Featured Volunteer Archive
Featured Volunteers for December 2011
Pat Wheeler
How long have you been a SDR volunteer?
Since February 2004.
How many hours per week do you volunteer?
About 25-30 hours.
Where/how do you primarily volunteer?
I do the following from home: Vet checks, data entry into PetPoint of all weekly adoptions, create and distribute reports, organize microchip clinics and recruit volunteers to assist in clinics, then enter all results into database, also working on entering pre PetPoint contracts into database; foster parent since joining SDR. I babysit a lot of my prior foster dogs when their parents travel.
What do you like most about volunteering?
Which dog is your favorite? Why?
What would you like visitors to our website to know most about SDR?
What do you do when you are not volunteering for SDR?
Do you have pets?
Anthony – cat – rescued from Cobb shelter 16 years ago – he’s about 18-20 years old. He has his own on-call internist – he doesn’t look a day over 5. I treasure him!!
Name one thing you have, one thing you do, and one thing you like.
- Have: A strong faith
- Do: work out a lot
- Like: Having my morning coffee, while reading my newspaper with my body covered in dogs (literally)
Diana Miller
How long have you been a SDR volunteer?
Since February 2009.
How many hours per week do you volunteer?
About 6-10 hours
What do you like most about volunteering?
Spending time with the dogs at adoption events
Which cat/dog is your favorite? Why?
I gravitate toward chihuahua mixes, and I’m partial to the ones who take a while to find their forever homes. My current “soft spot” is for Mustang Sally.
What would you like visitors to our website to know most about SmallDog?
Rescue dogs are wonderful companions, and once you adopt one, your life will never be the same!
What do you do when you are not volunteering for SmallDog?
I enjoy reading books and watching TV, and spending time with my boyfriend.
Do you have pets?
Yes, my sweet Tony Soprano (SDR alum) adopted me in February 2011. He is a black and tan chihuahua/Manchester terrier mix, “a tough guy with a heart of gold.” Also, there is Bradley, affectionately known as “Mister.” My boyfriend adopted him from SDR in July 2010. We think he is a terrier/havanese mix. He is the sweetest and most affectionate pup, who loves nothing more than playing fetch with a tennis ball.
Name one thing you have, one thing you do, and one thing you like.
- I have the unfaltering love of a rescue dog.
- I do yoga.
- I like Diet Coke.
Mary Jo Cox
How long have you been a volunteer at Smalldog?
I have been a volunteer for just over 2 years.
How many hours per week do you volunteer?
I volunteer about 8 to 10 hours per week.
What do you like most about volunteering?
I love volunteering because I enjoy finding homes for unwanted pets.
Which dog is your favorite? Why?
I love all of the animals but right now my favorite dog is Zen. She had a rough start in life but is a real sweetie. She just needs a family to love her.
What would you like visitors to our website to know most about SDR?
I would like people to know that by adopting a dog from SDR, you are saving a life. The more dogs that we adopt to families, the more we can save from euthanasia. We are all volunteers working together to try to find homes for the homeless dogs.
What do you do when you are not volunteering for SDR?
When I am not working with SDR, I spend time scrapbooking and playing tennis.
Do you have pets?
Currently, I have 2 dogs (a bichon and a portuguese water dog) along with freshwater fish. Both pups are wonderful in their own ways. They keep me on my toes.
Name one thing you have, one thing you do, and one thing you like.
- One thing that I have is a loving family who supports my efforts with helping homeless animals. They would welcome any pets that I would bring home. I enjoy learning as much as I can to help all homeless animals.
- I continually read literature on what organizations across the country are doing to help reduce unwanted pets.
- I’m always looking for new ideas.
Rhonda Palladi
How long have you been a SDR volunteer?
2 years
How many hours per week do you volunteer?
10-12 hours/week
What do you like most about volunteering?
I love working with the dogs, especially seeing them change from scared or injured pups into beautiful, healthy dogs. Then seeing the dogs go home with their adopted families is a joy for me.
Which cat/dog is your favorite? Why?
I don’t have a favorite SDR dog right now. I am usually drawn to the poodle mixes and the scruffy ones. I enjoy learning each dog’s personality and, with some of them, there is an immediate connection.
What would you like visitors to our website to know most about SmallDog? What a special organization this is. I have followed them since I adopted my SDR dog in 2002 from Bren. The volunteers and staff here are so devoted to caring for our animals. We all work as a team to find a home that will be a lasting, loving place for them for the rest of their lives. Every decision we make is based on what’s best for the dogs in our care.
What do you do when you are not volunteering for SmallDog?
I’m a college professor.
Do you have pets?
Yes, we have two dogs. Our SDR dog, Maggie, is a Portuguese Water Dog who is about 13 years old now. Our youngest is Sandy, a poodle mix, who is about 4 years old and very cute. Both of them are wonderful additions to our family.
Name one thing you have, one thing you do, and one thing you like.
- I’m very lucky to have a wonderful home and family with my husband, Joe, and our two pups.
- My favorite past time is watching old movies.
- Pensacola Beach, Florida
Ben Farrey
How long have you been a SDR volunteer? I have been a volunteer at SmallDog since June 2010, so a year and a little bit.
How many hours per week do you volunteer? I help at the adoptions every Sat., from 12-4.(unless an unforeseen something pops up, but usually at least 98% of the time I am there.) ..If I wasn’t in college, I would do Wednesdays at the facility too! I might be able to start back doing Wednesday also this summer though .
What do you like most about volunteering?
What I like most about volunteering, is how the doggies make me feel, and the other volunteers being like a family committed to all the animals. It makes me a better man I think and makes me feel like I belong.
Which cat/dog is your favorite? Why? Which dog is my favorite..Hmm, it’s really hard to pick just one because each of them has a little personality I like So I would say Del McCoury the little terrier is one I am really fond of, Travis Tritt the little Brussels Gryphon mix.., Conway the poodle, and bichons are also some of my favorites but we don’t get as many of those, sadly. Del does little jumps when he sees me, and Travis does a little dance sort of jig kinda…Love that!!
What would you like visitors to our website to know most about SmallDog? I think what I would like people to know most about SmallDog, is that they never ever turn older doggies away, and that it is no-kill because high-kill shelters and puppy mills are my least favorite part of Atlanta.
What do you do when you are not volunteering for SmallDog? When I am not volunteering, I like to read and write creative nonfiction, listen to blues music, learn guitar, and I go to Oglethorpe University where I am a sophomore…After OU, I plan to train as a vet tech at a certified technical school so I can help ill doggies.
Do you have pets? I am the only one in my family without animal allergies so no pets at the moment 
. Someday I will adopt a bichon, and a terrier probably too, though!!
Name one thing you have, one thing you do, and one thing you like. For one thing I have, it was hard to pick just one, but if I had to:
- I would say great friends from working with SmalDog.
- I am learning to do musi.
- I really like going to the movies.
Kay Smarr
How long have you been a volunteer at Smalldog? 11 years – I was recruited by our founder, Brenda Kyle, after adopting a dog from her in December, 1999.
How many hours per week do you volunteer? At least 6 to 12 hrs a week (adoptions, screening applications, helping with events, etc.)
Where/how do you primarily volunteer? I have been an officer for several years. I am a foster home, an application screener, adoption volunteer, Sunday adoption coordinator, and have helped with all fund raisers in some capacity.
What do you like most about volunteering? Helping these poor little lost doggies find wonderful and loving homes. I knew when my first foster was adopted in 2000 that I was meant to be in dog rescue. I found my “calling”.
Which dog is your favorite? Why? I love all breeds but my favorite breed is the poodle. My first dog as an adult was a poodle and I have always had a poodle since. They are so smart and funny. I say they are little people with fur!
What would you like visitors to our website to know most about SDR? That we are dedicated to the health and welfare of the dogs we rescue. Even years after adoption, we still consider them to be SDR dogs and will take them back into our group if necessary. They are SDR dogs for life and all of them are precious to us.
What do you do when you are not volunteering for SDR? I love spending time with my husband, Don. Don is also a volunteer with SDR and we met through our volunteer work with the group. I work full time for the Council on Occupational Education. I started there in 2009 after retiring from the DeKalb County School System.
Do you have pets? Oh yes! All of our dogs were adopted from SDR. We have Sophie (my first SDR dog). She’s 12 or 13 and a shih tzu mix. Audrey – 12 -13 yr old chihuahua mix, Patrick – 9 yrs old pekingnese, Gracie – 11 yr old poodle, Babbychuchu – 5 yr old chihuahua, and Tybee – 5 yr old poodle. We also have a long term foster, Rudolph, the chihuahua.
Name one thing you have, one thing you do, and one thing you like.
- I love our house.
- I enjoy going to Jazzercise.
- I love going to the beach.
Vicki Chin
How long have you been a volunteer at Smalldog? I have been volunteering with SmallDog Rescue for over four years.
How many hours per week do you volunteer? I typically spend about 4-6 hours a week on volunteer activities for SDR, depending on how many applicants I am working with.
Where/how do you primarily volunteer? I serve as an application screener, foster home, and Saturday adoption event volunteer.What do
you like most about volunteering? I love spending time with the dogs – it never ceases to amaze me the depth of their love and trust despite the hardships they have been through. I also love spending time with my fellow volunteers –the depth of their commitment to pet rescue is a source of inspiration to me.
Which dog is your favorite? Why? It would be hard to pick just one dog as my favorite, but I find myself drawn to those dogs that seem in need of a little more TLC, whether it’s due to their small size, lack of self-confidence, or soulful eyes.
What would you like visitors to our website to know most about SDR? One of the things that most impresses me about SDR, and what I would love for others to know, is that SDR makes a lifelong commitment to the dogs in our program. We will always take our dogs back if their SDR adopters can no longer care for them. If one of our adopted dogs gets loose, a team of volunteers will rush to the scene to help find them. Should one of our dogs never find his or her forever home, we will care for and love it until it crosses the Rainbow Bridge.
What do you do when you are not volunteering for SDR? When I am not volunteering with SDR, I work full-time as a senior marketing manager.
Do you have pets? I currently have two adopted dogs. Both are SDR alumni – Max (a pug rescued from a high-kill shelter) and Jimmy (a Tibetan Spaniel/long-haired Chihuahua mix found as a stray).
Name one thing you have, one thing you do, and one thing you like.
- I am blessed to have Max and Jimmy as my fur-children – without them I would have no joy or purpose in life.
- I enjoy creative writing, though this hobby currently takes a backseat to caring for my adopted and foster dogs.
- I like anything chocolate.
