Lisa tells us, “I’ve been a volunteer with Clatsop Animal Assistance (CAA) for three years. I started volunteering shortly after my two dogs, who were 13 and 15, passed away from old age within a short time of each other. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have any canine companions. I missed them so much, but I wasn’t ready to adopt again. Instead, I threw myself into my new role as a dog walker at the shelter. The sense of community, the physical work, and taking care of 25+ dogs in need helped me work through the grief and heal.
I always worried I wouldn’t make a good volunteer—either I’d want to take all the dogs home or wouldn’t be able to handle the heartache. And yes, there are emotional ups and downs, but the rewards definitely outweigh the tough moments. I’ve learned that there’s someone for every dog; it just takes patience and time. Since our shelter space is limited, we rely on fosters to help when we’re full, or when animals need extra care. That’s how my fostering journey started.
My first foster was an 8-week-old puppy named Mabel, who came to us all by herself and was too young to be in the shelter alone. I brought her home with the plan to foster her temporarily, but that lasted about a month before my husband and I adopted her. Then came Miloh. He was struggling at the shelter, but when we took him on off-site field trips, he showed his true colors—he was great in public, an awesome hiking companion, and just an all-around good boy. Unfortunately, that wasn’t obvious in the kennel where his anxiety was overwhelming him. Shepherd/husky mixes, like Miloh, often need more physical and mental stimulation than what we can offer with our limited shelter resources. We fostered him to give him a break, and the time he needed to find a home, but he quickly became Mabel’s loving big brother.
My final foster fail (and yes, I mean final!) was Gideon, another husky mix. He was completely shut down in the shelter, terrified of strangers, and had stopped eating and drinking. He needed a stable home and a pack to help him heal, so we took him in. I never imagined having three dogs, but now I can’t imagine life without them. These dogs are our family and we take them on all of our adventures.
Even with three of our own, my husband and I still make time for the shelter dogs. Somehow, we’ve found balance in caring for them all, and I can honestly say my heart is full. And when the day comes, far in the future, when we have to say goodbye, I know there will always be more to love.”
~ Lisa, Bryan, Mabel, Miloh, & Gideon
