The Lori Kauffman Volunteer Of The Month Award

Cathie Andress is the recipient of the October 2011 Lori Kauffman Volunteer of the Month Award

Cathie Andress, our Volunteer of the Month, loves labs. But don't let that fool you - Cathie has been a part of the GRRA™ family for approximately 8 years. "The irony of it all, kind of the running joke, is that I am a lab person, particularly black labs, yet I volunteer for a golden retriever group," she laughs. A transplant from New York with her husband and two goldens, Cathie sought out the group from an ad in the paper. "We had no children so it was hard to meet people and my dogs were like my kids," Cathie explains. "Because we already had goldens, I came to an adoption day."

Cathie started her journey within GRRA™ in placement as an adoption consultant, then adoption coordinator, followed by multiple positions on the board until she became president in 2009 and 2010. "I served on the board because I agreed to hold the license for the Department of Agriculture," she says. "Since I continue to hold the license, I'm responsible for keeping the records - paperwork from fosters, vet records, adoption and surrenders certificates and shelter paperwork." Cathie also helps with Pay Pal transactions and she's overseeing the coordination of the golden store for the upcoming Rescue Romp on October 9.

As we all know, getting involved with a rescue group usually means you will eventually end up with a new family member. When asked about memorable experiences with GRRA™, Cathie doesn't hesitate. "The adoption of my dogs," she says. "They've been wonderful additions to our family." Sophie, 11, Brody, 8 and Darby, 5 are thriving, but in June of 2010, Cathie faced what so many golden owners go through for the love of the breed - cancer. "We were at a regular dermatological check up and Jaegger's lymph nodes were enlarged," she explains. "He was given 4-8 weeks without treatment." Cathie knows she's not the only person who has gone through this. "We did chemo to see how he would react, though I never thought I would put a dog through chemo," she says sadly. "For all of us who love our dogs, we want them to live forever and for goldens there is a certain risk anymore with falling in love with this breed [because of the prevalence of cancer]." Jaegger crossed the rainbow bridge in December and he will always be missed. "The two goldens we moved here with, they were just so special," Cathie says. "Jaegger was only 9 and I just felt he didn't have a chance - that's one of the saddest parts of this breed." Cathie stresses that she likes to think anyone who wants to adopt is versed in the breed and understands the good and the bad that comes with owning any dog. "Adopting a rescue dog, you are trying to give a dog a good and loving home," she says. "Some of our dogs don't look totally golden but they have that golden personality and that's what we fall in love with."

So what started as a way of meeting people has led Cathie into a deeper sense of awareness of just how necessary a group like GRRA™ is for the state of Georgia. "As long as I live here and have the time, I will do what I can to help these wonderful dogs," she says. "I look forward to a day when there's not a need for the group, it's as simple as that." Cathie says she has met some of the nicest people and she would love for people to follow the payback theory when they adopt from GRRA™. "I hope that people who adopt from us recognize the need for continuing support on an ongoing basis," she says. "As a former president I can't stress enough the need we have for new volunteer support - if you had a great experience, think of what you can do to help someone else have one, too."

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.