Me: What did you want to be when you were a high school student?
Lisa: Honestly, a professional equestrian. I thought I was gonna ride horses professionally.
Me: That’s really cool!
Lisa: Really, it is? I think it was a pipe dream!
Me: But why did you want to become a professional equestrian in the beginning?
Lisa: Well, I loved horse’s right from childhood on up, I had to beg for riding lessons, I finally got them and a horse. Then I started showing, and did quite well. When I graduated from high school, they had a job for working students where they get in with a professional and have to work very, very hard but they learn the ropes from the ground up, and hopefully end up with some of your own professional riding abilities. But, it didn’t work out that way. It’s actually the reason why I ended up at the shelter- it was just my love of horses.
Me: What steps did you take towards your current occupation?
Lisa: Honestly, I… graduated from high school, and I don’t know how much you wanna know…
Me: Oh no, go ahead if you’re comfortable.
Lisa: I was a teen mother; I had a baby when I was very, very young. I got pregnant when I was 15 and had a baby when I was 16. It was a struggle but I finished high school and after I graduated I was just wanting to become independent, and didn’t feel at that point that I could go to college. I felt like I had to get to work and support my baby. This job for the MSPCA was posted at the unemployment office, so I just went in and applied, having a horse background thinking that it would help with dogs and cats. I had NO idea what I was getting into when I walked through the doors. I didn’t get the job and they had already hired somebody and they had a three month trial, that person didn’t work out, so they ended up calling me asking whether I was still interested in the job. And that’s where it all started. That was in 1986.
Me: Wow, you’ve been here for such a long time! That’s dedication!
Lisa: You’re too kind!
Me: Well, what kind of training did you receive for your current work?
Lisa: Most of the training that we receive is when we’re sent to different seminars and workshops so a lot of it’s self-taught. Books helped and I won’t even say videos because back in the 80’s there really wasn’t that many videos on dog training, so a lot of it was just instinctual. Then, if they’d send us to different seminars like New England Federation of Animal Shelters has an annual meeting, I’d participate. Mostly, it was just my own personal thirst for knowledge, because I showed horses and then I wanted to show dogs. But then I was introduced to the behavior aspect of it, I never ended up showing a dog, just because I was a single mom and didn’t have the ability to travel around. Although, it was a lot of self education, taking classes, workshops and seminars that the shelter would send us too.
Me: It’s so wonderful that you’ve come so far with your drive for knowledge.
Lisa: Thank you.
Me: How long have you been working here?
Lisa: Well, the MSPCA started in 1986 and when MSPCA pulled out and gave the shelter to the community, that’s when Berkshire Humane Society was formed, this was in 1992. So the employees that worked for the MSPCA stayed on and started to work for Berkshire Humane Society.
Me: It’s been so long!
Lisa: A long time, about over 25 years now.
Me: And you never get bored? Every time I see you, you’re just so happy and energetic, you must love working here?
Lisa: It’s an up and down roller coaster ride of emotions, you have good days, bad days, days where you feel like you can’t do this anymore but then something great happens, you meet somebody wonderful or you help somebody with their dog and you’re rejuvenated. It’s not an easy job.
Me: I agree, but I still love coming and seeing the dogs become all excited. It’s worth it.
Lisa: Absolutely!
Me: What was the most surprising thing for you once you entered the work force?
Lisa: To be honest, I had absolutely no idea that there was a pet overpopulation problem in the country. I mean, if you don’t get involved in the business, you’re shocked, you know especially in the 80s, where at that point about 7 million animals were euthanized in this country in shelters. I had no idea. I didn’t even know you could castrate a male dog. I knew nothing about cats, I never had a cat as a young person we had a family dog but that was it. So, really the whole dilemma of pet overpopulation was something that, you know, I just got hit with once I got involved. It was shocking.
Me: Yeah, I didn’t know about the pet overpopulation problem until this year either, I found out studying environmental science. I was honestly dumbfounded at how this problem stayed so quiet, I mean it’s never in the breaking news or headlines so naturally many people don’t know about these things.
Lisa: It’s kinda like one of those things that are just kind of swept under the rug. And if you don’t get involved or in a situation that brings you to a shelter it’s not something that you’d know about. That’s where I think if people were enlightened, maybe they wouldn’t breed every animal that they have and be a little bit more responsible.
Me: If there is one piece of advice you would give to the emerging adult generation what would it be?
Lisa: Umm….. Take responsibility for your own pets, think something through to the fullest, not only being objective about how much time and energy that you have to give to the animals. Especially with puppies, I mean you’re bringing an animal into your home that’s gonna need you and if you don’t have the time, energy or financial stability for it, then don’t do it. The fad aspect of owning dogs really bothers me, whether it’s the Rottweiler’s of the 80s or the pit bulls of the 2000s, any of the status symbols, the cool thing to have a tough dog and to breed it. My biggest advice is to probably think everything through from your lifestyle to your financial condition. Be realistic about your lifestyle and what you can offer a young animal.
Me: That’s some great, heart-felt advice.
Lisa: I wish the young people would take it.
Me: What is the most valuable skill(s) to have in order to be successful?
Lisa: Here?
Me: Well for you it could be here, or in general.
Lisa: I think the ability to listen to people, actively listen and observation skills. So many people react first and don’t always react appropriately, so, especially in this field, observation is everything. Stop, think about it, watch what’s happening and respond accordingly. Also during counseling, just listening to people and being compassionate and understanding is important because we didn’t walk a mile in their shoes so it’s easy to pass judgment. I just try my best to help them to the best of my ability than to judge them.
Me: What is the most satisfying part of your job? Was there any specific reason you chose to work in the dog kennel, like a past experience with a previous pet?
Lisa: I felt more connected to working in modifying behavior with the dogs than I did with the cats. I enjoy training and playing with the dogs, not that I don’t enjoy cats! But, it’s just a little different. Well an example of what keeps me going is this one time when I had a young lady who got a dog from someone else, but the dog ended up being aggressive and the people that gave her the dog didn’t tell her. So, she ended up with this huge problem. Unfortunately, we ended up euthanizing the dog, and I let her stay with the dog because it was important to her and she felt very connected to the way I had helped her. She wanted another dog and after 9 months we got her one, but within the year of owning him, he had a couple situations where he got into dog fights and bit people who tried to break up the fights. She called me in a panic, and she was gonna bring him back, so I calmed her down. I worked a good six months with this dog and she called me recently and left a message saying how happy she is and how it changed her whole life. It changed her whole relationship and she’s in love with her dog. And that’s the thing that keeps me going, that made me choose working with dogs over cats and that I know I can offer to the community. Sometimes, when I feel down I play that message on my voicemail, it’s so corny but it makes me feel much better.
Me: Oh don’t worry about it, I do the same with my parents’ voicemails when I miss them.
Lisa: Do you? We’re quite the funny pair!
Me: What is your worst experience at Berkshire Humane Society and how did you handle it?
Lisa: Umm.. my worst experience is the sad things. I think mostly, it’s the people that take it out on us and one situation that comes to the forefront is of one woman whose dog bit her. Long story short, she was not emotionally okay, but I felt really bad for the dog because I thought he was just misunderstood. But it was not the first time he had bit her, so I had to put him down and I felt really bad for him. He looked at me, and I felt like he was really, truly, misunderstood, but he bit multiple times. And regardless of why sometimes we can’t risk the liability and safety factor, but it killed me. You know when you look into the animal’s eyes and you can just tell that they look at you like you’re the first person that’s ever been kind to them and like they really need someone to help them.
Me: I’m so sorry. But you help so many animals everyday! You’re making a difference in the lives of so many animals and people!
Lisa: Thank you, but it’s still upsetting.
Me: What has been your most inspiring moment working here? Have you utilized this inspiration in any way?
Lisa: It’s the people I work with, and I’ve had many great young people who started as volunteers and maybe became employees. There’s a few I met as young people and one of them decided to become an animal behaviorist after working with me and she’s finishing up her masters now. I feel proud of my influence on her, and how I had impacted on someone the need for education even though I couldn’t go on to college. I’ll take any chance to help people, and this is one way I do it. People of this sort inspire me the most and keep me going. People like you.
Me: Thank you, that’s very sweet. And we’re all done! Thank you for your time!
Lisa: You’re welcome! I’m glad we actually had this chat, I feel a little light as well, sharing so much of my responsibilities. Let’s go ahead and get to work then.
Me: Sure thing!
Only after conducting this interview did I realize that I am working with one of the most passionate individuals I have come across. Lisa lights up the room when she walks in and is a motivating drive, as well as an inspiration. I am grateful that she shared all these personal details of her life with me. :)
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