Tributes

Howard Melvin Shore, 84, of Brookhaven, GA, passed away on Friday, May 11, 2024, at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital, with his wife Barbara by his side. Born on August 14, 1939, in Pittsburgh, PA, to Edward and Ida Shore, Howard joined the family with his older brother Gary. At the age of seven, he took over his brother’s paper route, marking the beginning of his lifelong career. In the early 1960s, Howard relocated with his then-wife Roslyn and their children Jamie Lynn and Marc Allan to Atlanta, GA. Working as a manufacturer’s representative in the contract furniture industry, he covered an eight-state Southeastern territory for over four decades. He was highly respected in the community and took the time to mentor and advise young colleagues, becoming a hero to many. Howard's work ethic was characterized by honesty and integrity, and he successfully grew the business into a multi-million-dollar enterprise with twenty-two employees.

Even though he worked tirelessly, Howard started volunteering his time with various canine rescue groups, such as:

*Fostering for: Golden Retriever Rescue Atlanta, Adopt a Golden Atlanta, and Atlanta Dog Squad

*Intake Coordinator for Golden Retriever Rescue Atlanta

*Transporting & Tempter Testing for: Golden Retriever Rescue Atlanta, Adopt a Golden Atlanta,   Atlanta Dog Squad, and Atlanta Pet Rescue

Early on, Howard received training from Susie Aga, an Atlanta dog trainer, to become more qualified to work with different dogs. Over time, several fostered dogs found their forever home with Howard, including Kisses, a young and abused Chocolate Lab. Due to her gentle temperament, Howard decided to introduce her to therapy work, and they became certified members of several organizations - Happy Tails -- Delta Society – HOPE -- Pet Partners -- Reading Paws -- CAREing Paws.

Howard and Kisses make weekly visits to Sweet Apple School to read with autistic children, visit nursing homes, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. For several years, they worked as crisis relief responders with the Red Cross following floods, tornadoes, etc. In 2011, Howard's senior Golden Retriever, Rusty, joyously became a certified member of Reading Paws and began reading with autistic children. In the years that followed, other dogs joined the ranks: Leo, Charlie, Drake, and Cali have all enthusiastically worked as Certified Therapy Dogs visiting various locations, including weekly visits to Northside Hospital. Drake, a big award-winning Chocolate Labrador Retriever, has become a member of HOPE, which is an animal-assisted crisis response group. He and Howard traveled to sites of building collapses (Sunshine Tower in FL) as well as hurricane, flood, and tornado disasters. They even journeyed to Mar-a-Lago for Secret Service stress relief.

Howard continued to seek ways to harness his boundless energy, organizational and management skills, and his never-ending love for his canine friends until the day he passed away. He touched so many lives in numerous ways, and he will be missed dearly.

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