President of the CCA Board of Directors Susan Lyerly shares a blog post about how she became involved with CCA and what being a part of our team means to her.
It’s hard to believe that lighting just one candle in August of 1994 led to my involvement with CCA. There was a Candlelight Vigil held in what is now Falls Park that was sponsored by CCA for all the stray cats and dogs that NEVER found their loving home. As I lit my candle, I decided to learn more about CCA and become a volunteer.
One visit to the shelter led to becoming more than just a Sunday volunteer. I ended up volunteering to be part of the Board (these positions are volunteer), and I have been active in every part of CCA over the years, including volunteer coordination, adoptions team, spay/neuter program, visiting nursing homes or schools with one of the shelter dogs to promote humane education, assisting in a TNR venture, and even being a caretaker for the CCA cats and dogs when the resident caretaker was on vacation for one or two weeks at a time.
My house has been the home for many of the cats and dogs that have been temporary shelter residents. Three or four of them were older or had terminal illnesses, so I wanted to give them a home before they crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
CCA strives to help with the ever increasing needs of the community through the programs we offer. To meet these needs, we always welcome and need dedicated volunteers! Some days are more difficult than others as we shed tears over a puppy that didn’t make it or a dog that needed so much medical attention we weren’t sure if it would make it through the treatments. However, the tears of joy shed when a cat or dog is placed in a loving home make it all worthwhile.
I may have lit that candle so many years ago, but that small flame still burns brightly. Consider lighting a candle of your own and join me in helping the animals. They are God’s creature too, and they need our help!
Hugo - a now adopted former CCA puppy - enjoying the cat bed during a visit to Susan’s house