Meet our Volunteer of the Year!!!

The APS of Durham is pleased to honor Alyson Boyer as the Volunteer of the Year.  Every year we must choose from so many amazing people who work so hard for the animals of Durham and this year was no different.  Alyson is a worthy recipient of this honor because of the sheer amount of work she does and the many ways she has helped the APS and the animals in our care.
From the day she started volunteering two years ago, Alyson has jumped right in to help in pretty much all areas.  Remarkably, even though she works full time and holds a second part time job, she spends time at the shelter every week walking dogs and countless more hours at home editing and producing most of the videos of adoptable dogs.  All the hours she spends behind the scenes making these videos have brought attention to so many animals and helped them find homes.

Every couple of weeks or so when all the volunteers are sent an email asking for help for a variety of needs such as staffing a fundraising event or giving a ride to an animal, Alyson is nearly always the very first to respond by saying “I can help”.  She helps with marketing the APS message and has made a number of videos to promote the shelter including a beautifully produced full length video about the history of the APS and the programs we offer as well as this wonderful PSA which has aired in the Triangle.  On top of all of this she and her fiancé, Nathan Rode, another dedicated volunteer, also foster for the shelter and frequently take shelter dogs to off-site adoption events.

Alyson and Nathan along with Twitch (a rescue rabbit) and Shelby (a rescue turtle) have adopted Cecelia (pictured), a darling dog they originally fostered for the APS.

Alyson is also a trained EMT, a volunteer firefighter and is on the Red Cross National Disaster Team. Somehow she also finds time to do free lance photography as well as indulge in her love of sports particularly the Phillies and the Eagles. Alyson’s energy is simply incredible and we thank her for her remarkable commitment to the APS.

Alyson will be thanked publicly at the APS Volunteer Appreciation Event to be held later in February.