The Lori Kauffman Volunteer Of The Month Award

Susan Swartz is the recipient of the April 2011 Lori Kauffman Volunteer of the Month Award

Susan Swartz, our April Volunteer of the Month, has filled many roles during her seven years with GRRA™. A transplant from the Northeast, Susan got involved with GRRA™ through recommendations from the Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue for which she volunteered for 10 years. Susan started with GRRA™ by doing home checks before becoming an Adoption Consultant, foster mom and the Adoption Day Coordinator, regularly working the sign-in table at adoption days. "The last three years I've been really involved," Susan explains. "I really like the people and I just really like doing it!"

As a foster parent, Susan doesn't typically get attached. "People wonder how you can let them go, but you're making someone so happy, so it's easy!" she says. "You have a permanent smile on your face, and you meet some of the nicest people within adoptive families." Red is a perfect example. He came from a bad situation, and he was heartworm positive. Susan nursed him back to health then adopted him out to a family who then returned him. "I felt like I had failed him," Susan explains. But along came the ideal family. "They had a beach house, a farm house and a regular house." Susan says. "I asked them if they wanted to adopt me and Roux, too!" Susan knew they were the family Red should've been with all along. "It was a sad story that turned out wonderful and worked out how it was supposed to," she says.

Roux is the one dog who really made a paw print on Susan's heart. He was a big, beautiful red golden who had a few issues after he was turned in by one family, then adopted by another family whose alpha dog beat him up. In a bind, Susan picked him up and in the two months she fostered him, she helped him overcome his separation anxiety by settling into a regular routine with plenty of exercise. But when the time came to let him go, she decided to keep him. Roux became a whiz at showing new fosters the ropes both at the house and on their regular hikes and swims. "Roux had a lot of fosters, but it was easy for me because he had such a good effect on them," says Susan. "He was always happy when they would go, but I think he would miss them just a little." At 11 years old, Roux still enjoyed the active lifestyle he and his mom maintained. But on March 5, Roux was diagnosed with cancer, and yesterday morning, he crossed over the rainbow bridge. "I wouldn't give up the six years I had with him even through the tears," Susan says sadly. "He enjoyed his life until the very end."

Susan will eventually start fostering again once the traveling aspect of her job slows down and her heart is ready. "They make such a difference in your life," she says. "They understand their situation and they appreciate it." And Susan will continue to help with other aspects of GRRA™. "It's such a good feeling and it's my way of doing an act of kindness on a regular basis," she explains. "To pass an act of kindness on and on, what's a better way than this?"

Thank you Susan for all you do for GRRA™. Please know our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts are with you in this time of grief.

Lori Kauffman, who passed away in 2007, was a GRRA™ volunteer who wanted to ensure that GRRA™ continued to do its valuable work. Lori wanted people to know, "Dogs are not disposable. Having a dog is a lifelong commitment. They are an equal part of the family".

If you are aware of a volunteer's efforts that exemplify what is needed to make our volunteer organization survive and thrive, please send a note to volunteer@grra.com. Monthly Nominations are due by the 17th of each month. Click here to see previous award winners.