Humane Society of Sumter County Volunteer Trio Team Recognized for July 2025
Hope Cahusac, Tina Beckrow, and her son Brandon Beckrow volunteer as a compassionate team for the Humane Society of Sumter County (HSSC), each bringing their own unique energy and experiences to their work with shelter animals. Their shared love for animals is not just a personal passion, but a lifelong commitment, rooted in their childhoods. Growing up surrounded by pets, animals have always played an essential role in their lives.
Hope, a Florida native, Tina, originally from Michigan, and Brandon, from Virginia, each have their own beloved pets that they’ve rescued or adopted. Hope is the proud owner of two former shelter cats, Winnie and Luna. Tina and Brandon, meanwhile, share a male cat, affectionately named Boo Boo (originally Lunchbox), whom they adopted from the HSSC. The bond they all share with their animals is a testament to the deep love they have for the creatures they care for and inspire them to continue showing kindness.
Their decision to volunteer together was a natural one, as all three had always been involved in animal rescue in some way. When Hope moved to town, they realized that volunteering would be a fulfilling way to continue making a positive impact on local animals in need, especially when adopting new pets wasn’t an option at the time. For Tina and Brandon, volunteering gave them a chance to support animals while they weren’t yet ready to adopt again. But as fate would have it, it was through their volunteer work that they met Boo Boo, a serendipitous moment that only reinforced their belief in the importance of volunteering.
Their experiences at the Humane Society of Sumter County have been incredibly rewarding. For Hope, Tina, and Brandon, volunteering is about more than just caring for animals; it’s about providing love and second chances. They all agree that their most memorable experiences come from working with the “more challenging” or shy cats who have trouble trusting humans, those that may have experienced trauma and need extra love to feel safe again. It’s in these moments of connection where their compassionate efforts truly shine. Watching a scared kitty slowly learn to trust again and to no longer be fearful, is a profound and rewarding feeling for all three volunteers. Socialization through positive experiences, most importantly, ensures any shelter pets have the best chances to be adopted.
They can be found volunteering weekly at the no-kill shelter’s adoption partner store PetSmart on Wedgewood Lane in The Villages, where they clean, feed, groom, and socialize the cats and kittens. But their commitment goes beyond that as Hope also brings her passion for animals into her classroom at Wildwood Elementary School, where she, along with another teacher, partnered to assign a writing and art project, as Hope explains “where students had to write in the first person view as if they were an animal. Students were paired up and each received a picture of either a cat or dog from the shelter with a little information about them and were in charge of drawing a picture alongside their writing. The project helped show students the impact they can have even at their young age and hopefully foster a compassion for animals.” Their collaboration not only fosters compassion among the younger generation but also demonstrates the value of community outreach.
Through their combined efforts, Hope, Tina, and Brandon are making a significant impact, not only by helping animals find their new families, but also by inspiring others to do the same. Their work is a powerful reminder of how every act of kindness can create ripples of change, whether it’s through volunteering or teaching the next generation of animal lovers. Hope, Brandon, and Tina encourage anyone with a heart for animals to join the Humane Society of Sumter County. Hope summed it up for them stating that “if you have a heart for animals, then volunteering with HSSC is the perfect opportunity for you to be able to give back and help these babies find the homes they deserve. Not only is volunteering so rewarding, but it is extremely flexible with your schedule and your abilities. There is a place for you at the HSSC.”
The Humane Society of Sumter County is fortunate to have a dedicated trio of volunteers who go above and beyond in their commitment to helping animals in need: Hope Cahusac, Tina Beckrow and Brandon Beckrow, we thank you for all the acts of kindness that impact our community for the better! Together, this dedicated team exemplifies how compassion, commitment and teamwork can truly change lives — both animal and human alike. To be a part of our wonderful volunteer team, whether it’s handling the animals, helping at fundraising events, in our office, fostering a pet or helping educate our youth on responsible pet ownership and kindness, we welcome you!
Complete a volunteer application at https://hsspca.org/ways-you-can-help/. We can only save more lives with more helpers!
