By Jim McCoy

There really are angels walking on our earth. They look just like you and me, but they are different in a very special way. They open their homes and their hearts – often for months at a time – to animals who would otherwise be “put down” or euthanized. More specifically, they volunteer for the Louisa Humane Society.

The Louisa Humane Society is a nonprofit organization fully staffed by volunteers who help foster animals and find permanent homes for them. Not to be confused with the Louisa Animal Shelter, the Humane Society is not a bricks and mortar organization. There are no buildings or cages or kennels. The hard work takes place inside peoples homes or at fundraising events. According to Wendy Callahan, President of the Louisa Humane Society for the past three years, “Our mission is to improve the quality of life for the homeless and abandoned animals that come into our care and to provide a clean safe environment while making every effort to place adoptable animals into new loving, responsible homes.”
We recently caught up with one Humane Society angel, Lauren Hughey, who lives in Northern Virginia, but fosters dogs in her home as a volunteer for the Louisa Humane Society (and has actually adopted a few of the foster dogs). We asked her a few questions about her experience as a foster dog mom.

The Breeze™: Could you tell us a little bit about your role as a foster mom for the Louisa Humane Society?

LH: Sure! I have fostered about twenty dogs and have up to three at a time in my home at any given time. I love it. The Humane Society is kind of a family and everyone knows everyone else’s strengths and weaknesses. We do everything we can to help animals who are lost or have been abandoned.

The Breeze™: After you have fostered a dog for several months, is it hard to give the dog up to a permanent home?

LH: Yes….yes, yes! It is hard to give them back. Sometimes I have had them almost a year and I think, “Okay, I wouldn’t mind keeping you forever – I just need to reframe my thoughts.” Actually, we’ve had a couple of dogs for eight or nine months, but they eventually find their permanent families. Wendy (Wendy Callahan, Louisa Humane Society President) told me this a long time ago – the perfect family or adopter always comes along. And, you know….well, it’s almost freaky, but it’s true. I’ve had some dogs for extended periods of time and I think, well this dog is kind of a plain Jane…there’s nothing special here… he or she doesn’t photograph as well as other dogs. But then out of the blue, this family will come along and just instantly fall in love. After that, month after month, I’ll get text messages from that family saying things like, “We love this dog more than we ever thought we could love a dog!” That is so rewarding to hear! But yes… it’s hard to give them up. It’s kind of bittersweet because every single adopter that I’ve had come to my home, I have felt good about. I have never been worried. I always know this dog is going to have the best life. Of course, I know Wendy and other people (at the Humane Society) really vet these families ahead of time as well.

The Breeze™: – Do foster home volunteers specialize in the types of pets they foster?

LH: Absolutely. For example, Wendy knows that I prefer the hounds, these lost hunting dogs because that is what I’ve had and they end of being these hidden gems. They’re just real sweethearts. Of course, these types of dogs are not accustomed to being inside, so they kind of freak out when they see a TV or even a microwave. And it is so much fun and endearing to see them develop into wonderful house pets. Sometimes they wind up becoming couch potatoes as they are so comfortable inside and just love feeling loved. It’s such a contrast from their previous existence where they probably lived outside on a concrete run. Wendy, on the other hand specializes in puppies and the critical care mama dogs. I don’t know how she does it. She is just an angel. I know there are some foster homes that specialize in cats as well.

The Breeze™: It seems there are a lot of hunting hound dogs loose in Louisa County. We have noticed them quite a bit and have returned several to the owners. What are your thoughts on that?

LH: I actually live in Northern Virginia. There are not as many problems with lost hounds up here. I actually adopted a coonhound named Dixie. She had a wide variety of problems, and I couldn’t figure out how to help her. I finally went onto Facebook and joined a “Coon Hunters” Facebook group. These folks have a completely different perspective and consider the dogs to be “working dogs”. I posted a video of one of Dixie’s strange behaviors and said, “What is she doing? What does this mean?” Of course, I disclosed that I am not a hunter and that there was certainly no dog judgment on my part. Don’t worry – I’m not from PITA (People for the Intelligent Treatment of Animals). They were actually so nice to me! People from Mississippi and other deep south states were weighing in to help me with Dixie. They really helped me understand her personality and her quirks.

The Breeze™: Thank you so much, Lauren, for helping us understand this wonderful organization. You truly are an angel.

Wendy Callahan notes that the humane society recently partnered with a third-party organization to offer reduced-pricing for spay and neuter procedures. Callahan adds, “We are always looking for volunteers, foster homes and adopters. Anyone can apply at www.louisahumanesociety.com.” Who knows… Maybe you will be the next angel to earn your wings on earth.

To volunteer, adopt, foster or donate or for more information about the Louisa Humane Society, visit www.LouisaHumaneSociety.com.