By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Connie Donald is a pied piper for dogs and cats. Whether she is walking dogs at the Wood County Dog Shelter or supporting the efforts of the local group For the Love of Cats, Donald is frequently in the loving company of animals.
The longtime dog walker and advocate for various dog shelters and rescues was recognized this week as a hometown hero for her contributions to the community.
She was surrounded by her group of dogwalker friends and family when David Pugh presented a certificate and $100 donation to the Wood County Dog Shelter from Modern Woodmen.
Pugh said he was intrigued by her devotion to helping find homes for rescue dogs. He and his wife Jill adopted their fourth rescue dog thanks to Donald’s social media posts to find a home for the lovable chihuahua.
“You believe in volunteer service,” Pugh said, which is one of the qualities that the fraternal, financial services organization appreciates and recognizes.
“I’m surprised and flattered by the award, but we have a lot of really great people in this organization. It’s not a single-person effort,” Donald said about the Wood County Dog Shelter.
While that is true, Donald has been one of the most dedicated volunteers and a great asset to the shelter, said Wood County Dog Warden Jodi Harding.
“She comes in whether it is raining, snowing, below zero and anything in between to make sure the dogs get time out of their kennels,” Harding added. “She will help with anything that is asked of her and goes above and beyond to make sure the dogs are as comfortable as possible while they are at the shelter.”
Her love of dogs, animals and nature was a gift from her father and grandmother who adored all canines. “I was 4 or 5 when my dad brought home a dog. It was the best day of my life,” she said. “That dog always sat next to me at the dinner table and ate a lot of green beans over the years.”
Donald was in her 20s when she first started volunteering at the Wood County Humane Society. She had seen a stray dog running loose in downtown Bowling Green and feared it was going to be hit by a car. In her effort to keep the dog safe, she discovered the humane society where she knew the dog would be safe.
She recalled going in and seeing dogs everywhere and knew she had found a happy place. Shortly after, she started her dog-walking journey, walking the dogs when she had free time.
Several years later, she was setting out some large trash when a man and his dog walked by. They greeted one another, yet almost immediately the dog started wagging her tail, whining and trying to get close to Donald. It turned out the dog had been at the humane society for six months and Donald had walked her all the time.
“She remembered me,” Donald said. “It was the best compliment I’ve gotten to this day. I did make a difference. The dog remembered me.”
For nearly 40 years, she has dedicated time and energy to various shelters and rescues including Planned Pethood, Lucas County Pit Crew and the Wood County Humane Society.
These days she usually devotes six days a week and a couple of hours each day to the Wood County Dog Shelter. She also spends a lot of time finding rescue operations that will take shelter dogs or people or families who want to adopt.
Whether posting photos and videos on social media or making phone calls, Donald is a pit bull about finding homes for rescue dogs, like the four-month-old puppy who was nibbling on chair legs and a misplaced sock during the interview.
“But she’s a really sweet puppy and will be a great family dog,” Donald said with conviction.
“In all these years I’ve never been bit. I’m respectful of them,” she said. For dogs that are scared or skittish, Donald might lay on the floor with them and play nice music like “Imagine,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” or “Fly Me to the Moon”—”They like that one,” she said. “They get comfortable and then they’ll come to me.”
In addition to the shelter dogs, Donald also cares for and walks the family dogs. Currently, she and her husband, Doug Black, have two dogs, but over the years, they have had 20 or more dogs, many hospice dogs, multiple cats, and too many foster animals to count, she said.
Without a doubt, Donald is the type of volunteer shelters depend on. “She always has a smile on her face, and you can tell she really enjoys what she does and is here for the dog,” Harding said.
