Volunteer Spotlight: Dorothy Hood, Fort Worth Animal Care & Control

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi, Fort Worth! My name is Dorothy Hood, and I’ve lived in Texas for almost six years. Before that, I spent eight years in New Hampshire, 15 years in Illinois and grew up in Southern California. I’m an animal foster unicorn — an adult-only, child-free, cat- and dog-free home so I can foster hard-to-place or special-needs animals. It’s been great enrichment for my elderly (cranky) Nanday Conure (small parrot) named Snapper. Our current doggie roommates are Mama Maggie Mae and her five fat pups.

How long have you been volunteering with the City of Fort Worth?

I’ve been a Fort Worth Animal Care & Control dog foster and volunteer for about five years.

What are your main volunteer duties?

Most of my volunteer activities have been animal adoption events. For the last several years, I’ve fostered out-of-state transport dogs.

What inspired you to start volunteering?

I started fostering dogs for FWACC my first winter in Texas. There was an urgent request for immediate short-term fosters — 48 dogs were being held outside, and bitter single-digit temperatures were due. Once I began to understand the need, I started volunteering at adoption events, special events like Pawsgiving and fostering dogs.

What is your favorite thing about volunteering?

I’ve met some amazing people that work hard to find forever homes for every animal that arrives at the shelter. It takes an army of volunteers to make that happen too. I love being connected to something so important and feel privileged to be a small part of that journey to forever homes.

Describe a favorite memory or moment from your time as a volunteer.

My favorite memories are when I’ve gotten a photo or video of my foster dogs from their forever homes.

How has volunteering impacted your life or perspective?

Fostering dogs has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also been the most rewarding thing I’ve done. I’d always adopted companion animals from shelters and rescues. Now, I’m sort of paying forward by doing what someone else did for them.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about volunteering?

If you’re thinking about being a volunteer, just do it. You’ll get back more than you give. It’s nice to get “paid” in puppy kisses!

What do you enjoy in your spare time when you’re not volunteering?

I also make comfort items for a local care home. It started out with cold weather items, like hats and scarves, and grew into comfort items. Currently, pillows and seat cushions covered in crocheted plush fleece yarn are the most popular items.

Visit the volunteer website today to browse our programs and learn how you can invest in your community and invest in yourself.

Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.