Hi, I’m Kathy Short from Fayetteville, AR, and I’ve always owned Airedales. Over the years, I’ve worn many hats. As a teacher, I wrote a curriculum on the economics of pet overpopulation, for which I won first place honors and a trip to Washington DC. I began a “Be Kind to Animals Week”, now a tradition at our school, to raise funds for one of our area rescues. I’ve served on our local Humane Society board, and am currently co-chairing an Animal Education Committee whose goal is to reach 5,000 fifth graders in our Northwest Arkansas region. I accompanied a team of animal officers to Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina to help with rescue operations, and I’ve assisted with pet therapy dogs on visits to nursing homes and hospitals.
I began volunteering with SOAR after working with Lynn O’Shaughnessy and several others at another national rescue. SOAR is a very solid operation — they’re like family to me — and I love working here as much as I love Airedales. And Lynn O is my hero!
Among my various “duties” are fostering, transporting owner-surrendered and rescued Airedales for fostering and placement, completing home visits in my area, attending adoption events and fundraisers, and taking part in various clinics for the public.
What amazes me is that social networking has encouraged so many people to step up and help us from across the country. And the relationships that are formed! By placing dogs in so many states, I myself have made countless new friends.
Having cared for my late mom who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, I was privileged to speak before the Congressional Committee on Alzheimer’s, and was asked by the National Alzheimer’s Association to lobby with them in DC. I’ve always been an advocate for children, for animals in rescue, and now the ailing and elderly. I plan to continue being the voice for all of them.
