Sandy Buckner
with Humane Society of Boulder Valley

Sandy Buckner has been dedicated to the animals of Boulder Valley for 14 years. As a long-time volunteer for the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV), Buckner "comes into the shelter several times a week to exercise, socialize and provide enrichment for [the] shelter dogs," said HSBV Volunteer Manager Sarah Horn.

"I walk the dogs and give them lots of love," explained Buckner. "We make their stay a little happier."

The Humane Society's mission is to protect and enhance the lives of companion animals while promoting healthy relationships between pets and people. The HSBV offers refuge to over 8,000 animals each year including cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, ferrets, mice, rats and birds.

Buckner "began fostering animals for HSBV in the mid nineties and then transitioned into volunteering with our shelter dogs through several different volunteer programs at the shelter," Horn said. Buckner and her family first fostered guinea pigs and rabbits-two of whom her family ended up adopting. She also sponsored a pig when HSBV had farm animals and her family dog was adopted from HSBV.

Buckner's children often join her to walk the dogs. "Each dog in the adoption program gets walked once a day for 20 minutes-about 1/3 of a mile," Buckner said. "The dogs in the adoption program get walked every day, in every kind of weather - whether it is 95 degrees outside or snowing."

"I work with all kinds of dogs," Buckner added. "Not only the dogs in the adoption program, but also dogs in the behavior modification program and dogs who are not ready for adoption yet because of health issues like kennel cough. Making the dogs feel better makes me feel better too. It's a win-win situation."

Buckner "often stops by the shelter when she is in the neighborhood to see if any dogs need to go out, and we have always counted on her to come in and walk dogs when we are short on dog walkers," Horn commented. "She is always looking for new ways to help the animals and the volunteers and is a tremendous asset to the shelter. She contributed an amazing 259 hours of volunteer service in 2007."

For information about volunteering with Humane Society of Boulder Valley or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.