Introducing Our July Volunteer of the Month

Please meet Mary Lane, our OLAR July Volunteer of the Month! Mary Lane has become a genuine zoo keeper, always stepping up to take in litters for us. Despite having a crazy work life, Mary always has a smile on her face and is always willing to take on more.

Here is a little more about Mary, from Mary herself:

Last year, two days before Mother’s Day I saw a post on Facebook needing foster homes for nursing moms and kittens. I responded, the next day Sara was here to do my home visit and that night I met Patty and Jimmy to pick up my first fosters. I got them home and all settled. An hour later I get a text from Patty…by the way you should wash kittens and mom due to fleas…what!!! I freaked out a little and ended up in a bathtub washing five 4-week old kittens and a nursing mom. When I finally finished I thought what did I just get myself into?? A month later I had pepper waiting on transport and two weeks later I had Connie and Massie…two puppies with ringworm. From that moment the puppies and kitties have just kept coming. I realized I was meant to be a foster mom and even through all the crazy moments I was hooked.

To date I have had 47 fosters and 2 foster fails. Being a part of the one love family has added so much to my life. To be able to save a life and teach a scared puppy to know what food, water and most importantly love is the best feeling in the world.

In my job as a Child Life Specialist, there are really good days and there are really tough days. To see a child suffer and to help their family through such a difficult time can put a toll on you. When I leave work and come home to my zoo, I feel like God puts what I do at the hospital and what I do with One Love all together and gives me the strength to do both. Being a foster mom has given me a new perspective on the significance of saving an animals life and how important it is to keep doing.

Other than my job I have never felt more passionate about anything. I will be forever grateful for that facebook post a year ago that got me involved with One Love Animal Rescue.

Mary, we are so luck you fell in love with the craziness of rescue! Though you haven’t been with us long, it feels like you have been part of our mission forever. We hope you never lose that passion rescue has brought out within you.

Interested in Helping Out Like Mary Does?

Interested in becoming a volunteer with One Love Animal Rescue? Great, we always need amazing people like yourself! Whether you are interested in helping out by fostering, or are looking to help us man local adoption events, we always are in need of a wide range of volunteers! Head on over to our volunteer page and fill out our volunteer application. We can’t wait to hear from you.