Volunteer of the Month: Tim and Jane Senke – CNY SPCA
by Mel Rubenstein
An inquiry to CNY SPCA about volunteers resulted in a quick response from Donna, the volunteer coordinator, who recommended that Tim and Jane Senke be featured in this column.
Tim and Jane met when they were in the same class at ESM High School. Call it fate if you want, but it all worked out because they have been married for 24 years, and have many of the same interests.
After high school Jane worked in banking, starting as a teller and working her way to an operations manager, and now working for the family business. After Tim graduated from Le Moyne College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management, he became the co-owner of the Senke CNY Garage Door company.
Tim and Jane grew up with pets.
Jane “always” had a few dogs and cats, while Tim mostly had cats. One day while browsing thru the SPCA website they found a picture of a dog, now known as Blaze, who was available for adoption. “We fell in love with him and decided to adopt him.”
After that experience Tim and Jane became interested in volunteering at the CNY SPCA animal shelter.
“We both love animals and thought it would be a nice thing if we could go together and help out,” Tim said.
The Senkes’ began by taking dogs for walks.
Tim explained that it is usually the same route, about a half mile to a mile walk near the shelter that usually takes about 15-20 minutes.
“Or we can take them into the play yard at the shelter and spend time with them in there,” he said.
“There are also special times, like the park event,” Jane said. “It is called Bark in the Park (gotta love it) when we go to Onondaga Lake Park and walk them for about an hour or so. We try to get a group of volunteers who each bring a dog and walk them around. The dogs have ADOPT ME harnesses on hoping to attract the attention of people on the trail.”
There is time set aside at the end when people can visit specific dogs they want to meet after the walk. This usually takes place once a month from May-October. The coronavirus has not allowed that this year, but hopefully it will begin soon.
The Senkes’ have become mentors by helping newer volunteers with dog walking questions or anything they may need help with. They have keys to open the kennels to get the dogs out for walks with the new volunteers.
“One thing that is a highlight of my experiences so far is a dog named Olaf, a real cute pit bull,” Tim said. “He had been at the shelter for quite a long time. He was so well behaved. He would just sit on his bed in his kennel and watch people walk by. He was overlooked a lot and we never understood why. Then finally he got his forever home.”
If you are ready to add a family member to your home, you can begin by reading this: To view the animals available for adoption go online to CNY SPCA. But, there’s nothing like the real thing.
“We welcome you to make an appointment to come to our shelter at 5878 E. Malloy Road and spend some time getting to know a pet in person. But first, please review the adoption guidelines online to speed up the adoption process,” Jane said.
Before COVID, you could come to the shelter during business hours and sign in and go look at the animals. Now everything is by appointment only. Hopefully, that will change soon.
Appointments are needed and can be made online. If you have an interest in dogs, email the Shelter Manager at [email protected], for adult cats, (seven (7) months and up), email [email protected].
“Adoptions are not first come first serve, they are best fit for the animal,” Jane said.
The Senkes’ suggest to check out the website for events the shelter puts on to help raise money.
There are fun events like Crafting with Pets, the Vets for Pets, and usually a golf tournament which is cancelled this year because of COVID.
Jane also helps with the Pet Finder website by adding the new available dogs and other small critters, change their status when pending adoption, and then when they are adopted.
“The staff at the shelter are great to work with,” she said. “They care so much about these animals that need a family of their own. They all work very hard every day to take care of these amazing animals. We are glad we can do our little part to help out.”
“Jane and Tim started volunteering almost three years ago, but it seems like they’ve been involved for much longer,” Donna, volunteer coordinator for CNYSPCA said. “They’ve been adopters, supporters, donors, as well as volunteers. They’re dedicated to socializing and exercising our dogs, and we can always count on them taking out the biggest, most energetic ones. They help train and mentor our new dog walkers, which is so important. Jane also volunteers from home by posting our adoptable pets on Petfinder. Their contributions to the well-being of the pets at the shelter can’t be overstated. They are invaluable members of our volunteer team, and the CNYSPCA is very lucky to have them.”
Jane and Tim Senke live in East Syracuse and enjoy traveling, going to music festivals and concerts. Jane also likes reading books about dog rescue stories, and Tim loves watching sports, taking online classes, and reading.
To recommend someone with a stellar record of volunteering to be featured in this column contact Mel Rubenstein: [email protected] or call 315-682-7162.
Submitted photo
Tim and Jane Senke are longtime volunteers with the CNY SPCA.
