Fantastic Friends Feature: Darius M

Darius and former shelter favorite, Peter Piper; Photo by Shannon Johnstone, Landfill Dogs

Name: Darius M
Real Job: I just recently graduated college, so right now I’m job hunting.
Volunteer Position(s): Dog Walker/Cuddler, Foster Parent, Playgroup Enthusiast

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A FOSTER?

I’ve been a volunteer and foster for just over two years now. I’ve always loved animals, especially dogs, and I didn’t have any personal pets at home. So, I started to research the Wake County Animal Center, and came out to visit a couple of times. I had a great time when I visited. I got to interact with some dogs, and see the hardworking staff and volunteers in person. After some time, I decided that whenever I’m home from school I wanted to come out and spend time at the Center. I love being there and I’ve learned so much from fellow volunteers and our awesome coordinators. My time here at the Center has inspired me so much that in the future I want to open my own animal rescue or a sanctuary for dogs who have no family—where they’ll be safe, have shelter, food, and water at all times.

TELL US YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT TO DATE AS A FOSTER OR VOLUNTEER?

I have so many favorite moments here, but one that stands out for me was working Clear the Shelter Day for the first time in 2018. Seeing all those animals go to good homes, and seeing the community come out and support us and take home a new family member was beautiful. We had so many great dogs that were here at the shelter for months leave and find homes. It’s really amazing seeing all these animals you’ve built bonds with leave to start a new life with their new families.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BREED OR DOG TYPE (FLUFFY, SMALL, BIG, CHUNKY, ETC)?

I have a tie actually for my favorite dog breeds Cane Corsos and American Staffordshire Terriers. Big dogs with big hearts. I fell in love with a brother and sister pair of Cane Corso fosters I had and every since then I’ve been researching adopting one in the future.

WHAT SAGE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BECOME A FOSTER?

I love seeing dogs I’ve worked with go into good homes, and I know the shelter definitely needs the extra space [and that’s where fosters come in]. If I could give advice to potential fosters, I would definitely say never forget why you became a foster. It’s absolutely okay to fall in love with your foster—they absolutely deserve it. However, don’t forget about the plenty of other animals at the shelter who might need that same opportunity to get out. Find your foster a home you’re comfortable with and a family you trust, and let them go. For potential volunteers, I would definitely say spend time with the animals however you want to. Whether that is cuddling, walking, taking pictures, writhing bios, doing playgroups, etc. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for advice, we’re all one big family here.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A VOLUNTEER LIKE DARIUS?

Fantastic Friends Feature: Susan B

(Susan and her foster dog, Levi.)

Name: Susan B
Real Job: Registered Veterinary Technician (equivalent to an RN in human medicine)
Volunteer Position(s): Foster Mom Extraordinaire

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A FOSTER?

I’ve been fostering for four years. I started doing it to “brush up” on my dog skills when I went to school to be an Registered Veterinary Technician. We had four cats, but no dogs and I wanted to reacquaint myself with dog behavior, etc and thought I would do one or two and then quit, but after the first one I was hooked on fostering! And then it was kitten season and the SOS went out and I thought “How hard could that be??” Now, I tend to specialize in the animals needing some medical care like post-surgery nursing, bottle babies, or the inevitable ringworm kittens, but I will take in anything that needs me.  

TELL US YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT TO DATE AS A FOSTER?

Having had almost two hundred foster animals in our home in four years, they have all been special but two stand out: Our first was Max, painfully shy and afraid of everything and everyone. It broke my heart when people would overlook him for the more outgoing dogs and I feared he wouldn’t find his forever home. But one day a couple saw past Max’s fears and trembling and recognized that he was special. We still get to babysit for him when they go out of town and he has blossomed and is incredibly loved which makes me incredibly happy. And the other special dog was our most recent foster, Levi, who we had for over a year. Levi was seventy pounds of heart but too boisterous for many and he didn’t like many other dogs so it was hard to find his match. Thanks to training, he learned to control his exuberance and just found his new home with a young woman who adores him.

WHAT SAGE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BECOME A FOSTER?

My advice to anyone considering fostering is that it will change you as much as you change that animal’s life and any doubts or fears you have are easily overcome with the help of the staff and fellow fosters – so just give it a try! You will become a passionate advocate for animals and you get to make a huge impact on an animal’s life, maybe even saving their life….. and it doesn’t get any better than that! 

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A FOSTER LIKE SUSAN?

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT THE WAKE COUNTY ANIMAL CENTER OR FILL OUT AN APPLICATION BY VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. 

Fantastic Friends Feature: Shannon C

Name: Shannon C

Volunteer Position(s): Fido Fitness, Adoption Counselor/Matchmaker, Playgroup Runner, Canine Cuddler, Feline Cuddler, Rabies and Microchip Clinic Scribe and Miscellaneous Transport

How long have you been a volunteer?

I have been volunteering at WCAC since November 2017.

What attracted you to volunteering at the Wake County Animal Center?

We adopted our first dog, Staniel, from WCAC in September 2011 and our second dog, Jet, in August 2012. Back then I was one of those people who said things like “oh I could never volunteer there, because I couldn’t deal with the heart break” or “I would want to take them all home”.

I left my full-time job in late 2014 to open my own business. During the next couple of years, I was swamped trying to get the business off the ground and helping to raise my 2 step-daughters.

Then in 2017, life finally started to settle down. We moved closer to our business, so I wasn’t having to spend the mornings dealing with carpool, and all of a sudden I found myself with spare time.

My natural state is lazy. I would get up at 5:30am with the family, the girls would catch the bus at 6:45, and Antares would leave for work at 7, and I would go back to bed with the dogs, get up a couple of hours later and head to the shop.

One day, while laying in the bed, I was talking to the dogs. I often like to ask them what their lives were like before we adopted them, if they remember their previous families, if they remember the day we met, the day we brought them home, etc. This particular day, I told Staniel how the kennel attendant said “he is so smart” as she brought him out from the back on his slip lead, and I told Jet how his kennel card bio said he was a volunteer favorite. I told them how lucky we were to find them and how lucky they were to have had people at WCAC to take care of them until we met. Then, I started thinking about this free time I had, and how I could be one of those people!

I really don’t know why it took so long for that seed to get planted, but once it did, it grew an entire garden. I have been very fortunate that our business is doing well, and so I am not required to be there as often, and so I try to give as much time as I can to the animals at WCAC. I just wish I would have started volunteering sooner!

What is your favorite breed or dog type (fluffy, small, big, chunky, etc)?

It will come as no surprise that I love all dogs, but I am especially drawn to bully breeds. My boys are 55lbs and 110lbs, so any bully breed that falls in that spectrum almost always gets a quick cuddle from me when they first get to WCAC if I have time after walking.

Tell us your favorite moment to date as a volunteer.

I honestly can’t narrow it down to one or even ten. Not a specific moment, but a recurring one that never gets old is when I meet a dog that is either terrified or on the verge of shutdown, and I get to spend time with them, either cuddling, walking, in playgroups, or ones in the back that get brought out to the yard and I get to see them open up, become more confident, and just enjoy being a dog. These are some of the moments that bring happy tears to my eyes and warms my heart. Just one of the many reasons I love volunteering.

Of course, most volunteers have their own pets. Tell us about them!

I have 4 fur babies! Staniel is a 55lb boxer/bulldog, and he is 8.5 yrs old. Jet is a 110lb plott hound/rottweiler/staffy mix, and he is 7 yrs old. They are both spoiled rotten, but Staniel thinks he is king. Jet is twice his size, but he gives Staniel anything he wants. All Staniel has to do is give him a look or a moan, and Jet will drop his toy or move from his spot. Silly boys! We also have 2 female silver tabbies. Clementine is 13yrs old, and Astra (aka Fatty) is 9yrs old. They are best friends. They spend their day cuddled together on Kaya’s bed or staring at birds out the window. We are very grateful that all of our pets are best friends and genuinely enjoy each other’s company.

What sage piece of advice would you give to people who want to become a volunteer?

Just do it! It seems like such a simple thing to say, but if it interests you, do it. For me, starting a business was a fun challenge. Helping to raise 2 loving, well-rounded, kind-hearted step-daughters has been beyond rewarding. However, volunteering at WCAC has changed my life. The ability to make a difference in the lives of animals when they needed it most is so gratifying. Giving your love, time and attention, and getting repaid in tail wags and sloppy kisses, there’s nothing quite like it. Being part of such a dedicated group of people who give so much of themselves unconditionally is the icing on the cake.

Interested in becoming a volunteer like Shannon?

You can learn more about the volunteer program at the Wake County Animal Center or fill out an application by visiting their website.

Announcing Our Partnership With Second Chance Pet Adoptions

We are so very excited to announce our brand new partnership with Second Chance Pet Adoptions to expand our low cost spay neuter program, Kitty Clip!

What does this mean for Wake County Residents, you ask? 

"Through Kitty Clip, residents of Wake County can spay and neuter their own cats, or their feral cats in their community for just $5 per cat. With no income requirements, this affordable vet care--which includes basic vaccines--is more accessible than ever and will make a major impact on animal homelessness, with up to 1,000 spayed and neutered in 2019!" --Via Second Chance Pet Adoptions

Spaying and neutering is important not simply because of the reduction of homeless animals coming into the Wake County Animal Center, but also for the health and safety of your pet. Here are a couple of statistics provided by Second Chance Pet Adoptions:

“While male cats can father as many as 2,500 kittens per year, female cats can get pregnant as young as 4 months old and have kittens every 3 months. This frequent mating plays a major role in the rate of over 5,000 cats coming through Wake County Animal Center in 2017 alone—even as over 100,000 cats remain homeless in our community. There is simply not enough shelter space or tax dollars to house, spay, and neuter every homeless cat.”

“Spaying and neutering doesn’t just curb animal homelessness—both lead to happier and healthier pets and pet owners. Neutering male cats reduces their risk of prostate cancer and reduces their instincts to roam, fight, and mark territory (in-home or elsewhere) with urine. Spaying female cats helps to prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, many of which are cancerous.”

Want To Learn More?