Angel Tales » volunteers

Volunteer Spotlight: Patty Smith

apulley — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:28:57 +0000

Patty Smith didn’t let her building’s “No Dogs Allowed” policy stop her from spending time with her four-legged friends. Although her two senior Birman cats, Ulee and Holly, remain the loves of her life, Patty couldn’t stop wishing for a dog of her own.

Her wish was granted when PAWS Chicago opened the doors to its new Adoption and Humane Center last September. The cageless, No Kill shelter depends on volunteers and Smith seized the opportunity to use her sunny disposition to help homeless animals. Little did she know when she walked through the doors of the Adoption Center over a year ago that the time and love she dedicated to PAWS Chicago would be returned three-fold by the animals she helped and the people she met.

“I’d hoped that being at PAWS on a regular basis would help this fixation (with having her own dog). Well, it works!”

Smith, who has lived in the Chicagoland area for over 44 years, began her volunteer work at the Adoption Center as a dog walker. But her can-do attitude and charisma made her a prime candidate to be a greeter. She now also serves as an adoption counselor on weekends, and lends her time and expertise at PAWS Chicago’s off-site adoption events. The one area of service Smith has not yet explored? The organization’s rescue missions. “I missed out on the rescue trip to Iowa because I had out-of-town guests, but would do it if it came up again,” says Smith.

Smith is an active volunteer and her list of rewards for the work seems a mile long. Perhaps her favorite thing about working at the Adoption Center is seeing the sheer happiness on the faces of families who’ve adopted an animal. She also lists the positive attitudes and quality of people she meets through her volunteer work and loves the chance to spread the word about PAWS Chicago’s No Kill mission.

She admits still feeling the sting of not being able to rescue a dog herself, but adds that her time around the animals at the shelter helps. She’s excited about getting the Spay/Neuter Ordinance passed, and the huge number of animals it will affect. And Smith understands that all non-profit organizations, including PAWS Chicago must operate on a tight budget, but adds, “I see (PAWS Chicago) from all views and it’s very expensive (to run). But it’s so amazing what they can do with so few paid employees who work so hard.”

In between the hours she dedicates to her volunteer work at PAWS Chicago, Smith enjoys boating during the summer, needlepoint and spending time with her children and grandchildre

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Volunteer Spotlight: Melissa Ziberna

Oscar Mendez — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:03:45 +0000

After spending years in corporate America Melissa Ziberna found out that her true calling was helping animals.

Ziberna, a Senior Director of Risk Management at Bally Total Fitness always wanted to give back, but the job, family commitments and lack of time prevented her from diving in. Finally, in January, Ziberna decided, “it was now or never, bit the bullet, and went part-time at my job so I could pursue this next phase in my life.”

Ten months later, Ziberna is happier than she’s ever been, volunteering four days a week at PAWS Chicago. Rescuing animals is nothing new to Ziberna, whose two beloved cats; Jeremiah and Sammy NO are both rescues.

“It is difficult not to take this personally, and to see the dear little creature back again in search of a family. But as Robin likes to remind me, it is just not the right home for them, PAWS will take care of them and they will all eventually make that perfect match.”

Ziberna started at PAWS Chicago in Kitty City (where all the cats in the Adoption and Humane Center reside) cleaning up, helping potential adopters and greeting newcomers. She quickly moved on to Dog Town, where she cared for, socialized and walked the dogs. But she wanted more responsibility. She began working on new volunteer orientations, eventually finding her niche as an adoption counselor.

Ziberna explains that this was the first time she ever felt that she was really making a difference in animals’ lives. “Truly, the first time I completed my first adoption on my own, I felt a part of the process, a part of the whole,” says Ziberna. “I am still going strong being an adoption counselor, and am about to lend a hand to the head of the adoption program”. Today, the adoption events are her favorite part of working at PAWS Chicago.

The animals themselves top the lists of both her favorite things and the hardest parts of volunteering. Ziberna describes three of her favorites – a dog, Missy, who reminded her of her long-deceased, and beloved German shepherd; a blind cat named Sheridan; and the fat-and-sassy cat, Shakespeare. The drawbacks of volunteering, she insists, are few and far between, but Ziberna says the hardest part of her work is “…when an adoption does not work out and the animal is returned.”

Her eyes tear up as she describes the most difficult area of adoption counseling.

“It is difficult not to take this personally, and to see the dear little creature back again in search of a family. But as Robin likes to remind me, it is just not the right home for them, PAWS will take care of them and they will all eventually make that perfect match.”

When Melissa isn’t dedicating herself to PAWS Chicago, she loves spending time with her husband and working out at the gym. Ziberna also loves spending time with the people at PAWS Chicago, who she describes as exceedingly talented, and who’ve made a conscious decision to follow their passion to help animals.

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PAWS Profile: Deborah Chapman

Oscar Mendez — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:57:15 +0000

From an early age, Deborah felt the importance of people and animals in her life. Her father’s job with Exxon meant her family moved from city to city, including Boston, New York, Texas and Maryland. Growing up, she’d always wanted a dog, but her family’s frequent relocating made it difficult. But her cats were always close. Deborah and her sister always had one or two cats that made the moves with her family. In fact, Deborah’s cat Rajah was a regular visitor at the office when Deborah joined PAWS Chicago.

In 2003, Deborah felt the need to combine her love for animals with her desire to do more philanthropic work. She joined the PAWS Chicago Development Board and quickly combined her experience in advertising, journalism and retail with her people skills to recruit the help of her Michigan Ave. contacts to secure sponsorships.

As Deborah continued to volunteer on the Development Board, her interest in a PAWS Chicago goal of creating a state-of-the-art, cageless, No Kill Adoption Center deepened. During her time working for Chicago magazine, she came across an article contrasting PAWS Chicago’s No Kill mission with other traditional shelters’ objectives. Her commitment to saving the lives of animals was solidified.

Landing a full-time job at PAWS Chicago, Deborah dove into the Capital Campaign to raise money for the Adoption and Humane Center. “My greatest reward that brought tears to my eyes was seeing the pets coming in to the new Adoption Center for the first time. We have inspired many other rescue groups and shelters throughout the country.”

Having helped to make PAWS Chicago Adoption and Humane Center a reality, the self-described “people and pet” person fulfilled another dream–adopting her first dog–a stray terrier.

“Rania” was a handful in the beginning, needing training, but Deborah ignored her doubts and rose to the task, entering Rania in K-9 University, where “Rania and I both had training…It made a world of difference. Now Rania goes everywhere with me: the office…dentist…even the hair salon.”

Asked about her favorite part of working at PAWS Chicago, Deborah describes what gives her the most pleasure. “Recruiting and cultivating new members and helping them find their ‘niche’ on our Development Board. Each member brings a special talent to our organization.” And where will she be in 20 years? “I’ll still be loving pets and wanting to help save them. I’m sure I’ll be a PAWS Chicago volunteer and loving every minute of my time at the Adoption Center.”

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Anixter Volunteers Help Socialize PAWS Chicago Animals

Oscar Mendez — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:28:55 +0000

With smiling faces, a special group of volunteers report to PAWS Chicago’s Adoption and Humane Center every other Thursday at 9 a.m. sharp. They jump right in and eagerly help with administrative projects while anxiously awaiting the next step. For their time, they get to play with the Center’s resident felines in Kitty City, helping to socialize them so they can become adoptable pets. Socializing animals is a crucial step in the sheltering process, providing positive human exposure to animals who need to gain confidence and trust.

To watch the group of volunteers assembling humane education bags for the PAWS Chicago Community Outreach Program, adoption folders and volunteer packets, one would be hard-pressed to guess what makes them unique. But each of these volunteers is a recipient of services from Chicago’s Anixter Center, and each of these individuals is living with a significant physical, or mental disability—and many have more than one disability.

Through the resources Anixter provides, each of these individuals is given the tools necessary to live life to the fullest. PAWS Chicago’s partnership with Anixter gives them yet another opportunity—to develop their individual skills while working with the animals they love. The group spends the first part of the day working on PAWS Chicago’s special projects.

Once they are finished, the cats and kittens of PAWS Chicago are in for a treat! The group is allowed to spend the rest of their time with cats in Kitty City, brushing them, playing with them and giving them lots of cuddles! It’s often tough to tell who is having more fun as the always enthusiastic group works with the animals by offering a gentle hand and a kind voice to an animal in need of love.

To learn more about Anixter Center’s mission visit their website.

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PAWS Profile: Lynne Styles

Oscar Mendez — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

After working in the corporate world, Lynne decided to get involved in animal welfare. She chose to get involved with PAWS Chicago after she heard Founder Paula Fasseas, say that we can’t adopt our way out of the problem, and we have to focus on spay and neuter. This made a lot of sense to Lynne.

Lynne’s volunteer time is spent doing many different things. She works with the Community Outreach team giving presentations to Chicago Public Schools and at CAPS meetings. As a Development Board member she raises money by serving on the Beach Party committee. You will often see Lynne on Friday afternoons greeting guests as they enter the front door of the Adoption Center. She loves seeing how excited new adopters are when they take home their new family member. And, she especially loves seeing the “light bulb go off” in a child’s head when they start to understand that the feelings and needs of animals are similar to their own.

To round out her volunteer experience, Lynne is now training to become an Adoption Counselor. In her own home, Lynne has two dogs. Both are 13 years old and were found on the streets of Chicago. Taz is a Lab/Greyhound mix with a high maintenance personality. Humbolt is a Chow/Keeshond/Shepherd mix who is very conﬁ dent.

When asked what makes a good PAWS Chicago volunteer? Lynne answered this way, “Anyone who appreciates the special assets of a shelter animal and is willing to give a deserving animal a second chance&ellip;and someone who sincerely wants to educate the public about spay/neuter, the over pet population problem and proper animal care.”

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Family Service Volunteer Program

Oscar Mendez — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

PAWS Chicago, founded in 1997 by a mother-daughter team, recognizes the tremendous potential in pairing parents and teens in service. PAWS Chicago Founder Paula Fasseas learned of Chicago’s tragic homeless pet crisis when her daughter came home from volunteering at a local shelter for high school community service. More than 42,000 homeless pets were killed in Chicago that year alone.

Together, they learned about the issues and the solutions, and built the foundation of PAWS Chicago. More than a decade later, they continue to be dedicated volunteers for PAWS Chicago. Since PAWS Chicago’s founding, the number of homeless pets killed has decreased by more than half, with less than 20,000 pets killed last year.

Now, with the new Adoption & Humane Center in Lincoln Park, PAWS Chicago has launched a Family Service Volunteer Program where children age 12 and older and their parent or adult guardian can work together on behalf of homeless pets. Family Service volunteers become advocates for the animals while learning about important issues such as dog ﬁghting, puppy mills, spay/neuter and the No Kill movement. Volunteers have the opportunity to interact with PAWS Chicago’s homeless dogs, cats, puppies and kittens; socialize and assist with daily care at the new Center; and help with special projects that will beneﬁt homeless pets. The Family Service Volunteer Program educates and engages families while creating future leadership for the animals.

Join the nearly 30 family participants 9-11 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday morning!

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Volunteer Spotlight: Lesli Kibler

Oscar Mendez — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:28:54 +0000

Five days each week, Lesli Kibler dons business attire and heads to her job as Vice President of Strategic Sourcing for a Loop bank. But, come the weekend, she pulls on her PAWS Chicago t-shirt and heads to the PAWS Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic to fill the vital role of volunteer recovery room technician. Lesli learned about PAWS when she signed up for PAWS’ annual Run For Their Lives in Lincoln Park last year.

“I’m applying to vet school, so I came to PAWS hoping for hands-on experience in surgery,” she explained. “But, I love doing other things for PAWS as well.” She generally comes in at 8:00 a.m. and leaves around 3:00; “…and if I don’t get to come in because of a conflict, I’m disappointed.” Since she started, she has put in more than 100 hours in the Lurie Clinic Recovery Room.

Though her first love is the Clinic, Lesli also volunteers in the Humane Education and Community Outreach program and delights in reaching out to audiences about spay/neuter and humane care.

“Spay/neuter is the real answer to the problem of pet homelessness,” she commented, “and it’s important that people understand that they can be a part of the solution.”

When the Clinic is fully staffed with volunteers, Leslie is happy to help in another PAWS program. “I’m always pleased to move upstairs to the Intake Center; they always need extra volunteers to socialize cats and walk dogs.” She is also a certified Adoption Counselor and is now training to become a volunteer Location Manager at off-site adoption events.

Lesli contributes so much to the wide range of PAWS initiatives. “I don’t worry about where I’m working or what job I’m doing. Ultimately, at PAWS we’re all here for the animals.”

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A Personal Look at PAWS Chicago’s Evolution

Oscar Mendez — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 14:46:51 +0000

Groups of people hurried toward the entrance, pausing to admire the cats and dogs at play on the other side of the glass. Sharing the eagerness of those around me, I made my way inside the new PAWS Chicago Adoption Center for the opening reception. As I toured the facility, the welcoming, homelike atmosphere was everywhere–in the sitting area complete with bookshelves and ﬁreplace, the serene rooftop garden, and, of course, the cheerful animal suites. Flowing throughout the Center was the distinct blend of joy and determination that has underscored every experience I’ve had with PAWS Chicago since joining the organization as a volunteer in 1999. Warmed by this mood and my surroundings, I found myself reﬂecting on my ﬁrst encounter with PAWS.

Blame the Jack Russell Terrier; before him I wasn’t sure. I was an unlikely PAWS volunteer. I didn’t grow up around dogs, though I’d admired them with a sort of distant reverence. Always delighted to spend time with friends’ canine companions, I hadn’t considered making them an ongoing part of my own life. Until I walked past a curious Lincoln Park store-front on Clark Street in early 1999. In sharp contrast to the neighboring retailers and ofﬁces, this window revealed a gathering of dogs, some playing with human companions, some resting, all looking quite content on this particular day. I would pass by several more times before deciding to go in and investigate. The organization was called PAWS Chicago, I learned. They were hoping to build awareness about pet overpopulation and improve the odds of adoption for homeless animals by increasing their visibility. And yes, they were taking volunteers. I signed up mostly because walking and playing with the dogs sounded like a fabulous activity. The larger cause, I fully confess, was quite secondary at the time.

I showed up the ﬁrst day feeling a bit like a student starting a new school. What would the dogs think of me? Would I ﬁt in with the other volunteers? Following an informative orientation, I headed across the room to the dog crates, greeting the occupants and reading their bios, before I settled into a metal folding chair to survey my surroundings.

Not thirty seconds passed when the Jack Russell Terrier appeared at my feet and catapulted himself from the ﬂoor into my lap, front paws thrown over my shoulder. The other volunteers laughed at my surprise. He was ready for a walk and had apparently selected me for the task. As I secured a signature, goldenrod scarf around his collar and located a leash, I saw that I did have something to offer here. When we returned from our walk, I signed up for a weekly shift.

Making my way through the new Center, peering into the suites at the precious occupants, I could hardly believe eight years had passed since I signed up to volunteer. So much had changed since I ﬁrst walked into the modest storefront on Clark Street.

In the weeks to come, I was amazed by the number of visitors stopping through. Many had heard about the program and wanted to adopt, but others just happened by as I had, intrigued. Both inside the center and outside–on walks around Clark and Fullerton, led mostly by enthusiastic, scarf sporting mixed breeds, or at Angels with Tails events–people approached wanting to learn about the cause. My own explanations, I observed, gradually became more detailed as my knowledge and passion increased.

I continued brushing coats, straightening scarves, and ﬁlling water bowls, expanding my participation in Angels with Tails and special events when the dog adoption program on Clark eventually concluded. Traveling throughout the Chicagoland area, I met the Husky with the sorrowful eyes on Oak Street; the tiny, tiger striped terrier pup in the mall; the gangly black shepherd mix on Armitage; the Weimaraner litter at the Fur Ball; and the exuberant Australian Cattle dog in the suburbs, among so many others. Shopping trips slowly became like scrapbooks, ﬁlled with recollections of dogs I had chaperoned weeks, months, or even years prior.

Spending the day among dogs and designer clothing always seemed nearly too good to be true. Especially on those occasions when just the right adopter came by, and I witnessed that special connection, that unique bond between human and canine. Even though it often meant giving up my charge for the day, these experiences became one of my greatest joys as a volunteer.

Making my way through the new center, peering into the suites at the precious occupants, I could hardly believe eight years had passed since I signed up to volunteer. Even more stunning was the incredible evolution of PAWS Chicago during that same time. So much had changed since I ﬁrst walked into the modest storefront on Clark Street. Even so, that same, persistent mood clung to the air–joy and determination; hope, perhaps. As tails wagged throughout the suites, I made my way back outside, ﬁlled with anticipation for the next eight years. Jennifer Beck is a freelance writer and tutor.

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Volunteer Spotlight: Laura Dipiazza

Oscar Mendez — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:50:42 +0000

Laura DiPiazza was concerned about Chicago’s homeless companion animals and knew she wanted to help when she found PAWS in 1999.

“I thought that volunteering…would help me feel as though I wasn’t looking the other way,” she said.

As a volunteer adoption counselor, Laura admits that she struggles with falling in love with every dog she meets, but ﬁ nds matching dogs with their new families to be very rewarding. Laura enjoys spending time with people and hearing stories about how important their pets are to them. In seven years of volunteering, she has personally facilitated the placement of over 300 dogs!

Though she’s quite busy with her work as a computer programmer in the advertising industry, Laura also enjoys travel, studying Italian, and spending time with her family, which includes a white poodle named Sugar. She has had many opportunities to keep in touch with PAWS alumni she has placed, and she fosters PAWS dogs in her home whenever she can.

Laura looks forward to continuing her work in the new Adoption & Humane Center,and serving as matchmaker for even more homeless dogs.

“Watching the organization expand through the years has made me feel as though I am a part of something great. PAWS Chicago is addressing the problem the proper way, through education in addition to providing a humane transition from homeless to forever homes. Being part of this gives me more than I could possibly ever give back!”

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