RedRover Responders Teamwork Across Louisiana
December 3rd, 2024
By Devon Krusko, Field Services and Community Programs Manager, and Ketia Johnson, Community Outreach Coordinator II –
DEVON’S STORY
It’s not often that we have two RedRover Responders teams deployed at the same time – let alone in the same state – but November brought just that! Two staff members with two separate volunteer teams, totaling a whopping 14 people, headed to Louisiana to provide services to support both pets and people in these communities.
One team in West Monroe worked a two-day wellness clinic providing free services to owners and their beloved pets. Services included an exam by a veterinarian, lifesaving vaccines, flea-tick prevention, pet food, engraved I.D. tags, leashes, collars, toys, and more! Here, 368 pets were vaccinated, 363 tags were made, and we provided 112 spay/neuter vouchers to help reduce overpopulation in the community!
Just about three hours south, our second team was on the ground for five days partnering with the Iris Domestic Violence center in Baton Rouge. In partnership with our friends at Greater Good Charities’ Rescue Rebuild program, volunteers spent countless hours landscaping, building chain link fencing, moving gravel, and assembling furniture. Thanks to this hardworking team, domestic violence survivors and their pets will have a safe space for years to come.
Both teams worked through rain and variable weather conditions exemplifying teamwork, an incredible work ethic, and a flexible can-do attitude. We are beyond grateful for our volunteers and grateful we could provide such important support to the state of Louisiana!
KETIA’S STORY
In November, RedRover Responders volunteers joined the Greater Good Charities team in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to help Iris Domestic Violence Center renovate their shelter to accommodate pets on-site. Iris was awarded a RedRover Safe Housing grant in June of $60,000 to help cover costs for this project, which included building an outdoor dog kennel, outdoor play yards, catios, and renovating rooms inside to be more pet friendly.
Our volunteer team of seven were hard at work and endured tough Louisiana weather conditions, from hot and humid, to rainy and muddy. Deployment tasks included lots of landscaping, sanding, painting, assembling furniture, building chain link fencing, and more!
My favorite part of the project was seeing the dog play yards begin from only poles in the ground upon our arrival, to being finished and ready for zoomies. We needed every volunteer to help accomplish this project, which included measuring, carefully cutting, and bolting together the chain link fencing, to hauling, dumping, and spreading gravel out evenly inside the yards.
I am incredibly thankful for the volunteer team who joined us for this deployment, most of whom traveled from out of state, and gave their time and energy to help create beautiful pet-friendly spaces. Because of their passion and dedication, survivors from eight parishes in the Baton Rouge area will not have to choose between seeking safety and leaving their trusted pet behind.
This experience illustrates how just important teamwork is – it’s lifesaving.
When looking into the new year and making resolutions, remember that achieving goals are nearly always easier and more rewarding with support from others. Iris Domestic Violence Center is a wonderful example of the incredible results that seeking support and collaborating with a team can bring!
