2021 January MVP: Margaret Krupa (Behaviour – Dogs Team)

Margaret Krupa has turned a lifelong love of dogs into more than 13 years as a volunteer Canine Behaviour Assistant at the Humane Society. In fact, weather notwithstanding, coming in has been very enjoyable.

Furthermore, the opportunity to come in and walk with the dogs has helped her get through the pandemic. “Coming here has been very good and very therapeutic for me,” she explained. “People think we’re great because we do the dog walking, but the animals give so much back to us. I so enjoy my days when I go in.”

“Three days a week I’m out for four or five hours, enjoying the fresh air and dealing with dogs that truly enjoy the company,” she said. “In fact, I’m sure the dogs enjoy going for their walks as much as I do.”

Margaret likes to take each dog out for 45-50 minutes each, but when the weather’s nasty, it’s a bit shorter. And Margaret says she doesn’t go home until each dog under her care gets to go for a walk that day. She will not go home until all the dogs have been out.

And while Margaret loves all dogs, she is especially fond of the larger ones. “I love, love, love big dogs,” she laughed. “The bigger, the better.” You could say she takes this approach home with her because at home she has Tucker, a six-year-old 85-pound Shepherd/Mastiff cross adopted over six years ago from the WHS.

She gives Tucker credit for helping her decide to retire from the accounts receivable section of Jeldwen Windows and Doors. “When I first got Tucker, I was still working so I would get up at 5:30 in the morning to walk him, and then get ready for work,” she explained. “I retired two months after getting Tucker. He did me a favour. He kind of gave me that reason to retire.”

She said she and a few other Canine Behaviour Assistants keep in touch regularly. “A few of us compare notes and share emails,” she noted. “Things like ‘this dog has got a new home,’ or ‘this new dog has come in.’ We’re always in touch, especially if we’ve found out something new about a dog, perhaps something it enjoys doing. We pass it along and that’s helpful with everybody. If you’re walking a dog on a regular basis you want to know as much as possible about it.”

Margaret’s position involves walking the dogs and providing the dogs with a bit of socialization and affection. Over the years, countless dogs have tugged and her heartstrings and she enjoys hearing from people who have adopted dogs from the Humane Society.

“Sometimes, when someone has adopted that was especially beloved, we’ll ask the adopters to send us an update once the dog has settled in,” she said. “And when they do, it makes us feel so good that the dog has got a good home and is happy. It’s a very good feeling.”

When the opportunities arise, she also enjoys getting out to adoption events at local stores. The WHS is not doing them now because of the pandemic, but Margaret always jumps at the jumps at the chance to volunteer. “I always do adoption events and enjoy them. People have lots of questions about the animals and about the Humane Society. I really enjoy that side of it.”

Margaret’s commitment and enthusiasm are appreciated by the WHS Behaviour Team, who said “She is super committed to the dogs, always happy to help if we have a dog needing extra attention, or shifts needing to be filled!”

Written by: Brian Kozak, Volunteer
Photo by: Jim Harvey, Volunteer