JANUARY VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: MARTY STEELE

When they say rescue takes a village, they’re not wrong! Have you ever wondered about what goes on behind the scenes in the rescue world to get our animals? Thousands of dogs and cats are saved out of shelters each year and transported to different rescues throughout the country. Many of the animals we save come from a wonderful organization, Lancaster SPCA in South Carolina. We’ve been working with this shelter since the beginning to save and get our furry friends from SC to CT and everything is made possible thanks to one man: Marty Steele.

​

Marty and his wife, Mikayla, got involved with fostering and helping their local shelter over a decade ago. They eventually both joined the Lancaster SPCA board and Marty’s role as a transporter began. Marty volunteers his time and travels the nearly 750 miles to us from Lancaster, SC, and always has a smile on his face. After stopping by us in Connecticut, his trip continues up the coast, with Vermont often being his last destination. There are many months when he does the trip multiple times in order to continue saving animals.

​

Over the past two years, he has driven 100K+ miles using the SPCA transport van and has even used his own personal vehicle on occasion. He has been to North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and all over his home state of South Carolina.   

​

So, with an operation as big as this, what does it exactly look like? Marty shares, “Transport generally starts around 6PM the night prior when we begin loading up all the animals at the shelter. I’ve traveled with as little as one dog and up to 50 cats! As you can imagine, it can get pretty stinky with puppies and kittens! Many stops are made along the way to clean throughout the trip.”

​

He continues to say, “My first stop along the route is usually the Virginia rest area to walk the fully vaccinated dogs and let them go to the bathroom. It’s just me so this could take a while depending on how many I have but it also helps to keep me awake. Coffee breaks help too but knowing I have precious cargo is the true driving (no pun intended) force of the whole operation. I never stop to sleep until all the dogs and cats are safe with their rescues and then I will find a hotel to crash at. I try to make the animals ride as short as possible.”

​

What Marty does is definitely not easy but what motivates him is thinking about all the animals, especially those that looked like they had no chance, and seeing how their lives have changed. In the words of Marty, “These are the wins!” He goes on to say, “While there are many, I have two that inspire me and always come to mind...Buddy Bones and Ferdinand. Both pups are now living it up in Arizona after enduring a prior history of abuse and neglect. They serve as a good reminder that sometimes on your worst days, you can find something to smile about.”

 

While Marty has done hundreds of transports yearly, one of the most special ones involved a freedom ride road trip from South Carolina to Arizona with his wife. Not only did Mikayla come, but they also brought along one of their dogs, an adopted German Shepherd named Onyx. Mikayla reveals that Marty is also known for taking wrong turns on the way home and ending up in beautiful places to explore or a stream to fish in. 

 

Marty is married to his high school sweetheart and the two have more animals than they care to count…ha! In the free time that he does have, you can find Marty fishing or hiking somewhere looking for a good trout stream. 

​

​

FEBRUARY VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: DANIELLE VARNEY & ANNIE ASCHER

Danielle Varney and Annie Ascher began fostering in October 2023 when we posted an urgent plea online for a medical foster after a pair of kittens were diagnosed with ringworm, which happens to be contagious to both other animals and people. Danielle, who works in the medical field, didn’t hesitate for a moment to step in immediately and foster this brother & sister duo, despite the long and complex course of treatment. To date, they have fostered six cats/kittens with HFAR and 11 others from another animal rescue organization over the past year and a half.

 

Fostering has not only been a rewarding journey for Danielle and Annie but also for their three teenage sons. Danielle shares, “Fostering allows us the opportunity to save lives while being rewarded with fuzzy cuddles. Our kids like the idea that they are helping animals that don't otherwise have a home. Also, our friends are always jealous and love to come and visit, so fostering equals being popular! Jaclyn has been super supportive and supplies us with all we need to be great fosters.”

 

Danielle and Annie are hoping to eventually adopt one of their fosters and are looking to also expand to dog fostering. “Fostering is a great way to enjoy these furry friends without making a commitment. Then if you find your furry soulmate, you get first dibs! Be ready for a few “foster fails,” but do it because it helps keep them off the streets and alive.”

Danielle and Annie live in Bethel with their three boys and have rescue pets of their own: a dog named Tali and a cat called Louisie. They enjoy finding fun things to do with their kids and having one-sided conversations with their pets.

​

​

MARCH VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: SUZANNE FURIA

Suzanne Furia joined Happily Furever After Rescue in the summer of 2023 after we put a desperate plea out for help online to save an abandoned cat that was living on the streets in Bethel. She jumped right into action and has been a tremendous asset to our organization ever since. Suzanne is a lifelong animal lover and as soon as she moved to Connecticut in 2007, her fostering journey began. To date, she has fostered five cats for HFAR and countless kittens for DAWS.

​

“I love being part of a network of compassionate people in my area who are willing to welcome homeless pets into their lives and give them a second chance,” shares Suzanne. “Happily Furever After Rescue has enabled me to meet new people while helping animals at the same time. It has enforced my legacy to my children through their participation, which is to always be kind to animals and help as many as you can.” Suzanne loves being able to watch her foster cats and kittens blossom before moving on to their furever homes. Her favorite part of fostering is watching the families meet and fall in love with the cats right before her very eyes.

​

Suzanne exclaims, “Everyone should foster! Nothing is more rewarding than providing love and care to a homeless or abandoned animal. They are so appreciative and the love they give back is unconditional. There is nothing in the world like it and nothing that makes me happier!” We won’t say it’s easy because like many of us, Suzanne is a “foster fail” of her very own! Spike, who she fostered as a kitten, is now 15 years old and going strong! 

​

When Suzanne isn’t volunteering her time by helping animals in need, she enjoys going on long nature walks and spending time with her family. Fostering pets has become a bonding experience for herself and her two children, Nick and Noelle, as they assist and love the kitties just as much as she does.

​

​

APRIL VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: KRISTINA NELSON

Kristina Nelson started volunteering with Happily Furever After Rescue in January of 2023. After suddenly losing her soul dog in December 2022, Kristina’s house felt very empty and quiet. While she was scrolling on Facebook one day, she saw a plea for a dog named Sally who was very shut down in the shelter after losing her owner. She was “code red,” meaning she was scheduled to be euthanized as her time was up. Kristina shares, “I noticed that the shelter location was near my Grandpa in North Carolina and I considered it as a sign from my Grandma who had passed telling me I needed to help her.” 

​

From the moment Sally hopped off the plane in Connecticut, Kristina knew in her heart that she wasn’t going to be able to let her go. That same year, she then fostered a tiny, 8 lb. chihuahua named Darla and well, just like with Sally, she never left either making Kristina a two-time “foster fail!” Now that her home is complete, Kristina helps out with temporary fostering when needed.
 
“The best part of fostering is being given the opportunity to help save a life. Not only did Sally need to be rescued, but I was going through so much in my own life that I needed her just the same. Sally has come so far and with the addition of Darla, it's been fantastic. They both came right into a home with two cats and didn't pay any attention to them. They all snuggle together at times too – it’s just so sweet,” Kristina exclaims. 
 
While Kristina encourages others to get involved with fostering, she does remind everyone that it’s a big commitment and that these animals all deserve time, patience, understanding, and lots of love! Kristina’s pets and her 18-year-old daughter, Mady, are her top priority. She enjoys taking the pups for walks in downtown Bethel and spending time relaxing on the couch with all four of her pets at home. 

​

​

MAY VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: HANNAH BARNETT

Hannah Barnett joined Happily Furever After Rescue in May 2022 and has since fostered two dogs and four cats. She had met the founder, Jaclyn, years back as they’re both in the education field. In addition to helping directly with our animals, Hannah is one of our amazing adoption counselors, reviewing and processing applications. She is always so eager to get involved within the organization!
 
“Fostering has helped me teach my two young daughters about loving and respecting animals. We love and care for them until their furever family comes along. That has been an important lesson in responsibility and a real passion for my girls and me. Even my husband, Nick, has come around to fostering and I occasionally spy him talking to a kitty or trying to teach a dog a command with treats. For someone who never had pets, Nick has come a long way in this process as well,” shares Hannah.

There are so many rewarding aspects of fostering but the many “firsts” are what make it all worth it…that first snuggle, kiss, paw shake, etc. Seeing the trust of the animals unfold right before your very eyes is such a gift. Hannah says, “I love learning from Jaclyn as well. She has so much knowledge regarding how to approach, handle, and care for these animals that have been through so much and it's helpful as a foster to be able to reach out and ask questions when needed.”

Not only is Hannah a volunteer, but se’s also a “foster fail!” Her favorite memory thus far has been finding Briggs, a sweet tabby cat. Sadly, Hannah lost her beloved cat named Chexie very unexpectedly, and at a young age, back in 2022. The loss was devastating to Hannah and her family. That very same day, Briggs was brought into a kill shelter down south and Hannah knew she wanted to help another cat in honor of Chexie. Her intent was to foster several kitties until she found the perfect one to keep but Briggs turned out to be exactly what she was looking for! 

​

Hannah explains, “If you love to love, fostering is for you. It's a way to give back in waves; you may never know the effect you've had by fostering a cat or a dog in need. By assisting the rescue in saving these animals, you are providing a future family with a new best friend and ultimately changing not only the animals but also the human’s lives.
   
When Hannah isn’t volunteering, she enjoys baking, reading, and is a true crime junkie tuning into podcasts weekly, if not daily. In the Spring and Summer months, she enjoys gardening and making/canning her own sauce, salsa, etc.

​​

JUNE VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: THE KOVALIUKAS

The Kovaliukas family joined the Happily Furever After Rescue team last fall. Mom, Edita, shares, “Our kids have been begging for a dog for awhile, but we weren't quite ready for the full-time commitment. Volunteering and fostering seemed like a perfect compromise so we decided to get involved!” To date, the Kovaliukas’ have fostered two dogs. 

​

 Although they’ve been fostering for less than a year, they have found helping animals in need to be incredibly rewarding. “Volunteering has been a great way for our two children to learn firsthand about the responsibility involved in caring for a dog. Witnessing a scared or shy foster blossom into a happy, confident pup ready for their furever home is a truly heartwarming experience for the whole family. Witnessing their transformation and knowing you played a part in it is truly special,” says Edita. 

​

The Kovaliukas say that fostering is a win-win! You get the companionship of a wonderful dog, and you're also helping to save a life. Full-time work keeps them busy, but as a family of four with two kids in elementary school, they always find time for outdoor adventures. Walks, hikes, and exploring nature are their shared passions, and they love to travel whenever they get the chance.​​

​

​

JULY VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: TALIA ANASTASAKIS

16-year-old Talia Anastasakis started volunteering at Happily Furever After Rescue in September of 2023 during our second annual Bark in the Park: In Memory of Tyler. She started volunteering as a way to earn some community service hours for school and knew she wanted to do something to give back to the community.  

​

Talia shares, “As a lifelong animal lover, HFAR was the perfect place to volunteer! There are so many things I love about volunteering here — talking to families, hearing stories, being around the animals, etc. However, my favorite part would have to be seeing adopters find a new furry friend to join their family. As someone who has two dogs of my own, one being a rescue, I know firsthand how these animals can help humans become better people as well as giving them a furever home where they’ll be safe and loved.” Since she started volunteering, Talia has helped at many of our community events and has also assisted with processing applications as an adoption counselor.

​

Talia often volunteers at Caturday at the Library, a monthly program designed to encourage reading while also giving children the opportunity to socialize with our kitties. “I love the Caturday events and being able to witness families and children meeting adoptable cats and kittens. I enjoy running the craft table as Jaclyn always brings an art activity for the kids to do. Watching the children play and read to the cats never fails to make me smile.”

​

Happily Furever After Rescue has given Talia the opportunity to become more involved in the community. “To those looking to volunteer at their local rescue, I urge you to get involved! Anyway you can volunteer makes a huge difference…from volunteering at events to doing applications from home, every contribution counts! And besides, the feeling of being a part of an organization like this is so fulfilling and rewarding,” Talia says.

​

This fall, Talia will be going into her senior year of high school and plans to major in the engineering field when she goes to college next year. Outside of school, you can find her working at her family’s business (Famous Pizza), listening to music, or hanging out with her friends and family — especially her two dogs: Rudy and Margo!

​​

​

AUGUST VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: LISA TASSONE

Lisa Tassone and her daughters, Aurelia and Piera, began their fostering journey in the spring of 2022. Lisa shares, “My daughters kept asking for another pet so I suggested fostering instead. We applied with a few organizations; however, Jaclyn was so wonderful and communicative right off the bat that we decided to follow through with fostering for her. I loved that she was local and the story behind why she started HFAR.” To date, Lisa and her girls have fostered 11 kittens. 

​

Fostering is a wonderful opportunity for families and an incredibly rewarding experience. It teaches empathy, responsibility, adaptability, commitment, and is truly lifesaving work. “Fostering has been great for all of us, but especially for my daughters. Not only do they get to cuddle adorable kittens, but they also learn life skills like accountability, managing their time to take care of cat chores, and most importantly the act of giving back and kindness. It has also allowed them to learn the value of being selfless when it comes time for the kittens to find new homes, knowing they are doing the best thing even though it’s hard to see them go,” explains Lisa.
 
Most recently, Lisa took on the challenge of a litter of five kittens who had previously been living outdoors. At first, they were scared and would retreat to any place they could find to hide. With a lot of love and patience from the Tassone family, they blossomed into amazing cats and all found wonderful furever homes. “I love seeing the silly personalities that many of these kittens have. One of my favorite memories was watching this one kitten we had climb up on my daughter’s shoulders and constantly play with her hair…it brought giggles to my girls and purring happiness from the kitty,” Lisa said.

​

Lisa is a busy single mom running a restaurant and raising two beautiful girls. They live in Bethel with their cat, Clementine, and in their free time love the outdoors and nature.

 

 

SEPTEMBER VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: MINDI SANGER

Mindi Sanger was first introduced to Happily Furever After Rescue through her (and our) friend/volunteer, Stephanie, back in 2020. One night while she was visiting, Stephanie’s brother, James, brought over his (and Jaclyn’s) foster dog, Fletcher. Fletcher was one of our dogs with a heartbreaking past. He had been used as a bait dog and had scars all over his body and mutilated ears from being attacked. Mindi shares, “It broke my heart to see such a sweet soul in such horrific condition. I knew that I wanted to help these poor innocent animals find good homes where they never had to worry again.” Since joining our organization, Mindi has been heavily involved with our events and has been a wonderful addition to our team.

 

“What I love most about volunteering is watching timid animals come out of their shell. I’ve seen firsthand the difference fostering makes by allowing dogs and cats to go into homes as opposed to being in a kennel in a loud shelter. They truly become a whole new animal and it makes such an impact. It is a huge privilege to watch these animals transform,” says Mindi.

 

Volunteering with HFAR has changed her life in the biggest way possible. Mindi explains, “It may be a selfish reason, but I feel better about myself and life in general. Getting to be part of an organization like HFAR has made me feel more useful in the world and I feel like I have a purpose. When I see one of our animals who has been in the rescue for a while get adopted, it brings so much happiness to my heart. Animals do not have a voice, so we have to be it for them. Being involved with this nonprofit is healing for my soul.”

 

Being that Mindi has been involved for a few years now, she was there for our first annual Bark in the Park: In Memory of Tyler event, and actually knew Tyler personally. “The turnout was amazing! All these people, from different walks of life, came together for the same reason, to help animals. From the vendors to supporters to the volunteers, we were all there to help HFAR and support a wonderful cause. It was such a special way to commemorate Tyler, too!” She has been an enormous help this year with planning Bark in the Park 2024, which will take place on September 21st.

 

Mindi has become a true advocate of animal welfare and continues to spread the word daily about the importance of adopting and fostering. She believes it is one of the most rewarding and selfless things you can do. Getting to know other people who volunteer is a perk also. You get to encounter all these great people, help out animals, and feel good so it’s a win-win situation. While there is some heartache involved, the good far outweighs the hard times that may come with it. Mindi encourages others to call their local shelters and rescues to get involved by volunteering, fostering, or donating. Volunteers are always needed and Mindi has enjoyed every second she has been with HFAR.   

 

When Mindi isn’t volunteering, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and is a huge A Nightmare Before Christmas and Harry Potter fan. While she loves cats and dogs (especially pit bulls), frogs and sea turtles are her all-time favorite animals. Her friends and family mean everything to her, especially her pets. Mindi had a cat named Iggy who she adopted as a kitten. She had him for 10 wonderful years before he passed away last summer. She recently adopted a two-year-old orange tabby named Harry "Opie" Winston who is full of shenanigans and cute as can be!​

​

 

OCTOBER VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: KIRSTEN CIANCI

Kirsten Cianci joined the Happily Furever After team this past July. She learned about the rescue from her friend Miranda, who has been fostering cats with HFAR for a few years. After Kirsten lost her cat Zsa Zsa this past February, she knew she wanted to do something to help others in need. Kirsten shares, “Although I wasn’t ready to adopt yet due to the loss in my heart, I knew that I wanted to have animals around once again and to share and receive the love that their companionship offers so fostering seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

 

To date, Kirsten has fostered one dog named Tootsie, who is a real sweetheart. This was quite the experience for a first-time foster as Tootsie came to us with a prior injury that required extensive surgery (unknown to us at the time). Kirsten was there every step of the way without hesitation, from the consultation to surgery and now to her recovery. “It has been a great first experience, so I hope for there to be more dogs or cats that come my way. I took the foster plunge, and I forgot to dry off afterward so now I have officially caught the foster bug,” Kirsten exclaims!

 

Since volunteering, Kirsten has enjoyed the company while knowing that the animal’s best interests are always in the front of her mind. It makes her feel proud to help such an organization and a great cause. Furthermore, all the other volunteers she has met along the way give her the peace of mind that everyone involved in the rescue shares the same compassionate, like-minded philosophy.

 

“HFAR has brought the joy of animal companionship back into my home and life; it has helped heal my heart from the loss of my own pet. After I lost my Zsa Zsa, it was difficult for me to even be around other animals while dealing with that grief. HFAR helped me process that heartache and fully find joy and purpose in loving and caring for animals once again,” Kirsten says.

 

Kirsten has wanted to get involved even further and recently attended and volunteered at Bark in Park: In Memory of Tyler for the first time. She states, “It was a beautiful day! Seeing all of the dogs wandering around, the cats cuddling inside, and the people smiling was so heartwarming. There was such joy and positive energy throughout the entire space. Honestly, it was such a blast that it didn’t feel like work or volunteering at all!”

 

When asked what she would say to those looking to volunteer or foster, Kirsten answers, “To borrow the Nike slogan, JUST DO IT! For the longest time, I kept dilly-dallying between my desire and motivation to actually do something. I was so glad I finally did and it was the classic moment of, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”

 

In Kirsten’s free time, you will likely find her either at a coffee shop with an oat milk cappuccino and a good book preparing for her next book club discussion, or hiking a trail out in nature. Kirsten has often told her family that instead of a spirit animal, she has a spirit essence, and they are waterfalls - as such, she has visited most of the major waterfalls in Connecticut. She is also an avid cornhole and spikeball enthusiast and a Dungeons and Dragons kobold (tiny dragon) during her leisure time.​

​

​

NOVEMBER VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: KAITLYN FURRER

Kaitlyn Furrer got involved with Happily Furever After Rescue in 2023 when we answered her plea for help. Kaitlyn’s friend, Nick Petrone, found a tuxedo cat who was left abandoned at a local parking lot. “HFAR was the only organization that offered immediate help without knowing me, Nick, or this sweet kitty. It only took one phone call, and they quickly jumped into action, making a vet appointment, providing all necessary supplies to Nick, and helping to find this sweet kitty a loving home. The story had such a happy ending as the cat, now named Oliver, found a furever family with other pet siblings. I will never forget how HFAR accepted my phone call that day and dropped everything to help Oliver. They truly saved his life,” Kaitlyn shares.

 

To date, Kaitlyn and her husband, Urs have fostered four kittens; two twin gray tabbies, Steve & Alex, affectionately known as “the gargoyles,” and currently a bonded pair of brothers, Bolt & Beckham, a.k.a “the squeaks.” The squeaks earned their name from the adorable sounds they make, and with the gargoyles, if you turned your back for even a moment, they would take food off the counter and start growling like little monsters. The boys ended up going to a great home and were adopted by a local well-known musician who Kaitlyn actually ran into earlier this year. She still gets updates and pictures of the cats and is happy to know that they are doing well. 

 

When Kaitlyn first moved to Redding, CT about five years ago, she felt very alone. Once she adopted her cat Mitty in 2021, her love for cats grew, and she turned to fostering. Kaitlyn says, “Fostering has made my house chaotic at times but has also filled it with so much more love than I could have ever imagined. There is something about having kitten energy around that makes you remember all of the beauty around you.”

 

Not only is Kaitlyn involved in our organization, but she is also on the Board of Directors for another local animal shelter that we have both been a part of. She remains an advocate for the voiceless, and we are so grateful for all her support. “Without fosters, so many animals would be left alone and abandoned. Good karma comes to people who give. Whether you want to foster, adopt, volunteer, or donate supplies, do it! Fostering will bring so much joy and tons of laughter into your life,” Kaitlyn explains. “While the team at HFAR may be small, we are mighty!”

 

Kaitlyn is a practicing attorney at a firm in New York. Aside from fostering and loving on her own cats, she enjoys golfing, skiing, yoga, and spending time with her husband who patiently supports her love of cats and fostering.