Below is an interview with Rhonda Copeland (aka Vision Runner), a blind 45 year old from Montana. She plans to run 36 miles each week for 34 weeks. But, the mileage makes up a virtual run to Burbank California, where one of her favorite shows, The Ellen DeGeneres Show takes place. Rhonda is also running to raise at least $30,000 for the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization. Read our interview with her below:
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into running to raise money for guide dogs for the blind?
Rhonda: I was diagnosed with RP over 12 years ago, and have been slowly losing my vision over the years. I have also been a runner for 17 years. Running is my passion, and that was something I didn’t want to give up. In Sept of 2008 I started a blog about being a blind runner. It’s about overcoming obstacles and envisioning a new reality.
The way I got into running to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind was I wanted something to challenge me in my running. I was healing from a severe case of sciatica this spring, and needed some motivation. So my partner and I came up with a virtual Run Over to Ellen’s. It’s a 1,222 mile fund-raising event that will take me 8 months to complete with the goal of raising $30,000 for the “Guide Dogs for the Blind” organization. I don’t need the use of a guide dog right now, as I get along okay with my white cane, but there are a lot of blind and low vision people who, without the use of a guide dog, have lost not only their sight, but their sense of freedom and ability to be independent as well. I know how important it is for me to be independent, and I wanted to be able to help others have that too.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with your running-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Rhonda: I guess the secret to my running is that I enjoy it so much. I do things to keep my running fun and new, like this virtual Run Over to Ellen’s fund-raising project to raise $30,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind. The challenge of running well beyond what I thought I could accomplish in a week, to the thought of actually getting on the Ellen TV show are all motivating to me!
I have always run for enjoyment, and I’m not a competitive runner, however I have competed in several race events over the years, including finishing a marathon, and a half dozen half-marathons, plus other races. I think all my running throughout the years has gotten me to where I am today, running more miles in a week than I ever thought I would want to, and not only that, but continuing to do it as my vision deteriorates more and more to the point where I have to run with my white cane.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Rhonda: I guess what makes me different from other runners out there is that I am running with a white cane weaving back and forth across the path in front of me. Running is supposed to be one of the easiest and simplest of sports, and for most people, it is. But for me, it has become quite a challenge every time I head out the door to go for my run. I can’t just head out to run wherever my feet take me, I have to plan ahead and run on controlled paths, and I mentally have to be on top of my game, no runner’s haze for me. I can’t afford to zone out while running. I have to concentrate very hard on what’s around me all the time.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Rhonda: Well the best thing about dogs is that they love you absolutely unconditionally. We should take a lesson from them in that respect. And of course puppies are the cutest thing ever, and they just have to make you laugh.
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Rhonda: Well right now my work is to run! And I love to run. But more importantly, I feel that I can actually make a difference in the world. That is why we set up this fund-raising project for Guide Dogs for the Blind to be a grassroots sort of thing. If everyone gives just $1, they too can be a part of making a big difference in the world. It’s about a lot of people giving a little to make a big difference!
K9 Cuisine: Tells us more about the charity you’re running for.
Rhonda: Guide Dogs for the Blind is a great charity. All the services provided by “Guide Dogs for the Blind” to the blind and low-vision recipients are at no cost whether it’s the dog or the guide dog training or alumni services or retirement of the guide dog…There is no charge to the recipient. It costs quite a bit to raise and train a dog to become a guide dog, but the service that they provide is invaluable to the individual who receives one.
K9 Cuisine: What are your future plans related to helping dogs?
Rhonda: I don’t know at this point, I’m still in the middle of this project…Maybe I’ll do a Run Over to Oprah’s! LOL
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Rhonda: I was born and raised in Montana. I had 33 years of good eyesight, but over the past 12 ½ years I have been losing my vision to RP, a genetic eye disease. But that hasn’t kept me from doing what I love to do, and that’s run. I did have to give up driving, riding my bike, and various other activities that I enjoyed, but I was determined not to have to give up on my running.
I have a blog over at RunnerInsight where I am updating with new posts three times a week, mostly about being a blind runner. I try to keep it inspiring and motivational, because even though we may not all have a physical obstacle, we all have some kind of obstacle or barrier or issue that we need to face in life. My strong belief is that it’s not what happens to you that matters, but what you do with it that defines your success in life. I am also in the process of creating a video workshop on How to Make Running More Enjoyable. So watch for that, it should be available before the end of the year, if not sooner.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the organization?
Rhonda: Check us out at www.RunOverToEllens.com, that’s my fundraising project website. My blog is at www.RunnerInsight.com and the donations page is at www.FirstGiving.com/VisionRunner.
Below is an interview with Pam Townsend of the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County, MD
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into pet rescue?
Pam: I’ve loved animals–especially dogs–for as long as I can remember. I grew up with a dog, Boots. My parents purchased her at a pet store (long before we knew better!) for $12 when I was in second grade, and she lived almost 18 years.
One of my biggest disappointments as a young working adult was not being allowed to have pets in my apartment, so as soon as I got married and my husband and I bought a house with a fenced yard, we adopted two dogs–Boris and Natasha–and have been sharing our lives with dogs ever since.
Over the years, I’ve donated to various animal welfare organizations like the ASPCA, American Humane, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Hearts United for Animals, and the National Wildlife Federation. At some point–about 6 or 7 years ago–I just decided I wanted to do something more “hands on” and to have some sort of tangible impact at the local level. I’d heard about the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County so I checked out the website and went to a volunteer orientation. Since then, I’ve fostered 14 dogs, produced the organization’s newsletter, and been elected to the board…first as a member-at-large, then as vice president.
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with your organization-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Pam: As a small, all-volunteer-run non-profit organization, the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County can only be as successful as its volunteers make it. Their investment–in terms of time, skills, motivation, and commitment–is the key.
We are fortunate to have as our president a woman named Tamela Terry who has set the bar high in terms of all of those elements. Despite a full-time job, two children under the age of 10, and various family health challenges, she has always made the SPCA/HS a priority, turning it from what was once essentially a “hobby group” into a well-respected, financially sound force for change in the community.
Tamela heads a board of equally committed volunteers, each of whom takes responsibility for various duties, projects, and activities. For example, one of our board members handles neglect/cruelty calls, another manages our foster/adoption program, while others focus on fundraising and volunteer outreach and training.
But an effective, committed board isn’t enough. Other volunteers serve as adoption show coordinators, run and assist at monthly low-cost shot clinics, provide homes for foster homes for shelter dogs, staff exhibits at special events, send thank-you notes to donors, and much, much more.
In addition to fostering and producing the newsletter, I handle much of the marketing and public relations efforts, which included producing a photo book called Black is Beautiful: A Celebration of Dark Dogs to entertain and inform people about Black Dog Syndrome, and raise money for the SPCA/HS (more about that later).
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Pam: The short answer is “pretty much everything!” The longer answer is their ability to live in the moment, their absolute exuberance, their affection, their diversity (what an amazing array of sizes, shapes, colors, personalities!), their resiliency (so many who have been abused or neglected are still friendly, affectionate, and responsive to a kind word or touch), their wet noses, the way they groan in ecstasy when you fondle their ears just the right way, the way they express their joy and enthusiasm by wagging and wriggling their bodies, and perhaps most of all, doggy “kisses.”
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Pam: The neatest thing about my volunteer work with the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County is that it lets me combine my passions for dogs, interesting and enjoyable people, and my skills in the areas of writing, PR, marketing, and photography-all in the cause of improving the lives of animals in my community. I love developing creative ways to promote the organization and get across messages about such important issues as spaying and neutering and the difficulty black shelter dogs face in getting adopted.
One example is a print PSA we ran in a local newspaper to promote free spaying and neutering for the pets of limited-income county residents. The theme was “Tough Guys Don’t Need Testicles!” A second effort featured a mini-poster-called “Out with the Trash” (which is what happens to thousands of unwanted pets each year)-that volunteers could print and display at libraries, pet supply stores, etc. (I’ve attached pdfs of both FYI).
My biggest labor of love has been the book Black is Beautiful: A Celebration of Dark Dogs. As I became involved in animal welfare and rescue, I discovered that black dogs are the hardest dogs for shelters to find homes for-a situation often referred to as Black Dog Syndrome. Some of the reasons suggested for the difficulty in placing black dogs-especially large ones-have been their association in mythology and folklore with evil, bad luck, and death; even in modern times, the scary, dangerous dogs in movies are often large and dark (think Dobermans chasing Gregory Peck in “The Omen”). Many people think black dogs’ expressions are difficult to read or that they are boring looking. They don’t photograph well in most shelter/kennel environments, and if they’re not outgoing and right up at the front of a cage, they’re easy to pass by.
Anyway, as someone who has lived with black dogs for more than 18 years, I wanted to show other people how beautiful these canines are. So I developed an 8-inch-square, 72-page book with 34 color photos of black dogs, each with the accompanying statement “Some black dogs are…” and a word or phrase related to the photo. It opens with an introduction explaining the plight of homeless black dogs and concludes with the statement, “But all black dogs are…beautiful.”
In addition to getting people to look at black dogs differently, to appreciate their attractiveness and diversity, and to give more thought to adopting a black dog if they’re looking for a new fur friend, I wanted to raise money for the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County so all profits go to the organization. Black is Beautiful is available online at the SPCA/HS website (pgspca.org/store).
The other great thing about this work is meeting and networking with other animal lovers. These include representatives of other animal welfare organizations, including the Washington Animal Rescue League, Washington Humane Society, and Maryland SPCA, the adopters of my foster dogs, some of whom have become friends with whom I keep in touch regularly, owners of retail operations like the Big Bad Woof in Takoma Park, MD, and Paws Pet Boutique in Annapolis who are committed to supporting the efforts of local animal welfare organizations, and lots of other people who share a common interest-like the woman who helped me organize a “Black Dog Brigade” to march in a community Labor Day parade. My life is richer for having interacted with these individuals!
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet rescue industry going?
Pam: I wouldn’t presume to predict where the animal rescue “industry” is going, but I can say where I’d like to see it go. Basically, the animal rescue industry exists because the historical “animal control” function in America needed help and, in some cases, change. Gone are the days of the “dog catcher,” when homeless animals on our streets were a problem to be managed by the most efficient or inexpensive means. We’ve learned that catching and killing extra animals is not a good long-term strategy, and that even aggressive adoption efforts are not going to make a dent in the problem. Animal rescue groups have stepped in to give shelter animals another way out, and it’s a good effort, but it’s not enough. The future of animal rescue lies not in rescuing more, but in finding a way to stem the tide of animals in need of rescue! Spay/neuter is the key. We need to stop the animals from being born in the first place, and at the same time, we must work to improve the shelter systems and public education on animal welfare issues.
And to do all that, we as rescuers have to mature and grow into much more than simply people who are passionate about animals. We have to think strategically and plan well. We have to behave professionally and run our organizations in a businesslike manner. We have to be excellent communicators with high standards and strong ethics. We have to put aside our differences to cooperate on issues (like spay/neuter) that we can all agree on. And we have to find a way to make the issues we care about translate for everyday citizens, politicians, and business leaders…undoubtedly by making a dollars-and-sense connection and by proving that our values and behavior involving animals are inextricably linked to our society’s quality of life overall.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
Pam: We plan to stay on the course we started five years ago, when we began an active effort to transform our organization into one that does more than just rescue animals one furry face at a time. We redesigned and modernized our website and logo, and we began putting in place a series of standard operating procedures for our group. We emphasized high ethical and quality standards for our program and our volunteers, and made organizational changes where necessary to implement those, even though sometimes it was painful. We’ve worked hard to professionalize and educate ourselves, and we’ve strengthened our animal welfare partnerships in the DC metropolitan area and nationally. There are so many wonderful professionals out there who we can learn from and emulate, and working together is so much more productive than toiling in isolation or getting mired in discord.
From financial management to policy decisions to program management, we’ve worked hard to create a stable, sustainable and strategic organization, so we’re not constantly worried about where next month’s resources are coming from or repeatedly getting bogged down by the ‘crisis du jour’. Having achieved such things, we will next move to expand our reach and our sphere of influence within the local business community, with the citizenry, and with the public leaders. We want to drive progress and change, being a force for good in the lives of local companion animals and the people who care about them. In short, we’ll continue rescuing animals one furry face at a time, while we also work on the big-picture changes that will reduce the number of animals who need rescuing.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and your organization?
Pam: People can learn more about the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County on our website: www.pgspca.org. They can also sign up on the website for periodic email alerts and information.
