We always say that we could not do what we do without our volunteers. We thought it was time to highlight some of their stories not only so that we can thank them for the countless hours they spend making Streetdog Foundation what it is, but so that you can get to know us a little better. You can read these stories every Monday and search for them at #IStreetdog.
Our first story is about someone very dear to all of us, the one and only Mavis Estes.
Although she grew up with cats, Mavis Estes has always been a dog person. Around 2010 she read a newspaper article about Streetdog Foundation. She showed the article to her business partner (and in her words “special friend”) Bob. Their wholesale seed business had its own brand of dog food and Bob suggested they start making a monthly donation of food to SDF.
“Bob was a big dog person,” Mavis says. “So I called [SDF founder] Melanie and they got a whole bunch in their trailer. And that’s how it got started.”
In 2012, Bob died and Mavis fell into what she called “a funk.”
“He was the love of my life. After he died, all I did was go to work and come home. I didn’t go anywhere. I didn’t do anything other than that.”
When a friend pushed her to get out of the house she decided to get more involved with Streetdog Foundation and things started looking up.
“What really got me out of my funk was all these great young people who are so smart and so sincere and dedicated. When I started meeting everyone I thought, “Where have I been?” That just made my life and it still does.”
Since then Mavis has gone from simply attending adoption days to becoming an indispensible part of the volunteer team. She serves on the board of directors, handles the merchandise and is almost always available to cart dogs, crates and supplies in her truck. But her favorite thing is meeting the dogs, especially when she gets to meet them upon intake, when they first become Streetdogs and their lives turn around.
The first dog she ever met on intake was Tilly Aston (now adopted), who arrived with an eye infection so severe it required removal. A few years later Mavis would meet another one-eyed Streetdog, Betty Boop. With three dogs of her own, who often accompany her to work, Mavis had never fostered or adopted. But then she sadly had to say goodbye to one of her babies, Red Dog.
“I met Betty on a Saturday and that Monday I had to have Red put to sleep. And I just felt a connection to her.”
Recently Betty Boop went on an “adventure” that sent the whole Streetdog Foundation family out looking for her. With all hands on deck she was quickly recovered and although her adoption is not official yet, her joyful reunion with Mavis makes it clear she’s where she belongs.
“Every day I thank Streetdog and everybody in it,” Mavis says.
The feeling is most definitely mutual!
#IStreetdog #sdfBettyBoop #sdfVols
