This summer, all volunteers have been given a challenge! Accepting the challenge will definately be rewarding for the dogs and cats, but you could win a free MaxFund Volunteer shirt for you just for accepting the challenge, and reporting the results!
Starting in May, I challenged all volunteers to pick a project dog or cat at the shelter, and make them your project until they get adopted. What does this mean? Make it the first pet you visit, your main reason for coming in to the shelter, the longest walk, the most care, the best snacks (within healthy limits of course)... and do everything in your power to get them adopted - take them to a mobile, talk them up to your friends, take them to a park (if its a dog) for a walk and some extra exposure, list them on craigslist, start a blog, start up a dogster or catster page, take out an ad in the paper, do what you can to get the word out about this great treasure you've been working with at the shelter, and stick with it until that animal gets adopted! Can't make it in to the shelter that often? Pick a dog or cat and do what you can to promote them from home. We've got over 200 animals at the shelter, we've got hundreds of volunteers, so pick one and stick with em! There's no reason you and another volunteer can't select the same animal, maybe work as a team if you find out you are both working with the same dog or cat! If the animal you are working with gets adopted... feel free to pick another one and start all over again! Let me know your success story and I'll pick a few volunteers to award with a free volunteer shirt, so get busy! I'll highlight some of these stories in upcoming newsletters! E-mail them to me or post them to the volunteer forums.
An additional challenge, if you can handle it! MaxFund membership is one of the ways MaxFund is able to stay around. I challenge each of you to encourage ONE person to become a MaxFund member. If you aren't a member already, become one today and you can complete your challenge, or encourage another person to become a member! Feel free to check out a few fliers that have been made up at www.maxfundvolunteers.org/We_Want_You_Flyer.pdf. Membership is only $25 a year for individuals/$100 for families, you get a copy of the Paw Prints newsletter and know that your money is going to a great cause!
From Volunteer Tiffany & her Summer Project Chip
I ended up with Chip as my summer "Project Pet" by accident...Or maybe it was fate. During my first weekend as a MaxFund volunteer, I took a beautiful hound-mix for a walk, who's kennel card labeled her "Chip" (which I though strange for a girl.) I decided to take her on as my summer project and make it my life's mission to get her adopted.
After declaring Chip my Project Pet it turned out that the dog I'd walked was actually named Lexy - someone had swapped the kennel cards! Chip was actually a 2 year old Shepherd mix. Though I could have chosen to rescind my claim on Chip and take on Lexy as my first project, I thought that I sort of "owed it" to Chip to do what I could to get him adopted.
After a few trips to the shelter I finally ended up there during a time where the staff were in the office and could give me access to Chip's file so I could get all of the info I needed to write my first Bio. It went something like this:
Hi, my name is Chip. I’m a 63 lb, neutered male, 2-3 year old German Shepherd mix....I’m full of love, and looking for a special friend to share it with every day!...One of my favorite things to do is just roll around in the grass with my tongue hanging out - if you’re having a bad day there’s nothing better to make you smile than watching me wiggle around in the grass. ...I also enjoy going for walks, I’m pretty good on a leash and getting even better every day. I understand “sit”, “shake”, “fetch”, “down” and I’m getting good at “heel” too. Wow, all this in one package, could you ask for more? ...Please come visit me at the Petsmart adoption fair this weekend. See you soon!
Julie was great in getting Chip's bio up on the website quickly even though I'd only sent it to her one-and-a-half days before the Petsmart adoption event.
I showed up to the adoption fair with Chip in tow, and lo and behold, a couple was waiting to meet Chip right away after reading his bio on the website. We took him for a walk around the parking lot and he behaved wonderfully (all that volunteer walking with him paid off!) I think it was love at first sight, though to be sure the whole family was in agreement to couple decided to bring their other dog Bailey by to meet Chip.
While they were filling out the application they told me the sad story of the last dog they had adopted from MaxFund who had escaped and was hit by a car. And then a terrible coincidence happened. One of our dogs broke loose while being transferred from the van to the adoption area and took off! She ran across Colorado Blvd twice, through a busy parking lot, and we lost her...I had quickly apologized to the couple wanting to adopt Chip and told them I would meet them back at the event later and I was off on the chase to catch Ms. Lucy Bee. After almost an hour of driving around, jumping in and out of the car and giving chase, we finally caught Lucy Bee with the help of animal control, Petsmart staff and a great gentleman named Steve who had joined us in the chase though he was just another non-MaxFund volunteer at the event.
When we arrived back at the event I waited around for a bit before deciding to call Chip's prospective adopters to let them know we'd caught Lucy Bee and there was no need to fear returning to hear bad news (Lucy Bee hadn't been hit by a car like their last dog...) While I was leaving a message the woman adopting Chip walked up to me "Oh, and here you are right in front of me, Bye!" I ended my call.
Chip met Bailey, they were more interested in the goings on at the event than they were in each other, but they didn't dislike each other, and that was good enough. We finished all of the paperwork and Chip was off to his new home! I said my goodbye without getting too choked up, I knew Chip was going to a good family and was happy to see him find his forever home.
Nice job Chip!
From Volunteer Susan & her Summer Project Popcorn
I started fostering Popcorn right after I took him to the Petco opening. As some of you know, at MF, he barked non-stop in his cage, yelling, "please get me out" over and over. He even dehydrated himself doing this, and needed IV fluids. He had been abandoned with his buddy Shadow at a vet's office. That doctor brought them both to us, and very tragically, Shadow died soon after. Poor Popcorn spent much time in the isolation trailer with Kennel Cough. He craves physical and social attention, so this has been very tough for him.
I had 3 calls about him. The new website left out his age, and all were concerned about adopting a senior dog, (he is 10+ years and has a big cataract in his left eye, leaving it blind except for light and dark, and a little one in his right eye - but that eye can see just fine ... he needs eyedrops twice daily and may need surgery in the future according to the canine opthamologist I took him to.) Anyway, none of them put in an application, but I steered them to some other MF candidates, so we'll see.
So, even though I tried to retain a level of detachment, I could not help falling in love with him. My husband is hooked as well. We're taking it slowly and carefully following Patricia McConnell's and others' training advice for separation anxiety. Thank you Louise, for your helpful suggestions and support. Long story long, he is doing very well, and we three are very happy to have each other. We like to think that we are honoring the memory of our MF dog, Sasha, who died exactly two years ago on the date we decided to adopt Popcorn. May 1. She was also about 10 when we adopted her.
Keep those great projects going and be sure to let me know the results! You can either post updates to the forums or you can email me at matt@maxfundvolunteers.org
