This August, we are thrilled to recognize Ron Sawicki as our Volunteer of the Month!
Ron’s journey with animals began in Bloomfield, NJ, where, as a child without pets of his own, he found joy in walking and dog-sitting for neighbors. One unforgettable experience—being led by a Saint Bernard to meet her new litter of puppies—sparked a lifelong love of animals. Ron adds that the dog came running to his house as if to tell him to follow her so “I followed her to her house where she showed me her five new puppies. That’s when I learned that I love puppy kisses. I was so proud that this loving animal wanted me to meet her new family.” Since that instilled a lifelong love of dogs, Ron adopted a Fox Terrier mix from a local shelter he aptly named Bogie, being he was a golf fanatic to be followed by a cute Maltipoo, Jake, who was originally his grand-dog but soon became his when Jake’s family situation changed.
Ron shared how he fondly became known as “the treat guy” in his neighborhood. “Every walk that I took I would have dog treats in my pocket. I knew all the names of the area dogs but only a few of the owners’ names. I started looking into volunteering and thought that my love for dogs and volunteering was a perfect fit.” We agree that Ron has been a great fit!
Now retired from a successful career in electrical engineering and formerly active as a baseball umpire, Ron sought a new purpose and found it at our Humane Society of Sumter County. He began by walking dogs and soon took on more responsibilities, including volunteering at adoption events, leading dog playgroups, advising on facility projects, and most recently joining our Board of Directors. His commitment, experience, and heart have made him an invaluable asset to our shelter.
Ron currently shares his home with Eva, a 50-pound Standard Parti-Poodle puppy he originally fostered and then adopted. He tells us “she’s full of energy, love, and just a little mischief—like any good puppy should be!”
One of Ron’s most memorable moments at our shelter was helping a terrified little white dog come out of her shell after her world was turned upside down. With gentle encouragement and patience, he helped her regain trust and joy—culminating in a splashy pool session and a happy adoption just days later because she had successfully come out of her shelter shock and showed trust in people once again.
Ron reminds potential volunteers, “If you have a place in your heart for cats or dogs that need loving, this is the job for you… You can be the difference in their life.”
Thank you, Ron, for the love, dedication, and countless hours you give to our animals and community. You truly make a difference! If you are interested in volunteering alongside dedicated individuals such as Ron, please complete the volunteer application at https://hsspca.org/apply-to-volunteer/.
