Laurie Keating
Co-Adoption Coordinator
As many in GSRNE, once I got my first GSD, I
was hooked. Their intelligence, loyalty, and sense of duty was unmatched
by other breeds. I got my first two when my children were toddlers, and
they assumed their duties without my asking them - helping me raise my
children. They kept them out of the street, didn't let them go too far
into the ocean waters, guarded them day and night from any danger. Besides
full time duty with the rugrats, they kept a close eye on me, too.
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Through the years, they loved obedience work, became my class dogs when I
became a dog trainer, went to dog shows to show off their beautiful
profiles, and gave me three fabulous litters of puppies.
When I retired from teaching science to middle schoolers, and the last dog
from my lines crossed over the bridge, I decided it was time to give back,
and I got my first dog from GSRNE - a 10 year-old long-coat named Phoenix.
He became my heartdog. Phoenix loved life and people. Everyone in Rescue
knew him and loved him. He became a therapy dog who greeted every
grey-haired person sitting on a bench. Phoenix gave me four of the best
years of my life until that great heart gave out. Miss him forever.
Since then I have become the foster home for older dogs. What fun it is;
there have been two or three here at a time! It is wonderful to see them
go to loving homes and then wait to meet a new one to foster. One of those
that was dear to my heart was Trixie. She was a lovely girl who had never
had vet care. As a result, she had heartworm with dead worms in her lungs
and heart. She was brave and loving to the end. To allow her to be in
rooms with us, my downstairs was covered with tarps and towels.
When I joined Rescue, I also needed a job. I began training under
Victoria Abrams, who was an exacting teacher. Her motto was "listen and
listen again." Because I was retired and had a lot of unscheduled time, I
became the coordinator who handled phone chats, dog meetings and contract
signings all over MA, CT and NH until Jill Cuddihey joined the team.
Karen McCall has always been our team leader, a master teacher to all of
us.
Our job has grown and now needs at least five or six coordinators. Why? A
new application comes to Karen, and she e
valuates it first. She sends it
to us (the coordinators) and we decide if it meets our standards. If it
does, the potential adopters receive an acceptance letter and one of us
has a "phone chat" with them. This is where we ask pertinent questions and
listen (and "listen again") to their stories. We get to know them and get
a feel of their experience with their former dogs. We then start the
search for a match for them. When we do match a dog, we also call the
foster home for their input as to the match.
One of us becomes their "contact person" who calls the adopters about the
dog to see if they are interested. If they are, we set up a dog meeting at
the foster home where I then meet the adopters. They, in turn, meet the
dog and also take him for a walk. If they have a dog of their own, the
dogs meet each other, one on either side of a chain link fence; if the
dogs like each other, they take them for a walk together. After this, the
adopters go home, and I talk to the foster parents to get their impression
of the potential adopters and how the dog would fit into that home. The
adopters have a couple of days to think it over. They will call me and let
me know if they think the dog is a good fit for them, and if they want to
adopt him/her. We will then meet to sign the contract, often at my house.
Once the contract is signed, they are free to pick up the dog at any time.
After the dog is in the new home for 24 hours, I call to check on how the
dog is settling in. There is a two week trial period where they can turn
the dog back to us, and we will try to find them another dog. After two
weeks, I call again to see if they want to keep the new addition to their
family. If so, we are always there for them if they have any problems.
Someone will keep in touch with them for the first year or so.
I love, adore and value my job. I get to use my teaching, dog training,
and years of having GSDs in evaluating new adopters and handling their
"chats" and questions. Every applicant is different. I have made many new
friends through this job and some great memories.
As Phoenix and I used to say,
"Have car, will travel - for any dog."
Adopted Dogs Rule!
