11/02/2026
❤️🐾 A Little Something From My Heart This Shelter Appreciation Week… 🐾❤️
I’ve spent 15 years of my life at Penobscot Valley Humane Society.
I started as a volunteer, never imagining that one day I’d be the person responsible for managing the very shelter where my journey began.
Over the years, I’ve worn a lot of hats. I’ve cleaned kennels, scrubbed litter boxes, cared for sick animals, celebrated adoptions, cried over losses, and gone home more times than I can count wondering if I could have done more.
I’ve seen the beautiful side of animal rescue, and I’ve seen the side that most people will never know exists.
And through it all, one thing has never changed — my love for what we do.
But this Shelter Appreciation Week, I don’t want to talk about myself. I want to talk about the people I have the privilege of working beside.
My team. ❤️
Being a shelter manager has given me a whole new appreciation for the people who walk through those doors every morning, ready to do whatever the day throws at them.
Because I know what I’m asking of them.
I know how physically exhausting this work can be. I know how emotionally draining it is to care so deeply about animals you can’t always save. I know the frustration of never having enough time, enough space, enough money, or enough hands to do everything that needs to be done.
And I know how easy it is to feel like nobody notices.
But I notice.
I notice the little things. The extra few minutes spent sitting with a scared dog. The patience shown to a cat who isn’t quite ready to trust. The way they celebrate an adoption like it’s their own personal victory. The way they keep showing up, even after the hardest days.
I notice their growth, their dedication, and the compassion they bring into a job that doesn’t always give much back.
And I hope they know just how proud I am of them.
I’m still learning how to be the manager they deserve. Some days I get it right, and some days I probably don’t. I’m learning to lead, to make difficult decisions, and to carry responsibilities that look a lot different from the ones I had when I first started.
But one thing I never want to lose is the understanding of what it’s like to be the person cleaning those kennels, answering those phones, and caring for those animals.
Because I was that person. And in my heart, I still am.
We are a small team. We don’t always have the resources we need. We have stressful days, overwhelming moments, and plenty of challenges ahead of us.
But I wouldn’t trade the people standing beside me for anything.
To my team — thank you for trusting me to lead you, for growing alongside me, for putting up with my crazy ideas, and for caring about this shelter and its animals as much as I do.
I may have the title of manager now, but I will never forget where I started or the people who make it possible for me to do this job every day.
I’m not just proud to manage this shelter. I’m proud to be part of this team.
And I hope each of you knows that you matter, your work matters, and you are appreciated far more than words can express.
Happy Shelter Appreciation Week to the people who make my little corner of the world a better place. ❤️🐾
