Sarah Maier
Our July Volunteer Spotlight is on a generous and kind #HHSVolunteer named Sarah Maier. Sarah has been volunteering and fostering with HHS since December 2022. She can be seen at the shelter multiple times a week helping with our morning cleaning routine – laundry, dishes, cat cage cleaning, cat socialization, and so much more! Her positive and upbeat personality always brings joy to the staff, volunteers, and pets here at the shelter. We are so grateful for her kindness and dedication to our organization.
Sarah is originally from Connecticut and graduated from Denison University. Sarah lived and worked in Finance in Boston for 5 years and then moved to Ohio with her husband Ron after she got married. Sarah and her husband have 2 children- a daughter who is a telescope operator for Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ, and a son who is an IT Computer Science developer for Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, OH.
Below are some words from Sarah Maier:
When we moved to Williamsburg in 2019, we brought our beagle-mix dog Ellie with us and she was 13 years old. Sadly, she passed away in December 0f 2020 at age 14 ½. At least she enjoyed retirement here for a little while! We rescued her when she was 4 months old, and she had a wonderful, treat-filled life full of love and shenanigans! I donated her dog items to HHS, and that’s when I wanted to become a volunteer, in her honor, helping other animals waiting for forever homes!
The most rewarding aspect of volunteering is interacting with the animals and doing my best to make them comfortable and happy while they are in the care of HHS. Of course, the best news is hearing about their adoptions!
I also volunteer at Dream Catchers in Toano, a therapeutic horse-riding center. I help to take care of the horses that are used in classes and lessons. All ages and abilities enjoy riding and interacting with the horses! They are such gentle creatures and they seem to know how each person is feeling and what they need. I have always loved animals!
Lastly, I volunteer at the Bruton Parish Gift Shop in Colonial Williamsburg. I love meeting people, and talking with visitors from out of town!
Fostering an animal was a wonderful experience for me! I was able to bring a cat into my home for a short while and give her a quiet and love-filled space while she healed medically. I hope to one day soon foster another animal!
Volunteering with animals has been very rewarding for me! Giving your time to animals in need is so special, and the animals are so grateful and appreciative. While I am not quite ready to adopt another pet, volunteering gives me the opportunity to interact with so many animals! And helping out whenever needed makes me happy, especially when I see how well taken care of the animals are at HHS. Many of them are nervous at the shelter because of the new environment, but spending time with them helps to calm them and prepare them for their new home!
