Gari-Ann Lenore: Animal Lover

"Since she started volunteering in August of 2014, Gari-Ann Lenore has served many hours, giving our animals that extra special attention they all deserve.

"Gari-Ann comes in several times a month to help out with whatever we need. She comes in on her holidays, attends special presentations, and helps out at most of our special events, including our enrichment events. No job is too big or too small. Gari-Ann does everything from walking the dogs to cleaning to pet dishes and doing their laundry.

"Our new volunteers also look to Gari-Ann for advice. Last year, she took her volunteer a step further and became one of our behavior volunteers, which means she helps our animals become adoptable and to get adopted quicker. She works with puppies to learn general manners or big dogs to calm down, so they don't have to stay in the shelter for longer.

"Gari-Ann is very active in our Shutterfly Behavior Volunteers Forum, where she gives other behavior volunteers tips on the animals she has worked with that week and provide feedback/comments to the other volunteers. No matter what shape they are in when they come in, she loves them just like they are her own."

"Gari-Ann will go in and just spend time in the kennels with the animals that most people ignore - the scared ones, the barking ones, the big ones, the ones that turn into a pancake when you put a leash on them. She has such compassion for the animals, and is truly the meaning of an animal lover.

"From writing online descriptions for the animals to reading to them in the kennels, these animals are her fur-babies. She does such great work! Gari-Ann has such a big heart and gives unconditional love to all of the animals here."

By Tina Grier

SPCA of Texas - Perry Campus

Volunteer Relations Supervisor