Laura Karas
“What really impressed me when I started volunteering at PAWS was that they are committed for life,” says PAWS Volunteer of the Month, Laura Karas. “I've had pets all my life, and they have brought me so much love and joy. They inspire me every day to help save as many homeless pets as I can.”
Laura Karas is PAWS Chicago’s visiting groups coordinator, which is no easy feat. She manages all the upfront communication and scheduling for those interested in volunteering as a group at either the Adoption Center or Medical Center. Additionally, she is our adoption counselor coordinator, managing our adoption counselor support inbox.
Her volunteer journey at PAWS started in 2013. She had always been an animal lover but struggled finding volunteer opportunities in the suburb where she lived.
“I really wanted to get involved, so I started driving into the city to volunteer at PAWS,” says Laura. “I found getting started really easy and there are so many different opportunities.”
Laura was especially excited about our “once a PAWS pet, always a PAWS pet” philosophy.
“What really impressed me when I started volunteering at PAWS was that they are committed for life. Not only would PAWS always take pets back, but if a PAWS pet ended up at a shelter on the other side of the country PAWS would still try to go get them. I loved that!”
One of Laura’s favorite volunteer stories comes from her days acting as an adoption counselor.
“I really enjoyed following up with the adopters to see how things were going, and I had one adoption where the dog kept breaking out of the crate at night. I gave the adopter all of the typical tips and then she let me know that he liked this giant stuffed gorilla and once they set it next to his crate, he was fine. It was just a cute story, and I loved it when we could work through problems like this and end with a successful adoption,” says Laura.
Today, Laura lives in Naperville and mostly volunteers remotely. She says, “Volunteering remotely has allowed me to stay involved when I don't have as much time to head into the city, but I do miss the hands-on time with the dogs and cats.”
Thankfully, Laura has furry friends of her own—two adopted cats. The week before moving to a new home, Laura lost her PAWS alum, Tyra, to congestive heart failure. “I couldn’t bear to move alone,” says Laura. So, at the last minute, she fostered a cat named Shoestring who she adopted shortly after. Then, a few months after that, she got him a friend because he was so rambunctious, he needed a playmate.
“Both are sweet, and I love them dearly. I will always have pets because they have so much love to give and my home feels empty without them,” says Laura.
Interested in becoming a PAWS volunteer like Laura?
“I would tell future volunteers to attend an orientation and just get started. There are so many opportunities available, and you will get to work with many amazing people. Sometimes the work is challenging but, overall, it is very rewarding,” says Laura.