MABTR family - Paula in KS

If you are thinking about volunteering, I’d just tell them how rewarding it is, how hard it is, and that you will be totally filled with love for your dogs.

My husband and I started our volunteer foster journey with MABTR in 2024. We have played many hats with MABTR from transporting, fostering and palliative care.

We got started volunteering when we saw a Facebook request from Jennifer for a large group of fosters coming in so I volunteered. The reward of seeing the dogs healing and sending them on to a better life keeps us going.

We volunteer by always trying to be available to foster. I have long been remotely involved In my community and all but one of my own dogs has been a rescue which is why volunteering is important to me.

The greatest challenge for us when working with an animal rescue is instilling trust in the dogs we take into our home. The dogs motivate me with their resilience and their ability to overcome their past life and trust in humans again.

My favorite part about volunteering for MABTR is taking my foster to its new family. I love local adoptions. I also love getting updates on my dogs from their new families.

The most challenging part about volunteering for MABTR is probably the first week of fostering a new dog. It’s a challenge to assure them that they will not be hurt or starved or treated poorly in any way again. Getting them through surgery and on to better days.