The Lori Kauffman Volunteer Of The Month Award

Carla Young is the recipient of the November 2009 Lori Kauffman Volunteer of the Month Award

Congratulations to Carla Young, our November Volunteer of the Month! Carla has volunteered with GRRA since 2004 as a permanent foster, temporary foster, driver for Retriever Taxi, and she sells items from the Golden Store on Adoption Days. Since Carla began volunteering with GRRA, she has fostered 28 dogs and currently has 2 permanent fosters living with her, Bear and Walker.

Carla raised and showed golden retrievers at dog shows for quite some time. She had six goldens at one point. Gradually, they passed away until she had only 1 left. Carla's last golden was so sad without the others that Carla decided to get another dog and found GRRA in the process. Carla took in Bear, who had been abused and was scared of people, and he and Carla's dog hit it off.

Carla is contacted by golden retriever rescue groups all over the area to pick up homeless dogs. People frequently bring homeless dogs of all breeds to Carla. Carla took in two Welsh Corgis, one of which was in poor health. They are now thriving in Carla's home. In fact, Carla has 8 dogs living with her now including the two permanent fosters.

One of Carla's fosters has gone on to be an instructor in a drug detection program. The dog, a black lab named Marley, was in GRRA's program looking for a home, but the right fit was never found. Marley liked to "track" so Carla contacted a police officer who took Marley and trained him. Marley has worked on military bases as an instructor for other dogs and is now an instructor in a drug detection program.

Carla's most memorable foster is Ginger, whom she fostered recently. Ginger came from a bad situation where she was left outside, never groomed, and never taken to the vet. Ginger was adopted by a couple from Chatsworth who took her to their beautiful mountain home. Ginger literally went from being a pauper to a princess!

The most rewarding aspect of helping the dogs is when Carla is able to get a dog to trust her so that it allows her to pet it while eating. Carla makes sure that all adopters meet GRRA's requirements, but they also have to meet Carla's requirements which include providing plenty of love for the golden.

Carla is shown above with Harley, Buddy, Indy, Bear, Moeby, Grace, and Dobbie. Walker is camera-shy and didn't want to be photographed!

Thank you, Carla, for all you do for GRRA and the dogs!

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.