It is well known that Hero Dogs owes its success to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers.
Would you believe that Hero Dogsโ very first puppy raiser, from 10 years ago, is still an integral part of our team? Believe it! Maria has been there every step of the way and she is the spotlight of the next two posts!
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ด๐: I started volunteering for Hero Dogs in May 2010, after going to the Brookeville Animal Hospital Open House where a newly formed organization, Hero Dogs, had an information table and a puppy in need of a raiser. The puppy was Hero Dogs Lady Liberty, and I became the first puppy raiser.โฃ
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๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ ๐โ๐บ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ด๐: In the early days of Hero Dogs, we were all volunteers and did whatever was required. We washed walls, pruned trees, did presentations/ demonstrations/ orientations, made home visits for new volunteers, took dogs to the vet, maintained puppy books, contacted breeders and sought puppy donations, attended events and fundraisers, recruited volunteers, took pictures and whatever else was needed. Now that Hero Dogs has a small but wonderful staff, I focus on seeking puppies (from as far away as Spain) and making the silver charms awarded to puppy raisers. โฃ
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๐๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐โ๐๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ด๐: I have raised three dogs for Hero Dogs: Hero Dogs Lady Liberty (Libby), Hero Dogs Francis Scott Key (Scotty), and Hero Dogs Deborah Sampson (Sammie).โฃ