Finding Homes for Abandoned, Abused Dogs Keeps This Volunteer Going

Diane DeChant’s first encounter with rescue dogs was so painful she couldn't stomach food for a week.

“It was so heartbreaking, I lost 10 pounds in one week because I couldn’t eat,” she said about her reaction to reading up on rescue dogs and puppy mills. “I had no clue as to what goes on in rescue. I was researching different articles and didn’t even know puppy mills existed. You think you know about animals until you read these stories.”

DeChant, of Avon Lake, had just adopted two dogs she had rescued and it inspired her to want to do more for homeless dogs.

So she volunteered to be a foster parent for abandoned and abused dogs found by  Love-A-Stray, an Avon Lake-based no-kill animal rescue organization.

“It was real close to Christmas 2005 and I got a call,” about a dog that needed foster care, she said. The dog, Fiona, immediately bonded with DeChant’s three other dogs, a poodle, a Chihuahua and a hound mix.

“I didn’t have her but a week and fell in love with her,” she said. “Every time someone called about adopting her I was sick to my stomach. After a few weeks I called Love-A-Stray and said I couldn’t stand it and I wanted to adopt Fiona.”

DeChant's family now includes five dogs, and while she isn't adopting any more, she will still be a foster parent if needed. Her work with Love-A-Stray, however, goes beyond fostering and adoption.

Love-a-Stray founder Connie Field gives high praise to DeChant's contributions over the last six years.

One volunteer job led to another and another

“Diane joined Love-A-Stray early on when we were developing the Dog Division in 2005,” Field said. “Love-A-Stray primarily focused on cat rescue before Diane joined the group. Diane was instrumental in the Dog Division’s growth by lending her Avon Lake Company, , as a home base 'office' for Love-A-Stray, which serves as a donation drop off as well."

DeChant handles paperwork for Love-A-Stray in addition to being an adoption coordinator for the organization’s Petfinder listings. She is also a foster parent, takes dogs to the veterinarian, event coordination and helps maintain the city's dog kennel. 

“Diane wears a lot of hats and a lot dog hair,” Field said.

For DeChant, the satisfaction is in helping the dogs. Love-A-Stray helps find homes for hundreds of canines each year.

“What’s most satisfying is helping in many ways to get unwanted homeless, often scared and unhappy dogs into a forever home with a great environment to grow and be happy,” she said. “They should be able to be dogs and not be scared.”

Hard luck dogs need extra love

Finding homes for those dogs is not always easy. 

“A litter of puppies knows no bad,” DeChant said. “But we have adult dogs that have been hoarded that have never seen grass. Some are so introverted they don’t know how to wag their tails. They’ve been found sick, scared and emaciated on the streets.”

DeChant said it could take five times longer for these animals to come out of their shells.

“I really takes a family that understands what these animals have been through,” she said. “It takes a very special family.”

Still, the reward of seeing a dog adjust after finding a forever home is invaluable.

“They are finally wagging their tails, they are happy,” she said. “Those are the stories you love to hear about.”