Volunteer Spotlight: Paul
Paul started at Heartland in the fall of 2022. For a decade prior, he was (and still is) a valued monthly HFS Stable Supporter. As a reliable member of the Saturday morning shift, Paul focuses on the care and mucking of the goats and emus, but is always willing to pitch in where needed.
Why Heartland? For me, the best thing about volunteering at HFS is of course working with the residents. I also love the welcoming environment and how the sanctuary strives to make compassion a part of our community.
Favorite Heartland Resident? As everyone that knows me can attest, goat Hank is my ‘favorite’ resident. While I love everyone there to my core, Hank has a special place in my heart. When I found out about his story and how he was neglected and abandoned twice, I made him a promise that I was going to be his friend and see that he is never let down by humans ever again. Hank and I had a good relationship from the beginning but it did take some time for him to fully trust me. I knew that we reached the point of mutual trust one Saturday morning when I sat down with him outside in the pasture and he leaned up against me and laid down.
Outside of Heartland: Outside of my volunteer time at HFS, I enjoy hiking, spending time with my two dogs — Jack the chihuahua mix and Tula, a very energetic Boston Terrier — and Piper, a rescue from an abandoned barn cat litter. I’m also an aviation geek and one of the highlights of the year for me is to spend a few days each July at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis.
I am also the Wisconsin State Director for the national animal advocacy organization, Animal Wellness Action, and am a board member for Off the Table Farm Sanctuary in Westfield, Wis. For my primary employment, I have been an emergency services dispatcher for the last 26 years.