Pawsitive People: Kendra and Amelia
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
In addition to our wonderful staff, we have an incredible team of dedicated and hardworking fosters and volunteers, without whom we could not dream of accomplishing our mission.
Thank you to all of our fosters and volunteers who help us save lives each day.
Meet two passionate animal advocates!
In Memory of Maggie: Kendra
Having a house full of kitten fosters is not for the faint of heart – but Kendra is willing to conquer just about any challenge when it comes to saving lives!
Kendra’s soulmate dog passed away in 2021. To heal from her beloved pup’s passing, she decided to reach out to Friends of Strays to start fostering. Her first foster was a sweet, goofy senior dog named Bert.
“I just fell in love with him instantly and knew that fostering was a great way for me to give love to so many animals in need in my Maggie’s memory,” she said.
A self-proclaimed cat lady, she decided to give kittens a try, and was hooked on helping those little ones thrive. She’s now helped 2 dogs and over 30 cats/kittens. Kendra said she loves getting to watch the kittens grow up, knowing that she’s providing a safe and comfy home in their first weeks of life.
“They give me as much as I give them, if not more,” she said.
One of her most memorable litters was a group of 6 with their mom, who she named after Taylor Swift songs. Some of the kittens had cerebellar hypoplasia, a developmental condition affecting their motor skills, and left a big impact, she said.
Her advice to someone thinking of fostering? Don’t be afraid.
“Don’t let the fear of 'giving them back' stop you,” Kendra said. “The joy they bring far outweighs the sadness of giving them back and you are giving them the start in life that they need."
Pup Pals: Amelia
Amelia grew up as a major animal lover, but she’s always gravitated toward dogs. She decided to start volunteering for Friends of Strays in Fall 2023 after hearing of the shelter while growing up in the area. She wanted to spend her free time in a more fulfilling way, and have something outside of the regular routine to do where she can meet other people.
“I was taken in by how each animal was taken care of with a sense of dignity and respect,” she said.
Since then, Amelia has been one of our steadfast dog care volunteers! From walks to puppy spa days, Amelia’s always ready to lend a hand with our pup pals.
“Even if I’m having a rough day, I know if I’m volunteering at the shelter later on I know it’s going to cheer me up,” she said.
One of her favorite things about volunteering is watching dogs’ personalities bloom once they gain confidence and understand the shelter’s routine. She gets so excited when our longtime resident dogs finally find their home.
“It fills my heart when the dogs start to recognize me as someone they get to have fun in the yard with or go on walks with,” Amelia said.
