The Lori Kauffman Volunteer Of The Month Award

Deborah Osborn is the recipient of the August 2011 Lori Kauffman Volunteer of the Month Award

Deborah Osborn, our August Volunteer of the Month, hails from central Florida. She and her husband moved to Georgia after retiring about two years ago. This Florida transplant will celebrate her one year anniversary volunteering for GRRA™ in September and she has enjoyed every minute of it! Her passion for animals was her main driver in becoming a volunteer. Another reason for volunteering was her wonderful experience adopting a GRRA™ dog, Dakota, in 2010. After going through the process working with the adoption consultant, she thought to herself, "I can do that!"

Soon after Dakota's adoption, Deborah took on the role of Adoption Consultant (AC) helping other individuals and families find their forever golden(s). "Since I live so far from Atlanta, ACs can do most of the work over the phone and on the computer," she says. As an AC, Deborah is assigned an applicant who has applied either online or at adoption day. She explains, "I find out what kind of dog they are looking for in terms of age, color, and size." Other information gathered includes an applicant's experience with dogs, whether they have children, or where the dog will stay most of the time. After home checks are completed and applicants choose a dog they are interested in, Deborah sends the applicant's information to the foster. Adoption day also helps her with her AC work since she can meet the dogs, fosters and applicants. "I love going to adoption day...even though it is a four hour round trip!" she exclaims.

Deborah thoroughly enjoys volunteering as an AC and remembers one particular family with three little girls. She worked with them for three months and met them at a couple of adoption days determined to find them the perfect golden. She fondly recalls, "I loved seeing their little faces light up when they met all the dogs." The family eventually found the perfect dog thanks to her time and commitment.

In addition to performing AC duties, Deborah and her husband are currently fostering a GRRA™ adoptee named Danielle. This petite golden was run over by a car and was in danger of being put to sleep. However the kind veterinarians at the University of Georgia called GRRA™ and asked them to help her find a home after her extensive surgery. Since Deborah lives two hours outside of Atlanta she was interested in fostering a dog that required a longer convalescence such as Danielle. When they went to pick her up and the vets brought her out she vowed, "I promise you will never have another bad day in your entire life!" Deborah reports that Danielle is recovering well and she is a pleasure to foster.

One of Deborah's goals in retirement was to work with and help animals. We are so lucky to have volunteers who take those goals and make them a reality. Thank you, Deborah, for your continued efforts in finding our goldens their perfect forever homes!

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.