Donate today online at www.wshs-dg.org
Volunteer Spotlight
T
he Tuesday morning kennel shift can be compared
to the Harlem Globetrotters. They are quick on
the court, they always know where each other is, are
ready to catch the pass, and they have fun while slam-
dunking their way through the kennel. Their teamwork
is admirable since they have been together for less than
a year. Everyone on the shift appreciates each other and
they really love the dogs!
who loves Zumba and has a passion for overseas travel.
She has two pitbull mixes at home. Dave has had dogs all
of his life and enjoys walking, biking, stock trading, and
Bible study. Kerry has an accounting background and has
recently joined the WSHS Finance Committee. Kerry likes
to go to the gym, read, snowmobile and walk her dogs,
rescue Cosmo and Golden Izzy. Greg also enjoys hanging
out with his beagle/collie pup Brady, a WSHS alumni, and
is interested in military history and model making.
Shift coordinator Ruth Cloonan has been with WSHS
since 2011. Ruth is on the Board of Directors and co-
chairs the Capital Campaign Committee. Becky Gerasky
has 20 years of service and volunteers on two shifts (shift
coordinator on Thursday evenings), works with the STAR
dogs, and transports our animals to and from the vet.
Pat Even and Greg Barrett have been on the shift for two
years and Kerry Kopera, Diana Cleary, and Dave Nowak
joined the shift this past year.
Becky has an active household with three children,
a cattle dog mix, an anole, and WSHS foster cat Lilo.
In her spare time, she hikes, travels and plays league
volleyball and softball. Ruth is an animal lover and
environmentalist and she likes to be outside, especially
when she is gardening, golfing or walking her dog. After
retiring from public education, Pat likes to travel in her
camper, bike, kayak, garden, and spend time with her
rescue dog and cat. By far, her favorite activity is taking
care of the dogs at WSHS.
These kennel volunteers fill in on other shifts and during
the holidays and help at events like Barkapalooza.
Kerry sums up the spirit of her shift: “I love my Tuesday
cleaning crowd. I find the work very rewarding. To clean
out and refresh the kennels and provide the dogs with a
clean area makes my heart warm. I also love to interact
with the dogs and get to know them personally.”
All of the volunteers enjoy the different personalities of
the dogs at WSHS. Becky has seen a lot of changes in the
shelter in the past two decades. She says the one thing
that never changes is the level of care that the animals
receive. Everyone at WSHS treats the animals like they
are their own!
These powerhouse volunteers enjoy their time out of the
kennel too. Diana is a recently retired neuroscience nurse
3