Meet Our Volunteers
Lillian
How long have you been rescuing dogs and how did you come to be involved in dog rescue? I have been rescuing dogs for one year, and my daughter signed me up through
her job.
Do you find fostering dogs difficult? Do you ever get attached to your foster? It’s fun to foster dogs, but when it’s time to go, I want to know that they will be going to a home that really wants them and will love them.
How has being involved in dog rescue changed or impacted your life? It gives me a chance to have other dogs in the house and to help. I love
animals. I don't
like to see them hurt. If I could, I would have a lot of animals in my house.
What is your most memorable foster dog/experience? When I had Tyler, he was so good and well trained.
What advice would you offer to someone who is considering fostering a rescue dog? I would say that if
you have a love for animals and love to see them grow with your
help, then go for it.
John
How long have you been rescuing dogs and how did you come to be involved in dog rescue? I've been a volunteer with K-9 New Life since November, 2000. Back then, we rented space at Holly Ridge, a boarding and doggy daycare facility in Virginia Beach. We were responsible for feeding the dogs, cleaning the kennels and showing the dogs to people who were interested in adopting them. A year later we broke ties with Holly Ridge and depended entirely on foster homes.
I'm not sure I
remember why I got involved with K-9 New Life. I know I was looking for a
volunteering opportunity and I like animals. I remember I didn't like the
question on SPCA volunteer form, which asked if I was opposed to euthanasia.
When I found out that K-9 New Life Center was a no-kill shelter I went out for
a look and have been a volunteer ever since.
The better question might be, "Why do I continue to be involved with dog rescue?" The answer is one of the dogs on our Success Stories page that I fostered, Jimmy. The vet said he was 24 hours from death when we pulled him from the shelter he was in. I have never seen a dog in such wretched shape, and I have had my share of sick dogs. As the "after" picture shows, Jimmy made it. He did more than survive; he thrived. To watch him regain his health and strength, and to see him evolve into a loving and trusting animal after all the hardships he had been through has been a inspiration for me. And while not all our rescues are as dramatic as Jimmy's, we are giving all our dogs a second chance at life. That's why I'm still involved in dog rescue.
Paige
How long have you been rescuing dogs and how did you come to be involved in dog rescue? I started working with dog rescue in July of 2008. I lost my dog, Katey, after 18 years of loving companionship, in June of that year. I knew I did not want to own another dog right away, and fostering seemed like the perfect answer. After doing some research I settled on K-9 New Life and haven't looked back!
Do you find fostering dogs difficult? Do you ever get attached to your foster? Fostering can be difficult because rescue dogs take a lot of energy sometimes. They do not always have perfect manners or habits and may need to be socialized, too. I get attached in someway to all the dogs I care for. I think Lucy was the hardest to let go because she was such a little heart stealer and constantly had me laughing!
What is your most memorable foster dog/experience? I took on a foster, Ginger, who quickly became my own dog. Together we went on to pass the Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog tests. Ginger is now applying for membership with Therapy Dogs International, Inc. to become an official therapy dog. The pride I felt towards this rescued dog when she passed her tests was incredible!
How has being involved in dog rescue changed or impacted your life? I am a Healing Touch for Animals practitioner. Working with rescue dogs allows me to use my skills on a day-to-day basis, which is wonderful, but more than that, I thrive on their energy. Nothing is more satisfying in my day than to spend time with the dogs, preparing them for their new lives in their permanent homes. And of course, there is the love they give me! I am definately happier with a dog or two around!
What advice would you offer to someone who is considering fostering a rescue dog? Working with rescues is something I had always thought about doing. You know, when you have a dream that you hope one day to fulfill? Fostering is not a "someday" thing, it is something that you should do now if you have any desire at all to do it. It's a commitment of time and love, but with K-9 New Life you do not need to pay for food or medical expenses, which makes it very easy to foster. So if you have the energy to offer, save the life of a rescue dog. The return you get is unbelievable.
Jim
How long have you been rescuing dogs and how did you come to be involved in dog rescue? About five years now. Our first dog, Ripley, was rescued from animal control in 2004. Our intent was to find the dog we felt was least likely to be adopted by anyone. Ripley, who was huddled in the lap of an animal control officer, shivering, was extremely terrified by all the new faces and would not make eye contact. She was malnourished and heartworm positive. While Ripley was not the poster child of the ‘perfect dog’, for what we were looking to accomplish, she was the perfect candidate. Five years later she is still learning how to be herself, but she has come a long way from that terrified pooch in the kennel. We got involved with K-9 New Life in 2007. We heard about them through word of mouth and found that their mission was inline with our own rescue efforts.
What is your most memorable foster dog experience? Our first foster dog, Snoopy. He came straight to us from animal control -- a 2 year old Border Collie mix… not really “our kind” of dog. We both thought, “There’s no way we’ll get attached to this dog.” Six weeks later, when Snoopy’s new owner came to pick him up, reality set in. He got along great with our two dogs and was an extremely smart, well-behaved dog. We thought, “How are we going to let him go? He’s such an awesome dog and our dogs love him!” As Snoopy and his new owner backed out of our driveway and headed off down the street, Snoopy stared out the back window of the car at us until they were out of sight. We both knew that it was going to be hard to let Snoopy go, but we also knew there were many more dogs out there who needed our help.
What advice would you offer to someone who is considering fostering a rescue dog? You should expect to get attached, in some way, to each foster dog. This is only normal and means that your heart is in the right place. The greatest reward with fostering is knowing that every time a foster dog goes to their new home, another life has been saved and a chance for another dog in need has been created.
