Andrea Farley is Dayspring’s Administrative Coordinator, welcoming people who come in to the front office. Often, she brings a foster dog with her to work, to be spoiled better socialized. The comfy pillow and water bowl in the corner by her desk have seen many occupants, and some have even found their forever homes with Dayspring people.
Below, in her own words, is the story of Andrea’s commitment to dog rescue:
When I was growing up, I had three dogs that I loved dearly. Bear, was a German shepherd puppy that my dad bought for us when I was three years old. A couple of years later, we found a black lab mix on the side of the road. It was the middle of winter in Chicago, and he had been hit by a car, left for dead and frozen to the road. We found him and took him to the vet and thankfully he made a complete recovery. No one claimed him so we adopted him and named him Boots because he had white on his paws. Shortly after that, we got Buster. He was a smaller, older dog and his owners could no longer keep him so we took him in too.
Bear, Boots, and Buster were my very best friends. They were my constant companions through my parents’ divorce, my mom’s remarriage, moving, changing schools and all the other challenges that come with growing up. They were loving, loyal, and always there for me even when it felt like no one else was.
When I was 11, my mom got divorced again and we had to move from our house into a tiny apartment. My mom told me the devastating news: we could not take our dogs with us. As heartbroken as I was, I made up my mind to find new homes for my best friends. I asked friends, teachers, family members, whoever I could talk to, if they could take at least one of my dogs. But one day I came home from school and my dogs were already gone. Without warning, my mom brought all three dogs to the pound. I never got to say goodbye and I never saw them again. My most loyal companions who never let me down were gone for good. I had let them down in the worst possible way.
That was a defining moment in my life and is why animal rescue is so near and dear to my heart. I will never get over what happened to Bear, Boots and Buster. But I can help other animals who still have a chance.
I have been involved with animal rescue in some capacity for my entire adult life. Over the past two decades, I have volunteered, donated, adopted and fostered. I’m sure it will continue to be a personal mission of mine. That is why I often have a foster dog with me in the church office
I am so thankful to work at Dayspring, where my mission and love of animals is completely welcomed and supported. If you have room in your heart and home for an animal in need of a second chance, please let me know.
Andrea can be reached in the church office at (480) 838-1446 Monday through Thursday between 9-2 or by email.