Name:  Penny Hummel
Position: Donor Advisor

What you were doing before you came to ARL:  I’ve been privileged to work in non-profits and education for most of my adult life.  There’s something wonderful about knowing that even on the hardest of days, that I’ve made a difference in someone’s life somehow. 

Pets at home:  I don’t currently have any pets, which is weird in this industry.  I enjoy other people’s pets, and visiting with the great animals here at the ARL. Of course, working here means I never know what day I’ll meet my next pet.

Tell us about some of the roles you and your team take on to help the animals under our care. As part of the Development team, we work to raise money to support the work the amazing shelter staff does. I get to talk with people who are passionate about animals and the work we do here and help them discover ways they be a part of our mission.

How long have you been working in animal welfare? What made you want to work in this field? I’ve been working in Animal Welfare for two years. I saw the great things happening at the ARL and the focus on the human connection to animal sheltering and I wanted to join in on the important work here.

An animal you’ll never forget. How can I pick just one?  They all take a piece of your heart – from Tara, the Irish Setter I grew up with, and Tommy the cat who let me dress him up in doll clothes and give him rides in my doll stroller, to more recently, Checkers the cat who grew up with my children, and Samson the Golden Retriever who was the best dog ever. I think every pet is unforgettable in some way.

What is your favorite memory at ARL? Last summer we were hurting and battling illness in the shelter and while the circumstances may have been the worst we had faced here, when we called out for help, the response from the community was amazing.  People donated much-needed cash and supplies and even brought in food and treats for the staff.  It made us realize that we weren’t alone and people cared about what happens here.

If you could cross one thing off your bucket list right now, what would it be?  I don’t have a bucket list! But, every winter, I realize that becoming a snowbird has a bigger and bigger appeal. One of these days, it might happen and then I can plan to visit some of our wonderful donors who live in the south.

What is one thing you wish people knew about your job? I meet amazing people every day and thoroughly enjoy getting to know them.  I get to hear stories about how pets changed peoples lives and how people changed pet’s lives and it never gets old.

Any last words of wisdom? I’m a natural worrier, so I try to remember the concept of this quote: “Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” Corrie Ten Boom.