Susan, human, and Harry, Labradoodle with a splash of Bernese, began volunteering together in 2020 and since then they’ve cared for probably 200 puppies!
Susan had always had dogs and even ran a dog kennel but Harry wasn’t as sure when the call to foster with MADRA dog rescue came down the line. At first he was a bit aloof and curious but he quickly found his stride with Susan’s favourite fosters: the tiniest! “We noticed he was particularly good with the tiny puppies. He’s such a gentle dog. He never had any problem with any dog” she said. “Now he ate the cooker knobs, he’s full of divilment, but Harry is just great with the pups.” As a litter slowly gets adopted, Harry takes over and cares for the last ones himself. They lay on him like a big cozy labradoodle rug!
Susan says one of her most dear memories of volunteering was a pregnant fox hound named Coco who had to be carried in by the dog warden, she was in such a state and so heavily pregnant. Susan had never cared for newborns before but it sparked a new passion in her for welping and helping mams give birth safely and healthily! It became her favourite fostering to do and she says that “Now at MADRA they’d call me the maternity ward!”
For Harry, one of the most important memories of fostering was a young mother and puppy from an awful hoarding situation. Julie had never had a positive experience with a human before, so Harry stepped up and helped her not fear Susan. He daddied her puppy, settled her and was allowed to lick and comfort her. Harry knows how caring and full of love humans can be, so it’s important to him that other dogs, even if they have been through the worst, come to see people as friends.
Volunteering with dogs is all about the unconditional love for Susan. She loves investing her time in getting new mams on their feet from such a vulnerable place! For Harry, he loves having someone to play with…and someone he can blame for any trouble they get in!
This National Volunteering Week, we’re celebrating the connections and relationships that are built and nurtured by volunteering. We’re building community together.
Thank you to Susan and Harry for sharing their story. Please email [email protected] if you’d like to share yours!
