Meet the October Volunteer of the Month

Wendy and Steve Sorin volunteer together as a couple.  Their hard work and commitment to the dogs at the shelter has earned them the joint distinction of October’s Volunteer of the Month.

Wendy started volunteering before Steve, something he is very willing to give her credit for!  A couple of months later he joined her in her work at the shelter.  Recruiting a spouse, from our perspective, is a very efficient way to increase the number of good volunteers!

Wendy and Steve are often the first ones here in the mornings and they are able to walk a great number of eager dogs throughout their shift.  There is no doubt that their kindness is appreciated by the dogs that they spend time with.

Wendy says of her volunteer work with the dogs “I especially enjoy giving each dog some quality time outside of the kennel so that he/she knows, for the moment, that they are special and loved.”

And that really is what it’s all about:  Giving animals, many of whom have affection to give to us but have never received it themselves, time and love all for themselves.

Steve, thoughtfully, says of his dog walking “Being with many of these dogs reminds me also to bask in the sun and see the trail anew each time around. “

Steve and Wendy have a dog of their own, a rescued Golden Retriever called Sofie, and they have a son who is a professor at Duke and a daughter who lives in Vienna, Austria.   Though they look too young, they are grandparents too!

Wendy is an artist and Steve is a rheumatologist.  Steve also enjoys photography (and took pictures for our Spokesdog contest!) and they both enjoy travelling.

We are so grateful that they have made the dogs at the shelter part of their lives and appreciate the difference they make to every single animal they care for.