“Camden has been an absolute rockstar of a foster during her time with DPA! She volunteers her time and resources in many aspects – as a foster representative, rescue coordinator, and photographer – but what stands out above all else is her passion and compassion for animals. As a foster with DPA!, Camden has fostered dogs of all sizes, ages, breeds, and even a few litters with open arms. Dallas Pets Alive! has been able to save many more lives because of Camden, and we’re lucky to have her as a part of our team!”
– Stefanie Steiner, Foster Director for Dallas Pets Alive!
This is why Camden Rendon is one of Dallas Pet’s Alive’s PAWesome People!
How did you get involved with Fostering with DPA!?
I moved to Dallas from Raleigh, NC in early June. My first order of business was to find a rescue I could get involved in down here. I interviewed quite a few rescues for their foster programs, but none of them were as welcoming or versatile as DPA! I love that we don’t discriminate from young, old, sick, healthy, big, or small dogs. Everyone was so involved and their passion just shines through in their efforts. I enjoy being around like-minded people so I felt like DPA! was the perfect rescue to call home.
Tell us about a few of your fosters.
I was scrolling through my Facebook feed (per usual) and happened to see a picture of a sick, bald, mangey puppy. He was so shut down and pitiful. I showed my husband and tole him I was going to pull him as my first DPA! foster. Mind you, I’ve never dealt with sarcoptic mange before, so this was a new challenge for me. I have two puppies at home that LOVE to play and they weren’t very happy that I wouldn’t let them play for three weeks! Benson got happier and healthier until we finally had him medically cleared to go to his new home. I still keep in contact with his family and I even get to go visit him from time to time!!
My favorite foster was my 90 lb German Shepherd, Marshmallow. If he hadn’t been promised a rescue in NY, he would have been my first and only foster fail. I actually regret not doing more to try to adopt him out from the NY rescue because I have never met a dog that fits in more perfectly with my family (besides my own two). He is the only adult I have ever pulled because we typically stick to the puppies, but he was the best dog in the world. I still lose tears over him!
What is your favorite animal adoption story?
My favorite rescue story is Clover and her four puppies. I am also on the rescue team and I went to DAS to dog test a few dogs one day. I generally don’t go in the nursing mom’s room, but this day I found someone to take me in. Clover and her puppies were in the very first cage and I begged them to let me in. I have never met a more gentle and attention-loving dog than Clover. Her four puppies were still so young that they didn’t move much yet. They had the most beautiful coloring! She wasn’t on my rescue list, but I just knew I had to save her. They told me she didn’t have much longer (I’m talking hours) and I networked her like crazy with our awesome fosters. Finally, with the promise of me taking the entire litter until they were weaned, we found them all in foster homes. That was my first “rescue” that I headed up and I was on cloud 9 for days. They lived because of mine and every one of their fosters’ efforts and that is such a powerful thing to be able to say.
What do you love most about fostering with Dallas Pets Alive!?
Dallas Pets Alive! takes so much time to make sure that every single foster is prepared and happy. From the Foster representatives to the medical team, to the tons and tons of training tip documents, all the way to the actual training they provide – they are so focused on setting every single person up for success. We have such a wonderful community of volunteers and fosters that it really makes the organization run like a well-oiled machine. It’s always organized and someone is always there to help you. I literally bleed love for this organization. Okay, not literally. Figuratively.
What would be some words of wisdom to new DPA! Fosters?
Read your contract and don’t return your foster after 5 minutes. Just kidding. Use your reps to your advantage! They are there to help you sort out any issue or answer any questions you may have. Take every single piece of advice that we offer you! We really spend a lot of time crafting up emails, googling training tips, and shifting through documents to help set you up for success. Animals that have been in shelters or bad homes for a long time really need to learn how to “dog” again. You are a part of THEIR success story, so let us be a part of yours!
Give us a fun fact about you!
I have two rescues of my own, one from D.C. and one from Charlotte, NC. One is a Blue Heeler mix named Knox and the other is a Border Collie named Willow. They are both going to be 2 years old in a few months and they are the lights of my life!
Be like Camden.
Sign up to foster with Dallas Pets Alive!
