This year we’re bringing back our “Volunteer Spotlight” section. We appreciate each and every volunteer because without them, we could not rescue any Goldens. Our volunteers handle everything from fund raising to home visits to transports and all things in between! It really takes a village to keep our rescue alive and healthy. This quarter we’re featuringDianne Neviuswho has been volunteering with us for 10 years! We interviewed Dianne to get a better idea of who she is and why she loves rescuing Goldens with RAGofAZ.

What volunteer positions have you held and what role(s) are you currently in?

I have been the coordinator for the Happy Valley Barnes & Noble gift wrapping for the past 8 years, Microchip manager for 9 years, Woofline Coordinator for 9 years and I have been on the Home Visit Team for the past 8 years.

Tell us a little bit about your family, including any current pets.

My husband and I have been married for 34 years. We blended our family and added a baby to make 5 children. We now have 8 grandchildren and one great grandchild. We currently have Meg, a 13 year old English Setter and Toby our 5 year old Golden Retriever (non-RAG).

Can you tell us a little about your own experience with rescued Goldens?

We have had Goldens for over 20 years. Duke and Duchess were our first and they each lived 13 yrs. old before Cancer came along. Teddy, our RAG dog, came into RAG with a litter of 6. He had an amazing soul. He was epileptic. A second medication caused him to have Megaesophagus. For a year he would aspirate, get pneumonia and then recover. We finally had to let him go to the Rainbow Bridge. Unfortunately, he only lived 4 years and passed away 6 years ago. He was an amazing RAG volunteer as is Toby. Toby is a large Golden with a heart to match. He loves volunteering. If he isn’t coming with me, I have to put my RAG shirt on in the garage because he gets so excited when he sees it. Like all Goldens, he is so gentle and loving.

How did you get started as a volunteer with RAGofAZ?

I saw RAG at gift wrapping one year at B & N after we had lost our Duchess. The following September we adopted Teddy. I saw the need to educate people about all rescues and was so grateful for Teddy. I feel so honored to be able to volunteer with such an amazing, giving group of people.

What has been the most rewarding experience as a volunteer so far?

I think being a part of each team is amazing. However, being on the Home Visit Team I have the opportunity to meet a family and see how much they want a Golden. Then I hear they had a dog placed with them and know they are so excited. I know how hard it is when you have to wait for a Golden. The very best is when I get to see the family with their dog at an event.

What advice would you give someone who’s thinking about becoming a volunteer?

I always tell them we have needs to be filled requiring an hour a week, everyday, or once a month. Find what their passion is and try different teams if necessary.

We thank Dianne for her years of dedication to our rescue and look forward to many more! Let’s give a round of applause for Dianne!

This quarter we’re celebrating Scottie McGowan. Scottie is one of our most tenured volunteers and has held many different roles over the last 14 years including her current role as Director of Golden Rescue. Many of you may recognize her work as the leader who pulls all of our International Rescue efforts together. You can find her driving her mini-van (with a huge vinyl sticker of a Golden on the side!) back and forth from LAX picking up dogs or flying to Mexico to bring back a bunch of Goldens in crates heading to their new homes in AZ. Her energy is endless and her enthusiasm is infectious. We would not be able to save as many dogs as we do without her. Thank you, Scottie, for all you do!

1. How long have you been a volunteer with RAGofAZ?

Since 2005

2. What volunteer positions have you held and what role(s) are you currently in?
• Meet and Greet volunteer since 2005
• Intake Team since March, 2009
• Transport Team Member since May, 2009
• Transport Coordinator Team since 2009
• Foster since November, 2010
• Home Visit Team since November, 2010
• Assistant Transport Team Coordinator in April, 2011
• Southern Director, K9 Operations
• Board Member since November, 2011
• Rescue to Rescue Transfer Coordinator Since 2013
• Director of Golden Rescue since November, 2015
• International Rescue Coordinator November, 2016
• Currently, Director of Golden Rescue, International Rescue Coordinator, Trainer for long distance transporters moving international dogs from LAX, and McCarron International Airports to Phoenix since 2017

2. In what part of AZ do you reside?

A. In southeast Tucson in Rita Ranch.

3. Tell us a little bit about your family, including any current pets.

A. I was assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in 1997. Ken retired from the USAF in 1993; I retired in 2003. Between us we have 4 grown children, 5 grandchildren, and two Goldens. Ken, my sweetheart of 26 years, supports all aspects of rescue. Twelve-year-old Jake and nine-year-old Morgan rule the roost. Ken is their chef, landscaper, and pharmacist; I am their groomer, chauffer, and social director.

4. Tell us a little bit about any past/current rescued Goldens (from us or otherwise).

A. We purchased six-week-old Abbey from a backyard breeder. Five years later,
we discovered rescue, became foster failures and adopted our first RAGofAZ Golden,
Chad. Little did we know that Chad was destined to change our whole life’s path. He went to the Bridge after only six years from a brain tumor, and we learned the devasting heartbreak of losing a beloved Golden, it wouldn’t be the last. We adopted Crystal in 2009, Jake in 2011, and Morgan in 2012. We learned what “All for the Love of A Golden” means. Crystal went to the Bridge in 2014. We are still grieving her loss.

5. Tell us a bit about why you wanted to volunteer with us.

A. We were invited to bring Abbey and Chad to meet and greets and doggy socials. It sounded like a good way to meet people and socialize our dogs. We discovered what RAGofAZ is all about; we met so many adopted dogs and their dedicated families. Our dogs became Ambassadogs to help rescue more dogs in need, and I found I couldn’t say no to participate in all things Golden. Then I learned about the amazingly synchronized teams that make it all happen, and I was hooked.

6. What’s the most rewarding experience you’ve had so far as a volunteer with us?

A. Every dog has a story and being part of their journey to a new life is very rewarding. But, developing an international program that embodies the meaning of rescue brings tears every day. To see the before pictures of dirty, skinny dogs at meat markets or on the street fighting for survival, then seeing them cleaned, fed, and with loving families is most rewarding.

7. What advice would you give to someone who hasn’t volunteered with us before but may be thinking about it?

A. When you have a Golden in your life, resistance is futile. But even without a dog, there are many ways you can help secure a second chance for a Golden. Every volunteer makes a difference even it’s only for a couple of hours. The benefits are lots of tail wags, sloppy kisses, the knowledge that you help save and improve Golden lives, life-long friendships, and maybe a Golden or two.

8. What else would you like us to know about you and your volunteering?

A. There is a magnet that says, “Who Rescued Who?” It rings so true. I wrestle with clinical depression and found that Goldens are the very best antidepressants. I am so blessed to belong to this organization and to be able to be a part of the mission to save Golden lives.

This quarter we’re excited to feature Mark Preston as our featured volunteer. Mark has a special gift when it comes to graphic design work and we’re lucky enough to have had him donate his time and talent to the rescue for the last several years. While Mark does a lot of design work for us, the biggest project of the year is putting together our annual calendar. From start to finish he makes sure every photo, every story, every detail is perfectly placed! Thank you Mark!

How long have you been a volunteer with RAGofAZ?

A little over 5 years.

What volunteer positions have you held and what role(s) are you currently in?

I started out working on the annual Links of Gold golf tournament which was our biggest fund raising event at the time. Over the years, I’ve become more active doing graphic design work for RAGofAZ.

In what part of AZ do you reside? 

Originally from Wisconsin, I’ve lived in Scottsdale for the past 32 years.

Tell us a little bit about your family, including any current pets.

I live with my wife of 37 years, my 23 year old daughter and a 7 year old RAGofAZ rescue Golden named “J.”

Tell us a little bit about any past/current rescued Goldens (from us or otherwise).

J is our current rescue, and is the third Golden we have been blessed to provide a forever home for through RAGofAZ. We also rescued a Golden while we lived in Kansas who was lost on the city streets of Wichita. We scooped the four month old puppy up out of the street so she wouldn’t get hit, and worked diligently to find her owner to no avail. Because she was a lost little girl wandering in Kansas we named her Dorothy … and she was with us for the next 17 years. While we miss Dorothy and Cassie & Bart, our RAGofAZ rescues, we treasured our time with them and are grateful every day for the comic relief and genuine love that “JJ” shares with us these days’

Tell us a bit about why you wanted to volunteer with us.

From our first rescue (Cassie) with RAGofAZ, it became clear that it was a very special organization. The dedication, enthusiasm and genuine love exhibited by every volunteer we came into contact with inspired me to want to do my fair share …. All For the Love of a Golden.

What’s the most rewarding experience you’ve had so far as a volunteer with us?

Working with the GREAT volunteers, and seeing the joy that our rescues bring to people throughout the Valley at our annual “Bark In The Park” get-togethers.

What advice would you give to someone who hasn’t volunteered with us before but may be thinking about it?

Do it!!! Like the Goldens themselves, volunteering gives back far more than it takes.