Intake is a community process

Ever wonder how our pets find their way to adoption through Berkeley Humane?

In a sense, Berkeley Humane’s adoptable animals are a special, curated selection of animals that we believe would be a great fit in the right home. We focus our attention on relieving overcrowding at other shelters in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Each week Berkeley Humane staff collaborates with these shelters in a process called “intake” to identify adoptable pets as well as injured animals who might thrive under our excellent medical care.

1. Intake step one is to visit a partner shelter. 

There, we discuss how Berkeley Humane can help them with potential overcrowding and whether any of their animals would be a good fit for us. Occasionally a Berkeley Humane veterinarian offers expert medical advice to help us determine which animals might benefit from our excellent on-site vet care — for instance, our new radiograph helps us diagnose injuries that other shelters might not be equipped to discover.

2. Step two is the all-important evaluation process. 

Every animal at Berkeley Humane has passed a behavioral assessment to gauge traits like friendliness to humans, tolerance for being handled, tendency toward overstimulation, general health, and, for dogs, their sociability with other dogs.

3. Step three is transferring the animals to Berkeley Humane.

A great deal of community service and partnership drives our intake process. One of our closest partners is Berkeley Animals Care Services (BACS), located just a mile away from our shelter. Adult animals, whether surrendered or stray, must be held for a while at a public shelter like BACS. After the mandated hold period, Berkeley Humane steps in to help. An exception is made for litters under six months old. Few shelters have the resources and the community support to provide round-the-clock care to underage kittens, for example, so it can benefit the kittens to come directly to Berkeley Humane.

“BACS and the animals it brings in are a huge priority,” says Berkeley Humane Pet Program Manager Carly Skonnord. “We both mutually benefit.”

On a sunny day in late March, Carly drove to BACS in a roomy van with plenty of space to transport multiple pet carriers. Her goal was to bring back two young cats, including a three-month old kitten with undiagnosed dental/cranial issues. Berkeley Humane’s veterinary staff guessed that an infection from a broken jaw might be the culprit. That might be the best case scenario, as kitten bones are still growing at three months and the jaw might heal itself.

“It could be anything at this point and we don’t yet know what our treatment options are,” said Carly. “There’s only so much you can safely do with a kitten’s mandible. But our new radiograph machine gives us the best shot at helping her.”

Carly Skonnord, Pet Program Manager, holding Tippi

This injured kitten (who would get the moniker Tippi later that afternoon) is a perfect example of the community service that Berkeley Humane provides.

“When it comes down to it, we have the technology and resources to give the kitten her best shot,” explained Carly. “It’s our moral responsibility. With an injury this uncertain, bringing her to Berkeley Humane is best for BACS, best for the kitten, and best for the community.”

As Carly carried the kittens through the halls of BACS, staff paused to talk to her. Most expressed joy that Tippi would receive diligent medical attention and get a great shot at a loving home. All of them said goodbye to the kittens. However briefly they may have worked with these animals, they knew and cared about them.

“Staff at BACS is so great to work with,” said Carly. “They are so compassionate and professional.”

Tippi expressing herself as she settles into Berkeley
Humane after transferring from BACS

 Back at Berkeley Humane, the newly-named Tippi and Chuck settled into new homes. They explored their fresh towels, new toys, and clean litter box. Later that day X-rays would confirm Tippi’s broken jaw (not that this stopped the extroverted kitten from meowing for attention from all the vets in the room). Surgery would remove a necrotized bone fragment.

“We wanted her to spend an additional week or two in foster care before putting her up for adoption to make sure she was healing well, and she did great!” said Carly. “She wasn’t in as much pain, which allowed her to eat more freely. She put on a lot of weight, which she needed desperately. Now she’s nice and plump, and is very playful and cuddly. Basically, she now gets to be a normal, healthy kitten!”

Tippi was deemed ready for adoption — and she went home almost immediately. Read more about Tippi’s successful journey to adoption in this East Bay Times story.

Tippi fully recovered and preparing to go home with her adopter

In the month Tippi spent in Berkeley Humane’s care, she was a perfect illustration of how Berkeley Humane collaborates with the community, provides expert medical care when necessary, and helps pets and adopters find each other.



Every week Berkeley Humane helps pets find homes. Some, like Tippi, first receive medical care. Help us help animals! Consider donating today so that we can help more adoptable animals like Tippi overcome injuries and go up for adoption.

Going Home: Rocky

Happy Woof Wednesday, animal lovers! Or perhaps we should say, Happy "Worf" Wednesday, because this week we're celebrating the adoption of a winsome little pup called Worf, who is now rocking his new moniker "Rocky."

The dog formerly known as Worf.

Adopter Maria shared a cheerful update with us: sounds like Rocky is getting nice and comfortable in his new home! Says Maria: 

"[Worf] ended up being the perfect fur baby for me and I'm so happy I adopted him! His new name is Rocky and he's settling in really well! He is already potty trained and he doesn't do anything he's not supposed to. He's really sweet and friendly to all humans and dogs!" 

Rocky, cuddling champion.

She finished with this question:

I was wondering if you have any idea on his background? I know most of the dogs are usually strays, but I thought it didn't hurt to ask.

Thanks for the update, Maria! We thought many people might be curious about where Berkeley Humane's adoptable animals come from, so we decided to ask Sherry Liu, the Marketing and Individual Giving Manager, to shed some light on the subject. 

Q&A with Sherry:

Where do the animals at Berkeley Humane come from? 

We partner with municipal shelters across the entire East Bay, as far north as Martinez, as far south as Fremont, and we go to Stockton as well. Since municipal shelters generally provide animal control, and must accept any kind of surrenders, for any reason, at any time, our ability to intake our animals from them help alleviate their overcrowding.

How much do you know about the animals' histories before they make it to Berkeley Humane?

Some animals are surrendered to municipal shelters by their guardians, whereas other animals are strays found on public streets. The length of time an animal spends at a municipal shelter before coming into our care also varies. This means the amount of information passed on to the municipal shelter, as well as the information passed on by them to us, can vary widely. Often we learn more about the animals we intake through behavior assessments and medical examinations than we receive from the source shelter.

Does Berkeley Humane accept animals directly? 

We do not. Independent humane societies like us generally do not accept direct public surrenders.

What's the farthest away an animal has ever come?

Since the amount of information provided to us can be spotty, it’s difficult to say. However, it’s with regularity that we take in animals from Fremont and Stockton.

Any particularly memorable animal intake stories?

Plenty. However, it is often most gratifying when we’re able to take in an animal who has a medical need. They are often overlooked and the last ones to find loving homes, if it happens at all. Being able to provide medical care that shortens an animal’s stay in the shelter system from many months—sometimes years—to just a few weeks, and being able to help the animals who need it most means a lot to us.

Thank you, Sherry! Every year, Berkeley Humane helps hundreds of dogs to find loving new homes, and each has their own unique story. To read more heart-warming and tail-wagging happy endings, check back each Wednesday for a  new Going Home post. 

Adopted a pet from Berkeley Humane and have your own update to share? Whether it was last week or 5 years ago, we'd love to hear from you! Share your story and pet pictures on our Facebook page!

Volunteer Appreciation: Linda J.

December is a very special month for many of us. It is the core of the western holiday season and it can inspire us to feel gratitude for the good things of the year. At the same time, we can look ahead and set up some resolutions for the new year that is to come.

This volunteer appreciation post has a bit of everything that makes December so special. Its core goal is to show our gratitude to one of Berkeley Humane’s most amazing volunteers. It also has wise words for those of us who rank ‘volunteering’ (with Berkeley Humane) under our New Year’s resolutions..

With that said, we would like to introduce you all to Linda J. who has provided the content for this post by being submitting to a Skype call at 8 AM.

Linda's 'foster failure', the charming Gracie.

Linda is an experienced and long-term volunteer who does… well... almost everything. It was graduate school that led her to the Bay Area, and she has been here ever since. Her loyalty to Berkeley Humane is as steadfast: for twenty years or more, she has adopted all her pets from us, including her current bunch: little Gracie the dog (a foster failure: our favorite kind of failure) and the feline brothers Lewis and Morse.

And then, four to five years ago, when Linda was still working in healthcare administration, she started volunteering for the old PAWS program, which worked with seniors and people with disabilities to help them keep their pets. Thereafter, she started coming in once a week for a shift as a canine volunteer. When the practice she worked with was taken over by a larger company, she decided the time had come to retire. Her employer’s loss proved our gain, because soon Linda started taking on other duties alongside her work with Berkeley Humane’s dogs.

The famous duo Morse (black) and Lewis (white).

Currently she leads orientation sessions for new volunteers in the adoption center twice a month. She helps our volunteer manager with administrative tasks and regularly represents Berkeley Humane at special events, such as multi-day adoption events and the famous Solano Stroll. More down-to-earth work like doing laundry, making runs to BACS with overflow supplies, she does with a smile.

Over the years, Linda has seen how Berkeley Humane continues to develop its policy for recruiting and retaining volunteers. She really enjoys the amount of trust she has won and how much freedom to do her chosen work she gets in return. She has also noticed a continuous effort to improve communication with volunteers and ongoing gratitude from Berkeley Humane’s staff. Across the organization, she feels supported – people really make volunteers feel like a vital part of the organization. These last two years Berkeley Humane even organized a Holiday Party for all volunteers, where Linda was surprised with an award for her years of service!

Linda (right) receiving an award from board member Tamara Stanley.

When asked what it takes to be a good volunteer at Berkeley Humane, Linda said: “If you want to do it, you have what it takes.” She mentioned the extreme flexibility offered, where you can volunteer in a two-hour shift once a week, or come in as much as you want. There are even people who make volunteering a family activity: a great way to teach your child the basics of animal care and compassion is to become a parent-child volunteer team. It helps, she says, to be a good team player, to be communicative and ask questions and to take initiative where needed, but the quality you most need, is to be reliable. In return, you will get a lot of gratitude and you can deepen your understanding of animal welfare in a wide variety of ways.

Linda herself says that she has definitely learned a lot: from training in animal handling to getting better at understanding animal behavior, but also the human side of things: how incredibly hard it is on the staff to make tough decisions about animals, and how much it hurts to surrender an adopted animal because of an incompatibility with existing pets. At the same time she says that volunteering at Berkeley Humane has cemented her belief that what pets really want is to be loved. She has also become convinced her that there really is a home for every pet: no matter how eccentric or special, once an animal finds his or her family, it is clear to see that they truly belong together.

With that resounding conclusion, we wrap up our interview with Linda, Berkeley Humane’s truly invaluable volunteer. 

Linda: we are so grateful for all the things you do for the animals in our care, for your fellow volunteers and the assistance you render to our staff. You are amazing! We hope that your wise words will inspire many new volunteers to join the cause of getting more and more animals into families. 

Do you, dear reader, want to know more about volunteering at Berkeley Humane? Look here for more information. We hope to see you at our volunteer orientation soon!

Losing a Pet Part 1: Berkeley Humane's Pet Loss Support Group

Once upon a time I had the best cat ever. His name was Beeper.

His death from kidney failure at age 17 was devastating. It doesn’t matter that he died four years ago; I can still cry as freely today as I did then.

Registered Nurse, Clinical Social Worker and Grief Recovery Specialist Jill Goodfriend had her own best cat ever.

In her June 2012 piece To Honor Aja Katrina:The Creation of Pet Loss Support Groups, Goodfriend describes the way her cat Aja’s death inspired the creation of her long-running pet loss support group:

“The apartment felt hollow, empty. Her toys were still scattered around, food and water bowls untouched, wisps of her hair everywhere. I needed to talk and cry. I needed a compassionate someone, who understood our unique bond, to listen. Gratefully I found Betty Carmack’s support group in San Francisco, and another in Marin, but surprisingly none in the East Bay. I vowed that when my grief healed sufficiently I would create a pet loss support group to honor Aja Katrina. And I did.”

Jill has offered groups at various Bay Area locations and finally found a home at Berkeley Humane ten years ago. Each month on the third Tuesday, the group welcomes anyone to drop in and share their loss, no matter how recent or distant. It's also an excellent resource for those preparing for a pet's imminent death. 

“Berkeley Humane has been so supportive,” says Jill. “Another location started at the same time put us in a windowless, hot room without a fan after the air conditioning had been turned off for the night, and failed to advertise the group, so no one came. But Berkeley Humane welcomed us from the beginning, rent-free, and has included our group on their website. They’ve been great to work with.”

Candles to honor the pets we miss

One evening in June I headed to Berkeley Humane. As a volunteer I’m familiar with the shelter’s front room, but Jill and her co-facilitator Sylvia Wenninger transformed it into a welcoming place to grieve. Jill organized a centerpiece of softly glowing electric candles. No matter which seat I chose in the circle, a box of tissues was close at hand to absorb tears. Stuffed animals offered comfort and a bittersweet reminder of the pets we’d lost.

Attendance varies: over the last year the group welcomed an average of seven mourners each month. The evening I attended was an intimate affair that gave us all a chance to share our stories, ask each other questions, and receive counseling on healing actions that might help us.

Stuffed animals and tissues.

Each month Jill or Sylvia select a new piece dealing with pets and loss. This reading, followed by a moment of silence, opens each meeting. Soon I was passing around my pictures of Beeper and sharing stories about my best cat ever. My audience listened intently (in fact, one of the rules is no interrupting while someone speaks) and passed me tissues when I dissolved into inarticulate tears.

Two things struck me that evening. The first is how comforting it is to speak of the loss of a pet openly and without judgment, which is precisely why Jill created the group.

“Although our society is uncomfortable with the whole topic of death, and certainly doesn’t know how to deal with people who are mourning their pets, at least there are some socially accepted cultural or religious rituals to acknowledge and honor a person’s passing and to offer support to the bereaved family,” she says. The pet loss support group lets us mourn our beloved companions in a supportive environment.

“The mourning pet owner finds that his grief may not be recognized or accepted by society, that it is disenfranchised grief. From well-meaning friends and co-workers he might hear ‘It was just a dog,’ ‘Aren’t you over him yet?’ or ‘Why don’t you just adopt another one from a shelter?’ as if pets are simply interchangeable. Many group attendees admit to experiencing more difficulty recovering from the loss of a pet than from the death of a parent.” - Jill Goodfriend

Monk, a very good cat. He is missed.

The second thing that struck me was how helpful perspective is in the healing process. Another attendee lost his cat Monk earlier this year. Learning about friendly, unflappable Monk reminded me that I’m not alone in missing my pet. Grief doesn’t have to be a solo journey.

Jill brings resources to suit all needs: handouts on self care after loss, help lines, regional pet loss groups, even copies of a book written for bereaved cat owners: Soul Comfort for Cat Lovers by Liz Eastwood. No one leaves without useful information on positive next steps. For instance, Jill felt I might benefit from writing letters to Beeper. (That the prospect unnerves me is probably a clue to its therapeutic, if tearful, value.)

The pet loss support group left me in tears, I admit. After the discussion I missed Beeper more than I’d allowed myself to in years.

Yet I felt unquestionably better: by revisiting my grief I’d reassessed it, an emotional check-in that made it easier to move forward.

Beeper, my very best cat.

If you’re mourning an animal, consider sharing your story at the pet loss support group each third Tuesday of the month from 7-8:30pm. Sharing is not required but the confidentiality rules make it a safe place to do so. The group is run by Jill Goodfriend and Sylvia Wenninger, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and RYT. The group meets at Berkeley Humane, 2700 9th Street. Find out more about the group here.

 
Part two of this series shares recommendations and resources for those who have lost a pet or are readying themselves for the loss.

Volunteer Appreciation Series: Romy

Today’s Volunteer Appreciation post features a very special volunteer, Romy Harness, who serves Berkeley Humane in two distinct but complementary roles: Canine Volunteer and Board Member. Romy started volunteering three years ago as a Canine Volunteer. Her expertise with a range of dog behavior earned her an “upgrade” to Dog Training Assistant, where she is able to help with pooches that might prove a little more challenging to a new volunteer. Her talents and dedication led to an invitation to join Berkeley Humane’s Board of Directors, where she has served as a Director since August 2014.

Romy enjoys contributing to the varied talents that board members bring to their monthly meetings. “Everyone brings a lot of good personal insight and expertise from the different realms they come from,” she says. “When we get together to share ideas and brainstorm, it’s a really good and positive experience. We work together really well.”

The talents Romy brings to the Board of Directors are highly informed by her experiences volunteering at Berkeley Humane. “Because I’ve been a volunteer for three years now, my chosen focus is staff culture, volunteer culture, and morale,” she says. “I’m the only board member who volunteers at Berkeley Humane so I think it gives me a particularly good insight into the other side apart from administration. I don’t have a particular educational background in animals, but [all Board Directors] have something to bring. In my other life, I’m an Executive Assistant at a software company. What I can share from that is an ability for organization, and knowing how to run a professional organization.”

She got started working with Berkeley Humane when she realized how much she wanted to spend time with dogs, even though she recognized that her loft apartment — while a wonderful place for her three cats, Pepe, Rocky, and Bucci — wasn’t ideal for a dog. She realized that volunteering was a great way to spend rewarding time with dogs who would greatly benefit from her efforts. “I started volunteering at Berkeley Humane because I wanted to be around dogs more but wasn’t really set up to have a dog. I started to volunteer and it has grown from there.”

Romy also points out that volunteering wasn’t just about satisfying her need for quality doggy time. The animals and shelter benefit just as much.

“I know that organizations like Berkeley Humane and other shelters really depend a lot on volunteers. I know how valuable foster help and people helping on-site can be.”

Romy’s dual positions as a board member and dog training assistant complement each other. “[Holding both volunteer positions] is extremely beneficial! They benefit each other, especially by giving me a lot more breadth of knowledge about the day-to-day running of the shelter. It really helps me because I get to know the staff and other volunteers well and see how things are going.”

“I think my future vision is twofold. One is to get a new shelter built. Along with that [my vision is to] continue to examine as a board how to best serve the animals and people of our community.”


Thank you for your dedication, Romy! We appreciate your years of service and the variety of ways you help Berkeley Humane grow.

If you’d like to help make Romy’s vision of community service come true, please consider volunteering at Berkeley Humane. No matter what talent you have to share, we probably have a volunteer opportunity you’ll excel at.

Volunteer of the Month: Carol – a dog’s best friend

After a hiatus, we’re back with the Volunteer of the Month series. In this series we celebrate our volunteers, and show appreciation for how much their work means for Berkeley Humane and the animals we rescue. Many of the hours worked at Berkeley Humane, are worked by volunteers and it is no exaggeration that without them, we could not be the organization we want to be.

Monday morning, 7 AM. Carol arrives for her usual shift of volunteer work at Berkeley Humane’s adoption center. In the next two hours she will spend time cleaning the kennels of those dogs unable to stay with a foster family throughout the week, for instance when they need medical care or are under evaluation. Caring for them is the main job of Berkeley Humane’s Canine Volunteers. This means cleaning kennels, but also training and socializing the dogs, assisting with adoptions, or just giving a dog some loving company.

If Carol has time left after cleaning, she will also take the dogs for a walk through the neighborhood. She might just let them sniff their fill of trees and street lights, but sometimes she also walks them past her house. If so, her grandkids, who she often cares for when their parents are at work, are happy to lavish the pooch in question with pets and hugs. This allows Carol to socialize the dog to interactions with children, while also teaching the kids how to politely and calmly approach dogs. Canine Volunteers receive training on how to handle the animals, and Carol loves how she continues to learn and always find opportunities to learn more about dogs and their behavior.

Carol has been with Berkeley Humane for about 18 months. She picked up her first shift after Jack, her doggy friend and fellow East Coast transplant, passed away. Helping animals by giving them clean kennels and a much-needed walk, became a wonderful way to honor the companionship she got from him. Carol’s volunteer work also led her to adopt a new companion: Pearl, a sweet white terrier mix, who Carol encountered during her work.

Carol and Pearl at Pearl's birthday party - complete with dog friendly peanut butter cake

When asked about the nature of the work, Carol shares that it helps to not to be squeamish. Cleaning kennels does involve dog poop, after all. Still, the gratitude of the dogs more than makes up for the less-than-rosy-smelling parts of the job. She also says that while cleaning takes up the most time in her shift because she is the first one to come in, she considers the walking of the dogs to be at least as important. For dogs who make do without a foster family, a walk is often a very welcome break from the kennel and an opportunity to get some extra attention.

One of the hardest parts of Carol’s job is seeing loving, sweet dogs who take a while to get adopted. She shows up on Monday morning hoping that the weekend’s adoption hours have emptied out the kennels, but sometimes finding the right family is not a one-week deal. Doing what she can to make their kennels comfortable and cozy helps, but in the end, she feels, every dog deserves a loving family. Life in a kennel, no matter how clean and regardless of the amount of walks, is not as good as a comfortable basket in a living room and a place in the heart of a family.

Our Canine Volunteers are highly treasured. Their work makes a world of difference, for the workload of Berkeley Humane’s staff, but especially for the quality of life of the dogs awaiting their adoption. As long as we cannot offer foster families to all our dogs – something we do aim for – it is the Canine Volunteer on who these dogs rely for much of their stimulation and fun.  

Do you want to become a Canine Volunteer? You will be trained in dog handling techniques and we offer shifts between 7AM and 7 PM on every day of the week. For more information, and for an application, please visit our website. 

Feline Friday Special: Reduced Adoption Fee For Older Cats

It's Feline Friday again! As you may have read last week, we are celebrating Feline Friday these late summer weeks with a special that we hope will help connect more of our cats with loving families. Every Friday this August, we're offering $5 adoption fees for all cats 5 months and older. That includes the adoption fee of our darling Queeny, pictured below!

If Queeny fits, she sits!

Why have we decided to celebrate this way? For multiple reasons, really. One: late summer is often a great time for people to adopt an older kitty. Two: older cats sometimes lose the cuteness competition from the many kittens we have, even though they're equally as sweet and adorable. Three: we want as many people as possible to enjoy the love of a feline friend!

Berkeley Humane's Cat Program Coordinator Cathy Marden further explains great reasons for adopting an older cat:

"With the start of the school year and new routines being established, the late summer tends to be a busy time for many people. This makes it an excellent time to adopt an older cat because older cats tend to be more mellow and stable in their personalities. When you bring an older cat home
you don't need to worry about kitten-proofing every square inch of your home. Older cats may need a few additional days to adjust to the transition from adoption center to home, but after they're comfortable they make amazing pets! They're not full of surprises the way kittens can be. Is this kitten going to be short haired? Meow a lot? Shy and aloof? Wait until it grows up to see. With an adult cat, you know the coat length and personality traits before you bring him home. Plus, older cats have been around the block (figuratively speaking) and know about scratching posts, litter boxes
and night time sleep schedules - meaning that they require much less training than a young kitten. And if you're looking for a cat that's super playful, many older cats will fit that description perfectly too! Cats can retain their playfulness well into their teens; it's just a matter of providing them with toys to stimulate their prey drive and they'll happily stalk and pounce, run and dart, and generally keep you entertained.

Queeny, our gorgeous and lovely cat shown earlier, is only two years old and has a very sweet, delicate personality. She enjoys cuddling, likes to take cat naps on your lap and is up for a little daily play as well. However, her sensitive nature makes it stressful for her to come to the adoption center, which can make her easily overlooked when a handful of rowdy kittens are tumbling into their water bowls and climbing your trouser legs. Queeny is the kind of cat that would really shine in a calm household with a stable guardian with whom she can hold court. She has a lot of love to give!

Queeny hanging out while waiting for her Prince or Princess Charming

After Berkeley Humane: Sweet Charlie

Say hello to Sweet Charlie (formerly Mulan)! Sweet Charlie’s adopter, when writing in to us with their after-Berkeley Humnae story, mentioned something that struck a chord with us. She wrote that Sweet Charlie “is the cutest kitty ever (but I’m sure you hear that a lot.)”

Well, yep, we do. And you know what? That’s because every family’s pet kitty IS the world’s cutest kitty, at least in their own eyes. (And sometimes, we gotta be honest, EVERYONE’s eyes. The cats and kittens we adopt out are serious stunners!)

We love matching animals with that one person or family that sees them as the best, cutest, cuddliest, most amazing pet there ever was. We love hearing that feedback from adopters, too, that they’re happy they found their one true pet love at Berkeley Humane.

Read on for more of Sweet Charlie’s gratifying after-Berkeley Humane story!

I wanted to send a picture of Sweet Charlie and let you know she's doing just fine. She's loving, affectionate, lazy as can be, and she plays fetch!  Yes, fetch!! It is so cool, we think she has dog in her... heehee.  If we leave the room she follows and comes when we call her, too cute. She's a talker and has a different meeeow for her needs and she is the cutest kitty ever (but I'm sure you hear that a lot.) She is such a joy and wonderful to have around.  We all love her so much!

We’re so happy for this cat, and for her new parents. Sweet Charlie sounds like a riot! Thanks for tuning in to this latest after-Berkeley Humane love story!

April Volunteer of the Month: Jamie

Jamie came on board the Berkeley Humane volunteer team after the revival of our post-fire volunteer program in 2010. Her commitment has never wavered, and Jamie continues to be a tremendous asset as a Feline Friend at our Adoption Center.

Our Cat Coordinator Cathy Marden says about Jamie, "I know I can count on her to socialize the cats, greet the public, and help out around the adoption center. She is always friendly and outgoing, and is willing to help out with any random task that pops up. Jamie is great with both cats and people! She makes everyone feel welcome in the cat room and enthusiastically engages potential adopters. Jamie's sincere personality is disarming and helps create a calm atmosphere in the cat adoption room."

Jamie shares a bit on her volunteer experience at Berkeley Humane:

"What brought me to Berkeley Humane? It's simple. I love cats. Just ask my husband. I would take them all home if I could. However, having lived in a home with too many cats growing up, I have imposed a strict two-cat limit for our house. The thing is, I have enough love in me for way more than just two cats, so I cherish my time volunteering at the shelter where I can share that love, helping kitties find their humans... and vice versa."

A cat always knows a kindred spirit when they meet one. Jamie seems to know what makes each cat purr almost immediately, can make the shyest cats come out of their shells, and is also a talented match maker for adopters. For Jamie and the kitties at Berkeley Humane, it's a match made in heaven!

Are you feeling inspired by Jamie's experience? If you’re interested in learning about volunteering at Berkeley Humane, click here to find out how!

March Volunteer of the Month: Grizelle and Melany

Grizelle and Melany have been committed Canine Friend volunteers since before many of us can remember. They started volunteering the same month that I was hired on as the Volunteer Coordinator back in April of 2012. Their commitment has never wavered! This mother/daughter team is a dynamic duo that can be relied on to do whatever is needed to care for the dogs at the end of the day on Sundays. As our Canine Coordinator Kris Swanson expressed, “they are a team we can always count on!”

Melany shares a bit on her experience:

“I like to be part of the Berkeley Humane family. All of the staff and volunteers are dedicated and kind people who really look after the well-being of the animals. All dogs are lovely and they like to be hugged and petted; they feel very happy when we go out for walks or when I scratch their backs. It is nice to have the opportunity to care for the animals. They always make me feel good after every visit.”

Volunteers like Melany and Grizelle are vital for the life-saving work we do at Berkeley Humane. We could not do it nearly as well without their help and we are pleased that the experience is just as fulfilling for them. 

Are you feeling inspired by Melany and Grizelle's experience? If you’re interested in learning about volunteering at Berkeley Humane, click here to find out how!

February Volunteer of The Month: Jason

Jason has been a tremendous asset to Berkeley Humane since September of 2012.  Cathy, our Feline Coordinator, recalled, "Jason first asked to attend the Feline Friends training in September of 2012.  He was unable to attend the next 5 scheduled training sessions but his excitement to volunteer never wavered and he came in just to clean for months before he was able to train to work with the cats."  No matter the task, Jason works with joy and enthusiasm.  He is always willing to help in any way.  Cathy also shared that she "once asked him to organize what was then known as the 'junk room'.  Undaunted by the enormous job ahead of him, he set out to work and an hour later the jumbled mess of things was converted into an organized and clean 'foyer'."  Jason continues to help with anything we need but, more importantly, he is the Sunday morning cat whisperer.  He loves the cats, takes excellent care of them, and they love him in return.  He connects with every single cat and gets to know their unique personalities in a flash.   One could argue Jason may even be a cat in a man suit.

Jason expressed his sentiments about his volunteer experience with as much sweetness as he always shows the kitties:   "It is inspiring to be a part of the Berkeley Humane corps of volunteers and staff who so selflessly and kindheartedly provide for these lovely creatures waiting so vulnerably and tenderly to be welcomed into a loving home. It brings great joy to me  knowing that my efforts, however small they may be, are spent in direct service to each dog and cat. Each weekend when I turn to leave, I feel the world is a little lighter and a little better off than before I walked in."

Volunteers like Jason make our work here at Berkeley Humane deeply rewarding.  It is an honor to share in the experience of saving lives with kind, loving people.  Thank you for your hard work and commitment Jason.  We hope to have the honor of working alongside you for many more years.    

Do you want to become a star volunteer like Jason?  Learn about how to become involved with Berkeley Humane by clicking here!

After Berkeley Humane: Penelope

Say ‘hiya’ to Penelope! She’s got a gaggle of good things going on since being adopted from us: she’s got an older sister, lots of new manners and tricks, and most importantly… well, keep on readin’ to find out one more wonderful new facet of young Penelope’s new life!

Things are going great with the new puppy. Her name has changed to Penelope, after much debate. She has learned to sit and shake her paw, she's growing like a weed, and potty training is still a work in progress. She has lots of toys to play with, an older sister named Breakfast, and lots of humans to give kisses to.

“Lots of humans to give kisses to.” We’ll definitely call that a reason for Miss Penelope to be a happy camper! Happy trails, Penelope!