Volunteer >> Volunteer Spotlight

Gretchen Labau:

Gretchen works for our organization in many ways, sitting on the Strategic Planning Committee and Development Committee, as well as on the Board of Directors. As if that were not enough, she also volunteers one morning each week in the Bloomfield office, assembling mailings, catching up the filing, and helping with any other tasks that need doing.

For 34 years, Gretchen worked for the Renbrook School in West Hartford , starting out as an art teacher and finishing her career there as Director of Admissions. During her tenure, she organized student fund drives for a local animal shelter and led student discussion groups on the topic of animal welfare. Her participation in rescue work didn't end there, however. Over the years she has been a member of a dozen animal welfare organizations, both national and international. She writes letters to government and corporate officials when issues arise and contributes financially whenever possible. She was a volunteer at Animal Friends of Connecticut for over 20 years, and she is currently a volunteer at the Second Chance Equine Rescue Ranch in East Granby . In fact, she adopted a burro through Cleveland Amory's Fund for Animals as a companion to her horse!

Gretchen's longtime interest in rescue work led her quite naturally to Our Companions upon retirement, when another of our volunteers told her that we would welcome her help in the office. But Gretchen's busy "retirement: includes more than her animal rescue efforts. She also finds time to serve as a docent at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, belongs to a book club, and participates in The Saturday Morning Club, which is a writers' group. She takes courses at the University of Hartford in the President's College and watercolor classes at the West Hartford Art League. She is a former Vestry member of Old St. Andrew's Church in Bloomfield and currently serves there as Director of the Church School.

Despite her full schedule, Gretchen says she is happy to have found Our Companions, where she can help domestic animals. "I am committed to the welfare of all animals - domestic pets, farm animals, laboratory animals, wildlife and endangered species, marine life, circus animals and any others that are neglected or abused. I hope to inspire others to get involved in supporting animal welfare issues, as well."

Click here to find out how you can help Our Companions help domestic animals as a volunteer.


Previous Volunteer Spotlights

Sept 2008 Todd Johnston
July 2008 Lyn Garson
May 2008 Daryl Carbone
March 2008 Sue King
Jan 2008 Jon Phillips
Dec 2007 Angela Pugliese
Nov 2007 Sara Zinn
Oct 2007 Ian and Kim Green
Sept 2007 Fern Golensky