Fantastic Friends Feature: Pat and Ernie Behrle

Left to right; Charlie, Ike, Hedy, Tyler and Bodie. Charlie, Hedy and Tyler WCAC Alumni; Hedy and Tyler were foster fails"

Name: Pat and Ernie Behrle
Real Job: Occupational Therapy Assistant and Semi-retired/Realtor
Volunteer Position(s): Foster

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN VOLUNTEERING?

We’ve been fostering for 8 years.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO VOLUNTEERING / FOSTERING AT THE WAKE COUNTY ANIMAL CENTER?

Our love of animals.

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

For Ernie it's definitely Beagles, and the reason we foster failed in our Beagle Tyler. I prefer smaller dogs these days, and love my Cairn Terriers, but I don't really have a favorite.

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

There have been SO many, but I love getting updates on my fosters. I guess the favorites are when the super scared fosters give us that first tail wag! We know that means they will be fine! We also love that family (our 3 kids) and many friends have adopted our fosters!

OF COURSE, MOST VOLUNTEERS HAVE THEIR OWN PETS. TELL US ABOUT THEM?!

Lol!! We had three when we started fostering; two Cairn Terriers, Charlie and Bodie and our mixed breed Ike - Dachshund/Lab (?) With blue eyes. Then we added Steven Tyler, the Beagle, and Hedy Lamarr, Border Collie mix. Both Tyler and Hedy are our foster fails! These dogs have helped many fosters learn to be happy, confident dogs!

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

You may think it's hard to let them go, and it is, but if you don't let them go you can't help the next one that needs you!

IN YOUR OWN WORDS, DESCRIBE WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING / FOSTERING SO MUCH.

 The fostering community and staff at the shelter are a wonderful group of people and have become another family. It's great to be a part of what they accomplish!

WANT TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER LIKE PAT AND ERNIE OR CONSIDER FOSTERING AN ANIMAL?

Fantastic Friends Feature: Judy S

Name: Judy S
Real Job: Retired
Volunteer Position(s): Fido Fitness, Unofficial FWCAC Spokeperson + Celeb, Fido Musical Therapy

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN VOLUNTEERING?

Four years ago, our son had recently adopted a dog from Wake County Animal Center and suggested that we volunteer at shelter.  My husband has two bad knees and I thought this was a way to get him out of house—to cuddle cats and I would walk dogs.

He couldn’t comfortably do it, but I‘ve continued to walk dogs.  Though, I was a bit intimidated at first, I was hooked after my first walk with Rocket.

WHY DID YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO VOLUNTEER?

The animals are there through no fault of their own and the care that volunteers provide helps them to be more adoptable.

In the case of dog walking, it’s great exercise. 

It’s the best way to experience total and unconditional love!  The pups are so appreciative of any attention – you can see it in their eyes.

WE ALL LOVE TO TALK ABOUT OUR PETS. YOU ADOPTED YOUR PUP, BRANDY, FROM THE WAKE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, BUT BRANDY WAS HEARTWORM POSITIVE. WERE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT ADOPTING A HEARTWORM POSITIVE DOG?

Brandy ‘s sweetness just touched my heart. The fact that she was Heartworm Positive didn’t bother me because I knew that treatment was possible. 

AND THE FRIENDS OF WAKE COUNTY ANIMAL CENTER HELPED TO SPONSOR BRANDY’S TREATMENT THROUGH THEIR HEAL A HEART PROGRAM, IS THAT CORRECT?

Their financial sponsorship was a great help to offset the cost of treatment.  They provided answers to all and any questions and helped ease my concerns.

WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH THE FRIENDS OF WAKE COUNTY ANIMAL CENTER?

Great people, who are passionate about helping every animal that comes thru the front door at Wake County Animal Center. They are incredibly supportive of new volunteers sharing helpful tips on the volunteer Facebook page.

WANT TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER LIKE JUDY OR CONSIDER FOSTERING AN ANIMAL?

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.