Volunteer Appreciation: Monty and Ming, MAC drivers (and more)

Rumbling past you on the roads or parked and invitingly open at events — have you seen our amazing Mobile Adoption Center or MAC? 

After a Berkeley Humane executive and a volunteer drove it home to Berkeley from Ohio, we formally opened it with a ribbon-cutting ceremony overseen by none other than Grumpy Cat herself. (Check out our pictures from that star-struck day here.)

The MAC travels around the Bay Area carrying adoptable pets and Berkeley Humane volunteers to far-flung events. 

The MAC at its ribbon-cutting ceremony, January 24, 2015.
Photo by JennyDee Photography.

In addition to increasing pet adoptions, the MAC opens up new volunteer opportunities and boosts Berkeley Humane’s presence in the community.

Our volunteer MAC drivers see the Bay, connect with the public, and help adoptable pets find their new homes. It’s rewarding work -- take it from Monty Lee and Ming Wang, two Berkeley Humane volunteers who count MAC driving among their skills.

Both volunteers have been driving the MAC since it arrived in Berkeley in August 2014. MAC training broadened their volunteer horizons: in addition to helping out at the shelter they can drive the MAC to an event, connect with community members, counsel potential adopters, and facilitate adoptions on the spot.

What drew you to working with the MAC?

Ming: “The potential of bringing Berkeley Humane animals to wider range of adopters.”

Monty: “The chance to experience all facets of Berkeley Humane operations: animal handling, adoption counseling, meeting and discussing Berkeley Humane with interested parties, and adoption processing.”

Training to drive the MAC, Ming says, was a whirlwind of information. “But the animal behavior section of the training is really helpful because we can monitor how the animals are during the car ride and also during the event.” She practiced on the streets around Berkeley Humane to get comfortable with the vehicle. 

Monty, who already had some experience driving RVs and large vehicles, agrees with Ming’s assessment. Training, he says, “was a great experience learning about the history of Berkeley Humane, its operating philosophy, and an overview of how animals come to the facility, get adopted, and are followed up on after adoption.”

What’s the coolest part of MAC driving?

Ming: “Working with cute doggies and kitties!”

Monty: “The most satisfying thing is to see a happy adoption — especially with children involved. Also, working with Berkeley Humane staff. They have been very supportive and exhibit genuine care and empathy for the animals.”

Ming Wang and fellow volunteer Denis Yurchikov collecting donations
for Berkeley Humane at Pride.

Not only does the MAC house adoptable dogs and cats — it’s also an effective mobile billboard for Berkeley Humane. “A lot of people are curious about MAC, especially the inside, so they always want a tour,” says Ming. “Some kids gets excited when they see the MAC driving on the street because of the animal pictures on the side.”

 While people clearly love the MAC, how do the animals inside react? “In most cases the animals are calm, cool, and collected, probably because staff is careful about the animals selected to travel based on knowing the animals' behavior,” says Monty. “Cats are mostly OK with it,” says Ming. “Some dogs require more petting.” 

Because the MAC is 100% volunteer-operated, Berkeley Humane always has an eye out for new volunteers. Interested in chauffeuring dogs and cats to adoption events? Fill out a volunteer application or examine other volunteer options with us. 

What advice would you give to potential MAC volunteers?

Ming: “Be open to talk to all kinds of people and kids.”

Monty: “Enjoy engaging with the public and getting the message out about adoptions generally and Berkeley Humane in particular.”

Berkeley Humane is grateful to Monty and Ming for their time and dedication. Volunteers like these two don’t only help the shelter, they also help adoptable animals of the Bay Area and our general community. Thank you, Ming and Monty!

Foster Feature: Phoebe (Part 2)

Happy Feline Friday! 

Today we appreciate our volunteers by featuring part two of an interview with one of Berkeley Humane's foster care providers.

Berkeley Humane relies heavily on a network of foster providers to socialize and care for its animals before they are adopted.  Our dogs and cats spend a significant portion of their time with devoted fosters who welcome them into their homes, where the animal can stretch its legs and learn what it's like to be in a home setting. This helps dogs and cats to avoid the stress of being in a shelter and allows their wonderful personalities to shine through.

This week, we are talking to Phoebe again, a volunteer who has been fostering cats for two years. Here is the second part of her interview (you can find the first part here).

What is the hardest part of fostering? What's the most rewarding?

Hardest: Saying goodbye is definitely challenging. But besides that, I think for me the logistics can be tough at times because I do have other cats and my house is not very big, so divvying up space can require some creativity and flexibility (fosters and resident cats have to be kept separate). I’d say it’s totally worth the challenge, though.

Most rewarding: Watching them develop. For young kittens, getting to see them learn and grow. It’s AMAZING. They start as helpless, blind, deaf little mice then day by day I see them develop senses, and learn how to interact with each other and their environment, and figure out how legs work, and try to run before they’ve really mastered walking, and learn from the squeals of their siblings when biting is too hard or play too rough. And seeing them develop little personalities! For adult cats, getting to know them and, in the case of shyer cats, seeing them come out of their shell. Anybody who has ever had cats knows that they have personalities just as strong and unique as humans, so getting to know them and developing a connection and a routine with them is very rewarding.

How has fostering changed your life?

It’s given me a way to do something I truly enjoy (i.e. playing with kittens!) while getting actively involved in an issue I truly care about. I’ve always cared about animal welfare, but thought I could never volunteer at a shelter because I don’t think I could emotionally handle being faced with the sadness and heartbreak (think: Humane Society of the U.S. commercials). For that reason I never even looked into it. I also always assumed I couldn’t foster because I already have cats and I don’t have a big house. Then one day a few years ago I mentioned all this to a woman I know who fosters and she enlightened me that (a) there are adoption-guaranteed organizations like Berkeley Humane that do not euthanize for space, ever, and that (b) I can foster even though I have my own cats! I decided to go to a training to learn more, but I was still skeptical about not having a big space. What really convinced me to give it a try was when the trainer told me that my bathroom, while not a big space for a cat on a permanent basis, is still a far better environment than a cage at a municipal shelter. Fostering has also introduced me to a whole community of people who really care about animal welfare.

Is fostering time consuming?

It can be. It depends on what type of animals you foster. For example bottle babies require a very different time commitment than adult cats or older kittens. I personally work full time so I’m gone during the day on weekdays, and therefore not able to foster young kittens without a Mama who would require feeding and care every few hours. I don’t personally foster dogs but I would imagine their needs are quite different as well.

For me, fostering does take up a lot of my morning and evening time before and after work. Playing with the foster cats is obviously enjoyable so it’s a fun way to spend my free time. But there is other work involved – for litters of kittens, especially as they get bigger, I find myself spending a lot of time cleaning litter boxes, doing dishes, and doing laundry (kittens can be messy!) Fostering can also involve trips to Berkeley Humane for check-ups or vaccinations. I’m always able to make that work, but it does require some planning on my part.

How does Berkeley Humane support you in your fostering?

Berkeley Humane provides all the supplies for the foster animals. Food, litter, bedding, toys, dishes, litter box. There is also a phone number that can be called for emergency advice after hours, or any time during normal business hours for non-urgent questions. The foster handout/manual contains useful information about a number of topics, including a list of which types of medical issues can and cannot wait 24 hours (I’ve referenced this on more than one occasion. It can be stressful when an animal has a medical concern because they can’t tell you how they feel or what’s wrong… or what they maybe ate that they shouldn’t have while you weren’t looking. So having a reference to help make the right decision if it’s late at night can be very valuable and reassuring.) The current foster care coordinator Kylie Reed is very responsive to calls and emails which really helps me feel supported as a fosterer.

What motivates you to continue fostering?

Knowing I can make a difference in the life of an animal who may not have otherwise had a chance. Their time in foster may be short, but it’s an opportunity to make a frightening time of transition for them as comfortable as possible.

Thank you to Phoebe for all of her valuable work and her willingness to answer our questions on top of it! Stay tuned for more foster care provider interviews!

At Berkeley Humane, we are always looking for foster providers. Berkeley Humane provides all of the necessary food and supplies and is available for support for all of its fosters-- you just add the care, love, and time! Read about becoming a foster carer on our website and fill out an application form!

Foster Feature: Phoebe

Happy Feline Friday! Today we are featuring one of Berkeley Humane's foster care providers. 

Berkeley Humane relies heavily on a network of foster providers to socialize and care for its animals before they are adopted.  Our dogs and cats spend a significant portion of their time with devoted fosters who welcome them into their homes, where the animal can stretch their legs and learn what it's like to be in a home setting. This helps dogs and cats to avoid the stress of being in a shelter and allows their wonderful personalities to shine through.

This week, we are talking to Phoebe, a volunteer who has been fostering cats for two years. Here is what she has to say about her experiences:

How long have you been fostering and who was your first foster?

I started fostering in February 2013. My first foster was a 12 year old, overweight, Himalayan-looking cat named Queen Latifah. Because she was older, it took a while to find an adopter so I had her for about 6 or 8 weeks. She had obviously lived in a loving home at some point, but her fur and skin were in pretty bad shape; she likely lived with someone who was no longer able to properly care for her due to their own age or health. With regular brushing and a good diet her coat improved immensely in just that short time I had her (she still had a ways to go on the weight control issue, though, so hopefully her adopter has been able to help her slim down a bit!). She was a great first foster for me because she was very mellow, quiet, and low maintenance, which made it easy since I really didn’t know what fostering would be like.

How did you learn to say goodbye to each foster animal?

It’s hard. I’ve been lucky that I’ve had friends or family adopt a number of my fosters which makes it much, much easier. But when I don’t know where they’ll end up it’s always difficult.  Dropping them off for adoptions, knowing I may not see them again, is emotional. Just a week ago, Creedence, a mama cat who was with me for almost 3 months, went up for adoption (and she was adopted right away!); it was tough to say goodbye and strange not having her around for the first few days. The key is remembering that it will so much better for them to start their new lives in new households where they can be the ‘primary’ cats. They have great temporary homes with me, but their space is limited, and I’m sure going back and forth to the adoption center is confusing and stressful for them. They deserve permanent homes and the sooner they can find them the better. 

Who was your favorite foster animal?

Honestly I don’t know if it’s possible to have a favorite – they are all so special and so different. It would be like choosing a favorite child. I often foster litters of kittens, and my favorite kitten within the litter changes almost daily (…often the one I’m holding at any given time is my favorite).
Having said that, I would probably have to say that Willie is my favorite… because he’s the one I adopted . His Berkeley Humane name was Avos and he was part of a mama-and-babies litter I had right after Latifah. He had a very bad, very persistent eye infection while I was fostering him. For a while I thought he would lose the eye, but the vet at Berkeley Humane kept trying different antiviral and antibiotic combinations and it finally got better, without permanent damage. But I think I developed a special bond with him during that time (and nicknamed him “One-eyed Willie”), and I just couldn’t give him up.

Who was your most challenging foster animal?

I had a “litter” of kittens once, about 8 weeks old, but it became quickly apparent that at least one of them was not related to the others. It’s a rare situation, but I’ve heard it does sometimes happen that the originating shelter (where Berkeley Humane gets them) will put unrelated kittens together and call them a litter. I think they were probably docile during their short stay at Berkeley Humane before going out to foster because they were understandably confused and scared. But when they got to my house they started to hiss at each other and fight, and it was clearly not play-fighting. Three of them seemed to be okay with each other, but the fourth little girl was aggressive and antisocial. The Berkeley Humane foster coordinator offered to find another foster home for her but by then they’d been with me for the first night and I decided to try to make it work. After a few days they settled down and accepted each other. But it was clear to me that the one little girl did not know how to interact with other kittens. We don’t know what her background was, of course, but it seems likely to me that she had little or no socialization with either other kittens or humans. I only had her a few weeks and I hope that in those few weeks she improved a bit through interaction with me and her adoptive siblings. On top of her behavioral issues she had persistent diarrhea (which may have contributed to the behavior, if she didn’t feel well). I nick-named her Lizard because she was small and wiry with a tiny head and beady eyes, and looked a bit like a reptile. I definitely grew to love the little devil, but she was a challenge.


Thank you to Phoebe for all of her valuable work and her willingness to answer our questions on top of it! Stay tuned for part 2 of her interview and more foster care provider interviews!

At Berkeley Humane, we are always looking for foster providers. Berkeley Humane provides all of the necessary food and supplies and is available for support for all of its fosters-- you just add the care, love, and time! Read about becoming a foster carer on our website and fill out an application form!

Going Home: Sailor

Happy Feline Friday! 

Today we have an update on Sailor, a cat recently adopted from Berkeley Humane, and who seems to have become an integral part of his new family already. Sailor's new "mom" writes:

"We adopted Sailor from you on September 14 (during the Solano Stroll). We just wanted to write to let you know that he's thriving. He is a totally wonderful cat-- playful and cuddly and sweet. We're very happy that he's part of our family. I'm attaching a photo here of him with his 'sisters' and grandma." 

Thank you for the update, Sarah, it is wonderful to see how well Sailor is doing! 

After this story of easily integrating a new cat into an existing family, it may be easy to forget that new arrivals can sometimes be challenging. If you're experiencing adjustment problems, or want to know how to help an animal overcome a bad habit, get in touch with Berkeley Humane's Behavior Advice Line.

Going Home: Lou

Happy Woof Wednesday from Berkeley Humane! We received a heart-warming update from the new family of Lou (formerly Wally) who, as it turns out, is quite the traveler! Lou’s mom reports that in addition to Lou becoming an indispensable part of the family, he enjoys road tripping with his new pack! 

Lou's mom writes:

“My husband and I have named our sweet pup "Lou", and have fallen completely in love with him. His big doggie brother, Ollie, and he get along so well, and he is the perfect mix of snuggly and playful.

He went on a BIG road trip across the country this summer--camping from California to Minnesota and back--and is a pro at being the perfect travel companion.

Thank you for helping us find the best addition to our family! We can't imagine life without our little Lou.”

It looks like little Lou has hit the jack-pot, and that his new family is just as lucky. Berkeley Humane is grateful for such a positive update.

The holidays are a great time to add a new animal to your family. If you're looking for a new dog or cat, come visit us! For dogs, adoption hours are 11 - 5, Wednesday through Sundays. For cats, adoption hours are 11 - 5, Friday through Sunday.