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People who Inspire Us
May 19, 2009
Donna Goodman is one of those amazing people in rescue that keeps at it, day after day, dog after dog, and doesn't ever seem to give up or burn out. Z Kripke, from last month's People article, and Tigertail's own Lindsey collaborated in creating this month's People spotlight. Both Z and Lindsey are passionate about their breed, the Papillon, and they agree that Donna is someone that inspires them. After getting to know Donna through this article, I think you'll think so too.
If you know of a special person who you’d like to tell us about, write me. We love hearing about people helping to make the world a little better, and if we use your story you'll get a free pound of cookies!
Donna Goodman, a Papillon-in-Need's Best Friend
Most of us support dog rescue, give money, volunteer at a shelter or participate in shelter fundraising events. Most of us have helped a dog find a new home at least once in our lives. But what special qualities allow a person to do dedicated dog rescue over decades without burn out or acclaim (other than the gratitude of people who get their perfect companion from her)?
Donna Goodman is one such rare person. Her skill at taking in traumatized little dogs from owner surrenders and from shelters, socializing them in her home and carefully matching them with forever homes now spans ten years. We in the San Diego Papillon community are blessed having her move to Vista, CA (North County San Diego) three years ago so we can support her efforts and marvel at what she does, saving one abandoned dog at a time, week after week.
Donna grew up in a home with a dog, a cat and a parakeet. Since then, she has never been without a pet, a succession including lizards, turtles, hamsters, rabbits, dogs, always at least one cat, and currently also a 15-year-old tree frog named Lucile and a parrot named Rebel.
She studied English and Anthropology at the University of CA at Santa Barbara becoming a Story Analyst in Hollywood for 30 years. She has a daughter, Miranda, who is in graduate school at UC Davis. More than 15 yrs ago she got her first Papillon, McQueen, and that was a watershed moment in her vocation as a dog rescuer.
For three years she worked as Western Coordinator for the rescue committee of the Papillon Club of America (PCA). Her stay at home job allowed her to branch out on her own, forming Papillons and Playmates (PAPS), the only southern California Papillon rescue. In PCA Rescue she worked closely with another rescuer, Lisa Bakalars, who now lives in MN. That friendship and long distance rescue partnership is as strong now as it was 10 years ago.
A major part of Donna's success is her unwavering ethical commitment to doing rescue absolutely right. Her care of a new foster in her home includes a vet exam, socialization, spay/neutering if necessary, and behavior assessment. Her adoption forms are extensive and checked thoroughly, including an in depth home visit. Any homeless dog that is fortunate enough to come into Donna's protection will be beloved, safe, and in a forever home.
In the end, nothing about Donna's life is a single key to what makes her one of the exceptional people who follows a rescue vocation and does so with such efficacy over so many years. There is the pervasive love of all animals, she has numerous pets of her own, including Papillons McQueen and Nessie, Dachshund mix Bernie, and two dogs that she has on permanent foster that can't be adopted out; Travis and Mr. Woggles.
At any moment she has on average two small dogs in active re-homing, currently Toby, Ellie and Chihuahua Andre. There is the support and encouragement of rescue colleague Lisa and the Papillon Picnic Club of SoCA, a social club for pet Papillon owners, which mixes its fun events with fundraising to help Donnas homeless pups.
We at Tigertail Foods are pleased to have Donna as a member of our Rescue Rebate Program and have the raw diet of choice for Donna’s dogs and cat. If you would like to help Donnas rescues please reference PAPS while placing your order and she will receive 10% of your order total.
