Volunteering

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DEBBIE ALLAN - Volunteer Coordinator:

Debbie joined AARF in November, 2006. She first became introduced to AARF when she adopted a young rescue dog from them in August, 2006. She has fostered several dogs, worked with the fundraisers events, and is now in charge of the junior volunteers and adult volunteers. She currently has 2 AARF DOGS she has adopted and continues to foster a third dog. She has worked very hard since joining AARF and we do appreciate all the time and hard work she contributes.

AARF is always excited to find new volunteers. Listed below are some of our recent Volunteers of the Month. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please fill out our volunteer form.

CHARLENE WOOD, KAREN MALECHECK,SHELLEY SIMON, MICHELLE FRICKE, AND CINDY SMITH 2007 BOARD MEMBERS -Volunteer: May 2008

As Volunteer Coordinator, I want to this month recognize the five women that are on the AARF board FOR 2007. These 5 women work and take on more than anyone can imagine. They work normal jobs and have families and dogs like everyone else and all the rest of their waking hours - they dedicate to AARF. They never rest. These women receive no recognition, no awards, and no pat on the back and no thanks. They work very hard trying to save as many dogs and puppies as they can. They work late into the nights, every weekend, and take no vacations. They give money they don’t have.

They get emergency calls every day for dogs or puppies that no other rescue will help to save them from being put to sleep. They receive calls from owners whom don’t want their dogs anymore, lost dogs, and sick dogs. They have to set up, and run all the fundraisers; they have to generate fundraising ideas to pay AARF's bills. They have to deal with all issues and problems that are involved with dog rescue.

They want to save them all but AARF can’t because of foster homes or money constraints. They are the ones that have to be the bad guys and say no to some dogs or puppies knowing they will be put to sleep. All of the AARF members are saddened when they can’t rescue a dog or a dog is returned because the dog’s owner cannot deal with an issue. They get discouraged all the time and want to quit, but thank goodness they don’t.

These women are the HERO'S of AARF. Without all of them AARF wouldn't exist and MANY dogs and puppies would not have been saved and placed in all the hundreds of good homes every year.

want to personally thank each and every one of them and tell them for all the dogs, volunteers, and adoptee over the years, we love, respect, and honor all of you for NEVER GIVING UP.

YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE

ALESE PIGGOT -Volunteer: April 2008 Alese

Click here to see more pictures of Alese and writeup.

MIKE and VICTORIA SONDECKER -Volunteers: March 2008 MikeVictoria

Mike and Victoria, a married team, have been volunteering to help AARF the first Tuesday of every month with BINGO NIGHT, at Diversity Thrift. This really helps us earn money to pay some of our mounting vet bills, They have been volunteering for several months for us in memory of their beloved dog, SPARKY. Sparky has passed over the BRIDGE now and they loved him so much they wanted to do something to help other dogs. They also recruited several fellow coworkers to work Bingo in March. This will give the regular AARF volunteers a much needed break.

AARF thanks both of you and your co-workers so much for the help. I'm sure Sparky is smiling down at you and saying: Yep that's how wonderful my dad and mom are. He was very lucky to have both of you in his life.
Sparky
Bingo Team

TIFFANY ALLAN and ADRIENNE CREGER -Volunteers: February 2008 Tiffany

Tiffany (pictured on the right) has been volunteering with AARF since her and her mom fostered their first dog in December, 2006.

Tiffany has volunteered at the dog stands every Saturday and volunteered at all the fund raisers. In addition she has helped bottle feed puppies, helped her mom deliver puppies to their new homes and careed fro of all the foster dogs they have had in their home over the last year.

Tiffany recently did an article for PARENTS MONTHLY MAGAZINE that is due to appear March 2008. She talks about her personal experience with AARF and the dogs and how rewarding to her volunteering with AARF is. She feels very strongly about the dogs and peoples wrong opinions about certain breeds of dogs. She has built bonds with many of the dogs and would adopt them all if her mom would let her She now wants to grow up and be a vet and set up her own rescue for Pitbulls.

Tiffany and a friend of hers, Adrienne (pictured on the left), recently rescued a young neglected dog, Lilly. They noticed that the owners weren't taking care of or feeding Lilly. They stepped up and got the owners to sign her over to them, They took her to a vet and got her much needed medical care. They are teaching herthat humans do care and are now looking for a fur-ever home for Lilly through AARF.

We are all very proud of both of you. AARF and the many dogs you have helped also thank you for caring.

JOYCE ANDERSON, JEFF NORTH(SANTA)
ASHLEY & BRITTANY GREENE -Volunteers: January 2008 Santa

AARF wants to recognize four exceptional volunteers for all their hard work during our latest fundraiser SANTA’S PET PICTURES. They volunteered 5 long days over a three weekends. They made SANTA'S PET PICTURES a huge success and took over 306 pictures. The most unusual pet that had a picture taken was a huge boa snake. He was about 10 inches in diameter. Santa just wrapped the snake around himself and the snake’s owner and smiled.

Thank you Joyce, Jeff, Ashley and Brittany for all your dedication and help in raising much needed funds

LUCIA MEDEK -Volunteer: December, 2007 JeffSanta

Lucia has been volunteering for AARF for only a few months and has already done so much for us and the dogs.

She has fostered several dogs and puppies until they went to their forever homes. She also works every Saturday at our dog stands , worked at several fundraisers, transported dogs and worked a night of bingo for us to help raise money.

She recently helped at a fundraiser and PENNY WAR presentation at Longan Elementary . She helped set up and brought her foster puppy, Diego, for the children to meet. She also made the AARF presentation to the school students and teachers.

Lucia has quickly become a valued member of our team and we are proud to have her. join us.

SAMANTHA AND MARY ELLEN -Volunteers: November, 2007

Samantha and Mary Ellen worked for 10 days in a row at our dog stands at the State Fair this year - setting up, showing the puppies and closing down. Without the help and dedication of these girls, AARF would not have had dog stand at the State Fair this year. Because of their efforts, we found some forever homes for our puppies and collected much needed donations.

Mary Ellen and Samantha also help with other things for AARF. They help our puppy person (Cindy) with the love and care of our little ones and also deliver them to their forever homes. Also on Saturdays, they help with the puppy stand and always work on other fundraisers and do whatever they can to help save the dogs.

Samantha and Mary Ellen : You do so much for AARF. We just want to thank you and say we are lucky to have you as part of the AARF team.

SANDY AND AMBER KONOPKY -Volunteer: October, 2007 SandyAmber

Sandy and her daughter, Amber, are a family volunteer team and they work VERY hard for AARF.

They adopted their first puppy, CHARGER, from AARF several months ago. They love him so much that they have joined our fight to save as many homeless dogs and puppies as possible. They work every Saturday at our dog stands, worked at several fundraisers,and fostered and transported several dogs. They also volunteered their time to look for our STILL MISSING precious BRODY. They have also recruited Ken (husband and dad) to help out when needed. Sandy and Amber have helped AARF in so many different ways and are always ready to do more when needed.

Sandy and Amber: You have a wonderful, loving family and we thank all of you for all that you do a nd for sharing your time and love to our cause and the dogs.

AUSTIN AND KATJA GONZALEZ - Junior Volunteer: September, 2007:

Austin and Katja are a brother and sister jr volunteer team and they both work very hard for AARF. They both have worked several fundraisers such as PAWS IN THE PARK and our Car wash/Bake sale.

They also work at our dog stands on Saturdays and help with the dogs. They also have helped their mom, Nicole, with fostering several of our homeless dogs until they got adopted. (They have also recruited their dad in helping as well.)

Austin and Katja have done a lot for AARF with their endless engery and talents and we are very lucky to have a family team that is so dedicated to our cause..

AARF and all the dogs you have helped save and loved say THANK YOU.

CAITLIN PAISLEY - Junior Volunteer: August, 2007:

Caitlin is our most dependable and competent Jr Volunteer. She helps out at our dog stands every Saturday, no matter what the weather is. She shows up early, helps set up the crates and works hard the whole day. During the pet stand hours, she works the puppy stands , adult stands and talks with potential adoptees.

She quickly learned our procedures and the adoption stand operation and helps orient alot of our new volunteers. She was very helpful with our latest fundraiser held 7/9/07, PAWS IN THE PARK.

Caitlin also fostered one of our dogs, LUCY, which she has now adopted.

Not only is Caitlin an asset to our team but she has gotten her parents and friends to also work with AARF. We have come to depend on all she does for us.

Caitlin, thank you for all you do.

PETER PROUT -Volunteer: July, 2007 Peter

Peter joined our team several months ago because he wanted to help homeless dogs. He helps out just about every Saturday at our dog stand, taking care of the dogs and talking to potential adoptees. He also worked at our latest fundraiser, PAWS IN THE PARK, which was held 6/9/07.

Peter has recently adopted the dog he was fostering, Gwen, and he says he will continue to help out and foster more. He loves all the dogs.

He has also gotten his other half, Christinia, helping at our weekly dog stands and fundraisers. Recently we had a sitution at the dog stand where a baby bird fell out of the the nest. Peter put up with all of the volunteers telling him what to do. Finally he jumped upon top of the AARF van and put the baby bird back into the nest safely.

AARF is always looking for new volunteers. Peter has done it all for us and we are very lucky he chose AARF to help.

ASHLEY NOLLEN -Volunteer: June, 2007 Ashley

Ashley is a full time student and previously did dog rescue work in Northern Virginia. She contacted us several months ago to volunteer and she has quickly become a valuable asset to our team.

Ashley helps out every Saturday at our dog stands. She helps set up the stands, walks the dogs, makes sure the dogs have water and are comfortable. She usually works with the puppies at the stand, often by herself. She also quickly helps with anything else that may happen during our weekly pet stand.

She has quickly jumped into the role of helping the new volunteers and she recently came to the rescue of several small newly transported dogs that came to AARF from a rural shelter. The dogs didn't have a place to stay until the vet’s office opened on Monday. Ashley didn’t hesitate to offer her home for them.

We are very lucky to have her join our team. She loves the dogs and works very hard to help find them good forever homes.

ANDREW SINCLAIR - Junior Volunteer: May, 2007:

Andrew has been helping out every Saturday at our dog stands for several months. He always shows up early to help the hard work of setting up the stands to get ready for the dogs and he works hard the whole day helping with handling the dogs. He also stays after the stand ends and helps close down the stands and put everything back where its suppose to go. Setting up and taking down the stands is very hard backbreaking work. He also worked all day to help us get ready for our yearly fundraiser action which was held 3/31/07.

He loves the dogs and he is a big asset to our team. He always gives 100% to the help of our cause.