For our quick Volunteer Spotlight, we sat down with Davy Fogler and asked him a few questions about his volunteer experience.

How long have you been a volunteer for the Humane Society of Loudoun County?
I’ve been volunteering since March 2020.

What made you decide to start volunteering?
I started volunteering, like many others, during the initial Covid shutdown – and chose HSLC because I love animals and enjoy working as part of passionate teams. I also really enjoy making processes more efficient, so helping the adoption and foster teams seemed right up my alley!

What is your role?
Well, I started on the Adoption Team, helping to streamline the adoption application tracking process and the foster tracking process.

Oh! What is your role now then?
After helping the adoption and foster teams, I really wanted to find a way to be more engaged on the volunteer side and applied for the role of Orientation lead. I felt that sharing my passion with potential volunteers and helping streamline the onboarding process was another positive way I could give back to the community. I became Volunteer Orientation Lead in May 2020, and managed the virtual onboarding of new volunteers.

Board Vice President, Christina Levendosky, asked if I would be willing to take on the role of Volunteer Coordinator after a few months of leading orientations, and I officially became the program lead in November. In my new role, I recruit, train, engage, and acknowledge all the HSLC volunteers. I also coordinate the bi-monthly volunteer newsletter to help get information out.

What’s your favorite part of your position?
My favorite part of being the VC is getting to interact with all the different pet lovers throughout Loudoun County, and being able to see firsthand the impact that HSLC makes.

What are your goals for the Volunteer Management Program this year?
I want to increase engagement with our current volunteers because it has been hard with the pandemic to connect with each other. I also want to increase the number of volunteers we have to allow us to save more animals.

Any advice for potential volunteers?
Don’t be afraid to try new things! HSLC is super accommodating and will let you try out different roles until you find your place.

To learn more about volunteering with HSLC, please visit our website.

We are thrilled that you would consider volunteering with our organization. HSLC is an all-volunteer, foster-based organization so volunteers are the backbone of our organization. We do not have a physical shelter so all of our animals are in foster homes or display cages in a few area pet supply stores.

The first step to volunteering with HSLC is to submit a volunteer application. Once you submit an application, our Volunteer Coordinator will reach out to you to let you know about upcoming orientation dates. You can also check the events calendar for future orientation dates. We ask that all new volunteers attend a volunteer orientation, which are held every month, last approximately 1.5 hours, and are normally held on Saturdays at 1 PM via Skype.

At the volunteer orientation, we will present information about HSLC, describe all of our programs, and discuss how you can help. At the end of the session, our board members are happy to meet one-on-one with anyone who is ready to start volunteering, who wants to learn more about a specific program, or who just wants to chat about animal welfare.

By Sharon Nylec

Our story begins as they all do. Jenn Reed, TNR/feral kitten specialist and long-time volunteer for the Humane Society of Loudoun County, got a call about some kittens in a ravine behind a Harris Teeter shopping center. When Jenn arrived to assess the situation, it was a lot more difficult than she thought it would be. The kittens were located in a very precariously located pile of rocks which was 10 or 12 ft below street level. Next to the rocks was a stream that was definitely built to catch storm water runoff, and the forecast said we were going to get some big storms for the next couple of days.

The kittens were in a dangerous spot. There really was no other way to get to them without a ladder. So Jenn called her step dad, Mike, and he rushed right over with an extension ladder. He held it while Jenn climbed down into “Kitten Canyon”.

Now, this scene apparently looked suspicious to the good shoppers of Harris Teeter. I mean, no good can come from masked people who show up with tuna and traps. They weren’t sure what law we were breaking, but Jenn and I were looking (and smelling, thanks to the tuna) a little fishy so they decided they better call Loudoun’s finest to assess the situation. Pretty soon, two cars from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) rolled up.  As soon as Jenn explained there were helpless kittens in a ravine and that a big storm was coming, Deputy Torres and Deputy First Class Chenari were ready to shift into rescue mode.

A gentle rain began to fall, a harbinger of the deluge to come. With all eyes on the gloomy sky, Jenn and the deputies got to work with carriers, flashlights, and bite gloves. Meanwhile, I stood with them in the rain playing a video of a mama cat over and over hoping the sound would calm the kittens and lure them out of hiding. Not long after we put our minds to it, we liberated the first baby kitten from the cave underneath the rock pile. That moment was like uncorking a bottle of kitten champagne, because in the next hour–in lightning, thunder, and steady rain– seven more kittens came trundling out of the rock hole/cave to see where their brothers and sisters had gone.

Duty called and the deputies had other matters to attend to. So they didn’t get to see what happened after they pulled the first baby out from under the rocks. But that’s exactly what started the ball rolling. Plus, there was this dedicated HSLC volunteer with bull dog tenacity, and unparalleled rock-scrambling ability: Thanks Jenn for sticking it out in cruddy weather and for saving 8 more little lives!

In closing, it is a FACT that kittens born outdoors are never anywhere convenient. So, that is why you may find HSLC volunteers lurking in back allies, ravines, dark spooky woods or next to garbage dumpsters on a Saturday night. It’s okay, you can call the cops on us, we like recruiting new friends and volunteers. Speaking of which, thanks again to Deputies Torres and Chenari for uncorking the kitten genie bottle!

By Alycia Kent

On April 28, a team of volunteers from the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) mobilized to help save a desperate family of five kittens and their mother from underneath a residential deck. Because of the cold weather, it was imperative that the kittens were rescued as quickly as possible. It took no more than a post in the volunteer Facebook group to rally the team needed for the mission.

In a heartwarming act of heroism, the volunteers were able to rescue the family in 24 hours. An experienced foster family took in the kittens and is in the process of helping them recover. The quintet of kittens were aptly named after the Golden Girls and Dorothy’s ex-husband, Stan. No doubt, they will bring just as much joy to the world as the original characters did on the small screen. The feral mother cat was spayed and vaccinated before safely being returned to her outdoor home.

The volunteers weren’t done yet, though. Another friendly cat was also found on the property, badly injured. She was rescued and taken to the vet to treat her wounds. Once recovered, she will be put up for adoption.

Amidst all the uncertainty in the world right now, one thing is clear. These volunteers quickly, selflessly, and heroically helped seven cats, and now six of them have the opportunity to find their forever homes.  According to Donna Drake, HSLC Vice President, “We cannot save these animals without our amazing group of volunteers and rescue partners. They are the reason we can save and help so many animals and give them a better life.”

Thank you to the HSLC volunteers Pam Harvey, Heidi Wallner, Molly Boyne, Aseel Alsabawi, Amy Richards, Dora Lea Spring, and Jennifer Reed. Thank you also to Tina Creller of Mountain Cats TNR and Felicia McDonald of The Cats Voice.

The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC), in collaboration with several other area organizations, recently participated in an effort that helped rescue 36 cats from a home eviction in Stephens City.  The initiative was spearheaded by For the Cat’s Sake who put out an urgent call for help.  Given the strong and swift response, they were able to pull together the rescue in just two days. 

The mostly friendly cats are now in caring hands who will find them great homes.  The participating organizations include 4Paws Rescue Team, PetConnect Rescue,  SPCA of Winchester, Frederick, & Clarke Counties, Humane Society of Warren County and Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART). HSLC took in four of the cats, three of whom are already available for adoption.

The effort was a wonderful example of teamwork under a tight deadline. Our thanks go out to everyone who helped save these little lives and made the operation go so smoothly.

Here are the cats currently in our care:

THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED.  WE WILL UPDATE OUR WEBSITE WHEN WE KNOW ARE NOTIFIED OF THE NEW DATE.

FREE EVENT!

Saturday, April 25 Sign-up for Volunteers and Fosters:

Join Claude Moore Park and other local organizations for a celebration of our favorite wild and domestic animals. Discover different animals that are in need of good homes while learning about the wild animals that have one outside!

Since wild animals can’t be pets, staff will help you craft your own “wild” animal to take home.

This event is a place for adoption and wildlife conservation. Currently we are expecting A Forever Home, the Human Society of Loudoun County, BREW (beagle rescue), Pet Connect & Rescue, and the Nirvana Ridge Ferret Rescue will be here. There will be animals here to view and adopt. NO VENDORS will be present.