may think that your part is “little”, WE think that you are giving back A LOT! You touch the lives of not only our animals, but everyone that you meet! We feel so lucky to have you wearing our turquoise tee.
To become a dedicated animal advocate like Jill, please apply online at www.lovemyspca.com or call 863.646.7722.
- Owner Darryl Thomas and Mongo Man present Community Outreach Coordinator Mary Church with a check for almost $400 for the SPCA’s May 4 event.
Lakeland, Fla. – The SPCA held a fundraiser at BD’s Mongolian Grill in Lakeside Village on Tuesday, May 4. Through a combination of tips given to celebrity grillers and 20% of the evening’s sales, over $400 was raised to help the animals at the SPCA.
Celebrity grillers included the City of Lakeland’s Deputy City Manager Tony Delgado, Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields, the Lakeland Police Department’s Assistant Chief Bill LePere, 97 Country’s Melissa Moran, MAX 98.3’s Eric Michaels and Mike Lee, Ross Vecchio’s Dennis Ross, FOX 13’s Ken Suarez, and Lakeland City Commissioners Justin Troller and Howard Wiggs.
For more information about the SPCA and other upcoming events, visit www.lovemyspca.com, call 863/646-7722 or e-mail info@lovemyspca.com.
From our Volunteer Coordinator, Alane:
This month’s featured volunteer is one of our hardest workers here. John Gotthardt (Jack as we know him) moved to Florida from Texas in January of 2009. He started working part-time at Home Depot and was looking to give back and volunteer his time working with animals. He decided to check out our facility. He was amazed and truly enjoyed his visit. He applied to volunteer, and the rest was history! Since attending last July’s orientation, Jack has donated close to 300 hours to our organization. Besides working diligently in the puppy room a few days a week, Jack also helps out with off-site adoption events such as PetSmart Davenport and special events in his area. He assists with some of our pet therapy events, driving to Manor at Carpenters and also delivers Ani-meals food. It’s crucial to have volunteers that we can trust to drive our pets safely to their off-site event or location. He always says “yes” to our last minute requests when he is able, and always shows a great attitude, no matter how mundane the task.
Jack drives from Winter Haven twice a week, arriving sometimes as early as 7:30 a.m. some mornings to get his start walking the small dogs and scrubbing the puppy room cages. He does this knowing that he will be working by himself until most of the staff arrive at 9 a.m., but happy that he can help them out and have them start their days with less of a mess and less of a “to do” list. He then stays almost 7 hours, working with the customers and facilitating adoptions once we open to the public at 11 a.m. It’s no surprise that the staff is blown away by him. Not many people thank US when they are the ones volunteering their time, but Jack is one of those very special people. He always has a smile and gives 110%. I hope he does not mind my mentioning that he is 79 years of age…. and doesn’t look or act a day over 50!
In his life outside the SPCA, Jack has two daughters who live in Pennsylvania and Texas, and four grandchildren. He had been looking for a dog, and he fell in love with his perfect match a few months ago when he adopted Hilde, a four year old min-pin from the SPCA. He is a dedicated dad. He takes her to obiedence classes with Debbi Snyder and is also helping her get healthy (she was quite overweight when he took her home!).
Jack, words cannot express our appreciation for being such a great team player and ambassador for the animals. We have ALL noticed your hard work and dedication these past 8 months and are so thankful that you stepped onto our campus. It’s individuals like you that render it the “Campus of Kindness.”
To become a member of our volunteer team, please apply online at www.lovemyspca.com or call 863.646.7722 x 112.
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
Happy Friday, everyone!
The SPCA is so excited about an exciting way that you can help us without having to give a penny.
Here’s how to help:
1. Go to http://www.theanimalsheltersite.com and click on the purple box that says “Click Here to Give – It’s FREE!” You’ll be taken to a new page that tells you how each click goes to feed rescue animals.
2. At the top of the new page, there should be a small banner that says “Help your favorite animal shelter win a prise!” Click on that button that says “VOTE TODAY!”
3. A new window should open that allows you to vote for a shelter. And, since we are your favorite shelter, this should be easy. 
Fill out the box with our name “SPCA, Inc.” and state “FL”, and it should bring us up. Then, you can vote!
4. Next you’ll be taken to a page that asks you to identify the animal pictured. Give a simple answer to ensure that you’re not a random computer racking up votes for a shelter. A simple answer like lion, dog, cat, fish, etc. will suffice.
5. You’re done! Thanks for the vote!
Now, every day through April 18, you can come back and vote for us to help us get the prize! I’ve made the page my home page so that I don’t forget to vote every day. You can also include a link to this blog in your e-mail signature or forward this blog to friends so that they can help, too.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Check out this e-mail and flight photos from our volunteer pilot friend, Jeff:
This transport involved 19 very cute puppies from Louisiana and 1 dog from Bainbridge, GA. The puppies were driven all day Saturday from Louisiana to Pensacola, FL where they overnighted at a very generous shelter. On Sunday they were driven another 3 1/2 hours to Tallahassee where I loaded the group for their flight to Lakeland, FL. The dog, whose name is “Peter Pan” is a Corgi mix and was driven to Tallahassee from Bainbridge, GA for his flight to Lakeland and eventually to Orlando by car.
The entire group slept during the flight and as a bonus there were no “accidents” in the crates to clean up.
Even though it was a bit chilly throughout Florida, it was a great day to be in the air. I met some great new rescue people, and with their help, were able to move another 20 pups to what we hope are some wonderful new homes.
Jeff
This month we would like to give long overdue attention to Dr. Timothy Knight, an altruistic veterinarian who has donated his time to us every Wednesday since 2002. His years of service translate to almost 2,500 hours aiding animals!
A member of our medical staff states that “he has given his Wednesday mornings up to help our mission of low cost spay and neuter to help decrease pet overpopulation. He has given many suggestions and ideas for improvement for the medical center and has recruited other staff members for us.” On top of that, he has been a long term supporter of the SPCA by attending fundraising events such as the Auction for the Animals.
Doctor Knight is admired by all who work with him. Our technicians and staff who work directly with Dr. Knight describe him as very knowledgeable and a great team player. He is a talented surgeon and very hard working.
“If there is ever even a remote question, he goes out of his way to find out the underlying issue,” Veterinarian Technician Cassie Bunn stated. Dr. Knight thinks that all of the changes he has seen at the SPCA over the years, especially lately, have been “great.” He stated that he “would like to see the SPCA eventually develop into a specialty care clinic and be open 24 hours.”
Outside of volunteering his time for us every Wednesday, Dr. Knight is one busy man! He owns and operates North County Dermatology Clinic on Marcum Road, and has practiced dermatology for over 30 years. Although he originally obtained a degree in human medicine, he earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.
Dr. Knight is recognized as a Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology, National Board of Medical Examiners, and National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. He has received many academic honors in the veterinary field, as well as in dermatology. Outside of working he is happily married and has two, four-legged feline children.
When asked what he most enjoys about volunteering for us over the years, he said that he “enjoys helping animals find homes. Overpopulation and homeless pets are such an extensive problem in our community, to alleviate some of that issue gives me great satisfaction.”
We want to all say thank you so very much for sharing your time and expertise with us, Dr. Knight. We are grateful for your years of service to the animals and hope you are with us for many more to come!
To find out more about volunteering in the Medical Center or many other areas at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, please visit us online at www.lovemyspca.com or call 863/646-7722.
Rachel is August's Volunteer of the Month!
Chances are if you have noticed an exceptionally amazing picture of a pet on our Web site it was taken by Rachel Cooper. This month, we would like to recognize her continued quality work and commitment to the cause.
Rachel joined our team in February of this year. She has always loved being around animals and had wanted to get more involved in animal care/protection but was hesitant to get involved at first.
“I knew that being involved in any rescue-type organization comes with a lot of emotional stress so I was hesitant.”
Being involved in a serious accident about a year ago really made her think about lost opportunities. So, she decided to find the nearest animal welfare organization to help. Thankfully, it was ours!
Rachel’s pets include three freshwater fish, three hermit crabs (one of them is a rescue!) and the “apple of her eye”, Lucie, her six-year old Chihuahua. Originally, Rachel reigns from New England. She has lived in Lakeland for about a year and a half now, moving here from Clearwater with her boyfriend for his work. She just graduated St. Petersburg College with her A.A. with High Honors this past May.
Rachel says, “the more time I spend at the SPCA, the more I feel that my path in life must be centered around the care and protection of animals - I’m just not sure how I’ll achieve that yet, but I’m sure I’ll work it out!”
Besides taking breathtaking pictures twice a week, Rachel also helps the SPCA as a humane educator and an adoption assistant. She is kind, dependable and always has a wonderful attitude. She makes a great impression on anyone she meets.
Rachel loves getting to be around animals all the time and photographing our dogs to help them find their forever homes.
This is just one of the many great pictures that Rachel has taken of the SPCA adoptables.
“There is no animal more appreciative of companionship and love than a shelter dog,” Rachel said. “I love that I am able to make their lives just a little brighter by spending time with them, playing with them and letting them know that they are loved.”
THANK YOU, Rachel, for showing them that much deserved love and attention, and showcasing them in such a beautiful way. We know that your photos are bringing in new families to adopt every day!
To find out how to get involved making a difference in the lives of animals, like Rachel, please visit lovemyspca.com day!
