Every now and then, a volunteer joins our team that truly does it all. Fox is without a doubt one of those volunteers. He has dedicated countless hours with BHS and became a part of the family.

When we need something done, Fox is a go-to volunteer! His depth of knowledge, and ability to go the extra mile never ceases to amaze us. He has volunteered so much of his free time at our Pet Food and Supply Pantry. He quickly became a team leader and helped keep the Pet Food and Supply Pantry organized, clean, and easily accessible to those in great need. He knows every inch of the place and can direct staff and volunteers alike to where we need to go to find anything.

Fox has also been a valued volunteer for special events. He has helped at everything he can from our biggest fundraisers to many of our smaller fundraisers and community awareness projects as well! He is an amazing example of a compassionate, kind, hard-working, and outstanding volunteer. We couldn’t keep our doors open without volunteers like him.

Randy, a staff member who works closely with Fox, had this to say about him, “John Fox began volunteering at Butte Humane in response to the disastrous Camp Fire of 2018, his focused work ethic gave order and structure to the chaos of the event and kept the Pet Food Pantry running smoothly and efficiently. Usually, the first person to arrive in the morning and the last one to leave at night- his dedication, leadership, and sacrifice were an inspiration to volunteers and staff alike. Fox spent countless hours unloading, inventorying, and shelving literally tons of pet supplies for the displaced survivors of the Campfire. The dedication didn’t end with the fire, for over two years the work continued with the Pet Food Pantry and was instrumental in shaping the program to this day. Possessing a degree in Zoology and extensive hands-on experience with domestic and exotic animals has been an important and vital resource for our organization.”

When asking others for testimonials about him, the same themes popped up every time. Words and phrases like “work ethic”, “leadership”, “dedication”, “an instrumental part of our team”. Words that were and are truly felt throughout our organization by both volunteers and staff alike.

As Fox moves on to the next step in his journey, everyone who has had the opportunity and pleasure of working with him will always remember his dedication with gratitude. Good luck on your newest adventure Fox, you will be deeply missed and always supported here at BHS!

Alison Turner has only been volunteering with us for 3 months, but in that time she has logged over 130 hours of time spent walking and playing with our dogs! Alison is such a blessing to Butte Humane Society, she’s amazing with our dogs and takes the most incredible photos and videos of them in action. These photos and videos have proven invaluable in showcasing the vibrant and unique personality of each dog in our care, helping them reach a larger audience and find their forever homes! Here are some of Alison’s own words on what volunteering means to her.

1. Why did you get involved with volunteering at BHS?

 

I always wanted to volunteer but assumed it would be too sad and hard to see. The truth is, volunteering has brought so much to my life and now I can’t imagine my life without it. Seeing the smiles on the dogs’ faces when I arrive and throughout the day is what brings me back. If too many days pass without seeing the dogs, or if I go on vacation, I find myself missing them and looking forward to the day I get to see them again. It has truly brought purpose to my life.

 

2. What has been your most impactful moment volunteering here?

 

There have been a few emotional moments seeing dogs go, but the dog who has made the most impact on my life is Buddy, the first dog I took on an overnight and adopted a few days later. He has already brought so much joy to my life in the few short months he’s been in it.

 

3. What has been your favorite thing about photographing/documenting shelter dogs?

My favorite thing about photographing the dogs is the challenge of getting their personality to shine through in an image. Before the camera comes out, my number one favorite thing is walking and playing with the dogs. Just being around them puts a smile on my face. When I’m taking video in the play yard, I look forward to running around with them and seeing them smile. Watching happiness unfold on their faces is what I love the most.  I look forward to editing the videos because I get to revisit our time in the yard and if I’m feeling down, away from the shelter, or miss the pups… I can always go back and watch them play. I hope that these videos will highlight their personality outside of the kennel so people can get a glimpse of what they’re like before they arrive. More importantly, the videos and images can be shared on social media to get more eyes on the dogs and ultimately, find them forever homes. 

 

You can keep up with Alison’s adventures to shelters across the nation by following @ontheroadtorescue on Instagram, where Alison features a new shelter dog each day!

Interview Questions by Kathleen Wyne, BHS Employee

 

Nona (Left) and Chloe (Right)

 

When did you first get involved with BHS?

• We first started volunteering with BHS back in October 2012! I (Chloe) had wanted to volunteer ever since I was about 7 years old, so as soon as I reached the age requirement at the time (12), we applied. We started out by walking & socializing the adoptable dogs, but before long we met the woman in charge of photographing BHS dogs at the time and began helping her out.

 

What made you want to start photographing BHS dogs?

• We took over the photography role after the photographer we had been helping stepped down. We had such a great time sharing the job with her; we wanted to continue! It’s so fun to try and capture their personalities in photos so that people who are looking to adopt can see who the pups really are. It’s also super nice being able to share the role, with me (Chloe) handling the dogs and editing the photos and my mom (Nona) doing the actual photography!

 

What is your favorite part about volunteering?

• We absolutely love seeing so many different dog personalities – no two are alike! Seeing them through the camera sometimes reveals what you don’t see at first glance. Also, it’s amazing when we get to see some of the more shy/anxious dogs open up and show us their true selves! We love being able to make an impact, no matter how small or large, in the shelter dogs’ lives.