About/Contact Info
When a local dog rescue group requested volunteers for its month-long state fair adoption drive, I signed my family up for every Monday and Friday evening — six days at the fair.
My triad arrived for our three-hour shift the first day of the fair. I walked dogs with my husband while my daughter manned the merchandise booth. That evening we were just the “cat-people” family infiltrating a tent full of seasoned dog rescue advocates.
Each night, the group introduced us to new dogs, freshly saved from the city’s euthanasia list, found wandering the streets homeless and starving, surrendered and abandoned. Our three-hour shifts turned into five-hour shifts when we lost track of time hanging out with the mutts.
Six days at the fair turned into seven days at the fair.
Seven days at the fair turned into eight days at the fair.
By the end of it all, I was recruiting other volunteers to help when we couldn’t be there. I woke up in the mornings thinking about Norman the old Beagle/Basset Hound, who had terrible heartworms, and Doodlebug the Chihuahua, recovering from a badly broken leg. I never realized the extent of care, planning, and service involved in rescuing animals until I offered to walk the dogs and scrape poo from the fairgrounds. More surprisingly, there was something about those little guys that seemed to make me need them.
The first dog I brought home to foster was Philippe, a chunky, Poodle/Bichon Frise with an underbite. I didn’t want the old guy to stay overnight in a boarding facility because he was scared. I held him on my lap a large part of the evening to make him feel more comfortable while fairgoers poked and prodded the crates, trying to decide which dog they wanted to adopt. One of the other volunteers stroked Philippe’s fur and told me, “You know, I think his person died, and some relative must have just dumped him off at animal services.” Philippe was notably depressed. My heart split for all the dogs, but this one really took things to the next level for me. I told the group coordinator I could “cat test” for the night. A-hem.
Remarkably, it only took a couple of days for Philippe’s new family to find him. When I delivered him to the couple, I knew everything was going to be right in that dog’s world, that he would add a new dimension of happiness to his people’s lives and likewise. Suddenly, connecting pooches to new homes wasn’t just about the dogs anymore; it was also about the people. All of the people. Even me, a cat person.
When the last caramel apple was gone and the ferris wheel lights dimmed, I’d received an animal rescue crash course like no other. What was slated to have been only six days at the fair generated more happiness, more tail wagging, more smiles, more wet kisses, more tolerance, more tears, and more joy than I ever knew I needed.
For those of you who haven’t experienced your own “Six Days” yet, here’s an official invitation.
If you’d like to contact me directly, kindly complete the form below:
10 Responses to “About/Contact Info”
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Wondering how to get involved?
your bff is ready and waiting here
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All we can say is wow and we are completely speechless! Not only did you pay us a wonderful compliment, but you were able to put into words and answer the question we are always asked, but can never gather the right words to answer, which is “why do you do what you do”?
We are so glad that you found us at the Fair. We have come to depend on you and your family as being part of our team and a wonderful friends too.
Now, with all that said, you are in trouble, because know we know how well you write and we need a victim with your skills! Lol
Beautfully put!
You guys could have a website named “Every Single Freaking Day at the Fair from Open Until Close,” but I think what you’ve got already works better: http://www.dfwrescueme.org/about/
That was really beautiful. You found the words so many of can’t to explain just how these dogs touch our souls.
You know, I never thought of myself as the ‘fostering type’, but then I met Norman – the very same heartworm infected Norman you mentioned. The pain in his eyes was unbearable, but those same eyes showed so much capacity for love and trust. He needed me and there was no question that I simply had to help him. Sure, I had lots of other things going on, but timing is rarely ever perfect in life. I am happy to tell you that Norman is already a new dog after his first heartworm treatment almost 1 month ago. He still has a long road to recovery, but is getting stronger and happier every day!
Thanks sincerely, Jill. I sure do love your Norman updates. Please keep posting them because he was one of my “gateway dogs,” and I’ll always remember the day he arrived at the fair. The world really needs more Normans.
I’ve been working with dog rescue since I found a stray I couldn’t keep. She ended up in a loving home thanks to a rescue group and I figured that was it. I ended up volunteering here and there on weekends. Then started watching the VSP list at DAS thru RescueMe. As fate would have it my husband and I picked up Bo. I thought I was saving him and he’d be with us a few weeks. We got him house trained and our beagle taught him how to be a dog. He was pretty beaten down after the shelter. I was surprised how quickly he became
Aw, Bo! Your beagle deserves a gold star! So do you guys. That’s great.
House training takes a lot out of you, yeah? We’ve been working with Merlin the Magic Lab, and he’s doing a great job this week, but LAST WEEK was trying for sure. I keep thinking, though, about how it’ll make things easier for his transition into his forever home, especially if it’s a carpeted one.
I never knew I could be so happy watching a dog poo in my yard. I’m sure my mother is tired of getting those kinds of celebratory, doggy-potty-training texts. Ha.
While others think that its the rescuers that are changing the life of the dog, little does anyone know how much the dogs are changing our lives!! We are so happy that they have made such a great impact on you… Great job!
I agree with Tammy, that perfectly articulates exactly why so many of us are involved. Well done and welcome!!!
I have a bumper sticker that says “Who Rescued Who?”. And it’s true. They give us so much more than we give them. I keep a scrapbook of my rescues, and love looking back at all the fosters that have come and gone. some here for only a few days, and some for more than a year. We loved them all, and they loved us unconditionally, and with such gratitude and inevitably, joy. They fill the hole in the heart that you didn’t even know you had.