Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Carole
Sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin with heartbreak. And sometimes, the best way to honor someone we’ve lost is to carry forward the love they left behind.
For Labradors and Friends volunteer Carole, that journey began with Cindy, a Great Pyrenees she had hoped to adopt. Although that adoption wasn’t meant to be, Cindy’s passing would ultimately open the door to something extraordinary.
Encouraged by Laura B., Carole joined Labradors and Friends in August 2023, beginning a rescue journey that would change her life and the lives of dozens of dogs.
What began as a way to honor someone special became a remarkable commitment to rescue.
63 foster dogs. And counting.
The Dog Who Made It Personal
Ask almost any rescue volunteer, and they’ll tell you there’s always that one dog who leaves an unforgettable mark.
For Carole, one of those dogs was Flower.
Flower was terrified when she arrived in foster care. She needed patience, understanding, and, most importantly, someone willing to let her discover that she was finally safe.
Carole gave her that chance.
And then came a moment that made all the uncertainty, patience, and hard work worthwhile. Flower felt safe enough to lie on Carole.
“THAT was the best feeling ever.”
That moment didn’t happen overnight. It took months for Flower to learn to trust, and her journey toward a forever home wasn’t easy.
Flower was returned twice, each setback another reminder that finding the right home sometimes takes time. But Carole never stopped believing in her.
Today, Flower has a family who loves her, quirks and all. And for Carole, knowing that the frightened dog who once struggled to trust finally found her people makes every difficult moment worthwhile.
But Flower’s story has one more beautiful chapter.
Her adoptive family understands just how special the bond between Flower and Carole truly is. In fact, they’ve even included a provision in their trust that, if anything should happen to them, Flower is to return to Carole.
For a dog who once struggled to trust anyone, that’s quite a testament to the love and security Carole gave her.
Flower may have found her forever family, but she’ll always have a place with the person who first taught her it was safe to love.
It’s a simple moment, but anyone who has helped a frightened dog learn to trust understands just how extraordinary it is.
For Flower, it was a step toward feeling safe. For Carole, it was a reminder of why every dog deserves someone who won’t give up.
More Than a Foster Home
While fostering 63 dogs in just over three years would be an incredible accomplishment on its own, Carole’s dedication extends far beyond opening her home.
She’s one of those volunteers who seems to be everywhere, quietly making things happen behind the scenes.
From transporting dogs from shelters and Acton to attending adoption events, walking and bathing dogs, and helping with fundraising alongside Michele, Carole is always finding another way to help.
She also coordinates Fi trackers and microchips, helps with grant applications and corporate donation outreach, tracks dogs at Anaheim Hills and Vinjon’s, manages and distributes supplies to foster families, and shares photos and social media updates to help dogs find their people.
Some of these jobs happen in the spotlight. Most don’t.
But every single one matters.
Because rescue isn’t just about the moment a dog leaves a shelter. It’s about everything that happens afterward, and the dedicated people who make those second chances possible.
The People and the Dogs
When asked what keeps her coming back, Carole’s answer says everything about the community she’s become part of.
“The people I get to work with in rescue and the dogs, that’s what keeps me coming back.”
It’s that combination of compassion, teamwork, and shared purpose that makes an all-volunteer organization like Labradors and Friends possible.
There are difficult days in rescue. There are unexpected challenges, long drives, medical emergencies, and moments when the need seems endless.
But there are also moments like Flower learning to trust. Dogs finding families. And friendships built around a shared determination to make a difference.
A Legacy That Lives On
Perhaps the most meaningful part of Carole’s story is how she describes the connection between Cindy’s passing and the dogs who have found refuge in her home.
“The loss of her life gave 63 dogs a chance at my house.”
It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful tribute.
Sixty-three dogs who had a safe place to land. Sixty-three opportunities for healing, hope, and a new beginning.
And one volunteer who turned a painful loss into something extraordinary.
Carole, thank you for every foster dog, every transport, every event, every behind-the-scenes task, and every time you’ve said yes when a dog needed someone.
Cindy’s legacy continues through the lives you’ve helped save, and we’re grateful you’re part of the Labradors and Friends family.
Every yes changes a life. Sometimes, it changes 63.