“Michele never ceases to amaze me. She is a dedicated volunteer on our Medical team responsible for ensuring all our little ones have registered microchips for their safety should they ever get lost. As our sole feline alumni counselor, she is responsible for our cats’ well-being post-adoption. She assists in making sure our fabulous felines are set up for success in their new homes by offering support to our adopters through decompression tips, consulting with adopters, volunteers, and vets on medical issues that arise, and training as needed. This role is so essential to our animals remaining happy and healthy. Having volunteers like Michele allows us to be able to give our adopters the opportunity to have a support system, which is part of what makes DPA! stand out against others and really make a difference for both our animals and the families we help complete.
Michele is always willing to step up to the plate when needed whether it be to help raise donations, educate people on DPA! and our mission, go pick up a truckload of donated crates, or bring in puppies needing a foster home. Her positive attitude is simply inspiring, no matter what our animals need she’s ready with a big smile on her face. She is one of the most genuinely caring people I know and always offers to help because it truly makes her happy to. Michele and JB recently had their 3-year DPA! anniversary and I couldn’t be happier to have them as part of our lifesaving family!”
– Jessica Weinstein, Vice President of Animal Operations for Dallas Pets Alive!
What is your current role?
I’m on the Medical Team entering all the microchips for both the dogs and cats. I’m also on the Alumni Team and help Transition the kittens and cats to their furever homes and I also foster puppies.
How did you get involved with volunteering at DPA!?
We met Wendy at Community Beer one day and started to adopt one of the dogs we met there but instead, we decided to try fostering. At that time we had a 14 and a 13-year-old and the 14-year-old had been in a wheelchair for a year and the 13-year-old was starting to not move around as much so want to bring in a dog to play with her. We have cats so we knew we could keep them separated for a short period to make sure the dog was going to be cat-friendly. Our intentions were to foster until we found 2 dogs that could live in a cat and dog world together. But we enjoyed fostering so much that we just continued to help out and now it is just a part of us. We did adopt 2 wonderful and special babies, Sadie and Charity.
What are you most passionate about at DPA!?
I love animals so I could make that statement a million times which is why I love DPA! because we all have a common goal. I enjoy fostering with this organization because of our common goal but also we have a great network of people from Jessica, Allison, Dena, and all the foster, medical, and alumni reps that you can reach out to at any time of the day when you are in need and to Tina and Amanda who can help with any cat related problems. The list could go on forever of all the wonderful people in this group.
What are some words of wisdom to new DPA! Volunteers?
The hardest thing is the attachment you get to the puppies and you are so sad when they go to their furever homes. The best advice that I can give is that we love all of our babies but think about the wonderful home and life they will have. We always tell the adopter that we will cry but get in the car and say, ‘OK let’s go get some more puppies and find them a great home.’
Give us a fun fact about you!
I love to travel and in the summer every year we do a destination trip, and this year we are going to Nicaragua in July. Last year we went to Belize in August and the year before that we went to Peru in June. We start travel to the lake in the summer starting Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day and watch the dogs enjoy swimming on the island.
