MEET OUR TEAM OF TEEN EMPLOYEES
Behind the scenes, on the other side of the fences here at WagsInn, there is a special team helping us take care of the dogs — and we'd like you to meet them — our terrific teen employees! If you made their acquaintance in person, you would discover that each one is a treasure. You will not run into a nicer group of young people — brimming with kindness, responsibility, compassion, perseverance, and boundless energy.
We have been employing students at WagsInn since 2010 in a program that we developed to provide local kids from the South Charleston area with after-school jobs. The teens we hire are class presidents, active in sports, love being outdoors, are level-headed, keep up good grades, and get glowing references from their teachers. Many are 4H members, or belong to Future Farmers of America ("FFA"), and are no strangers to hard work. And of course, they all LOVE dogs — that's a job requirement!
Our student workers arrive at Wags when classes are over for the day — between 3:00 and 4:00 — and perform a check-list of tasks until doggy bedtime around 8:00 or 9:00. They take groups for walks, feed their furry friends, and administer meds to those dogs that need them. Their chores include sweeping, mopping, washing dinner and water bowls, scooping poop, and cleaning canine suites. Along with a supervisor, they get everybody out for "last potty" of the night, make sure all the dogs are settled, and every head counted, before saying goodnight and "lights out." That's a description of their "regular" responsibilities, but they will tell you that there is no such thing as a "regular" day at WagsInn! Every dog is an individual, every situation is unique, and because dogs live very much in the moment, every activity, whether it's with boarders or rescues, means that no day is ever the same. And of course, they will certainly admit that the best part of the job is, "getting to love on puppies!"
You will meet our current team, Madison, Taylor, Aubrie, Payton, Paige, and Hailee, coming up in this blog. We asked each of them to complete a questionnaire about themselves and their experience at WagsInn. Some of their comments ring true for everyone here — their love for the dogs, their sense of community among the WagsInn family, and their joy at seeing one of our rescues adopted into a loving forever home. They all say that they love making connections with our boarding guests, and even more so, they cherish the special bonds they develop with our rescues. In their interviews, each one expressed their appreciation for the fact that rescues live like part of the family at WagsInn until they are placed in adoptive homes — and that no dog is surrendered to other shelters. They wanted everyone to know the importance of that.
For these teens, working at WagsInn often represents their first real employment. "So much better than a fast food job," they tell us, and they are quick to declare that they learn teamwork, time management, working toward a common goal, communication, persistence, determination, and a great work ethic. For us, the learning goes both ways. Our student employees are valued members of our Wags team. They collaborate with us and teach us a lot, too. We listen to their voices when they make astute observations about day-to-day operations, or bring forward objective ideas about interpersonal issues.
We are so proud of our young team — and apparently they get a lot out of working here. Many who have graduated and gone on with their education and careers will stop by in the summer to see us. We are ALWAYS happy to see them!
And now, here is our Teen Team:
HAILEE:
At WagsInn since: 2017 — Hailee joined us when her best friend, Payton, who was working here already, suggested she apply for an opening.
Studying: Early Childhood Education ("ECE") at Springfield Career Technology Center.
Plans: To attend University of Cincinnati to major in ECE; to come back to WagsInn on weekends and holidays.
Activities: President: Family Career and Community Leaders of America ("FCCLA"); member of Young Life.
Best thing at WagsInn for her: "When everyone gets here, we all talk about the previous shift and then get busy with walks and our other tasks." Mostly, "I get to spend all day loving on puppies!" Hailee says that she will never forget the day she met our rescue Josephine and all her puppies, and her heart was stolen by little Felix and Oscar -- that's Oscar Hailee's holding in the photo.
PAYTON:
At WagsInn since: April, 2017 — Payton heard about WagsInn from her mom who works at a vet clinic where Wags takes some of the rescues.
Studying: In high school right now.
Plans: To attend Morehead State University in the fall of 2018 to major in pre-veterinary medicine. After MSU, Payton plans to get her degree from Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine in the hope of becoming an equine vet.
Activities: National Honors Society, student council, 4-H, and basketball.
Best thing at WagsInn for her: "I've met some great people who have become my good friends, and I get to spend all day with dogs, which makes my day automatically ten times better." She says she loves all our boarders, but her favorite moment was when she met Stitch. "She makes my day every time I see her!"
PAIGE:
At WagsInn since: March, 2016 — Paige is Lori Wolcott's niece. She started working at Wags when she was 16 and looking for her first job.
Studying: Currently, she is in high school, senior class of 2018, and also attends Clark State earning her license as an EMT.
Plans: To work at WagsInn until graduating from Wright State University and obtain a National Paramedics with Level II Firefighters Certification.
Activities: Golf, Bowling with the varsity team; Paige also had a four year internship at Ohio Valley Medical Center in Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy.
Best thing at WagsInn for her: "You get to enjoy the outdoors, grow special bonds with boarding dogs and coworkers, and best of all see rescues get adopted." Paige says she has too many good memories to pick just one as a favorite, but added, "We all genuinely care about the well-being of each dog here. Owners (who board their dogs at Wags) can leave here happy, knowing that their dogs are in good hands."
MADISON:
At WagsInn since: June, 2015 — Madison is also Lori's niece, and her brother, Taylor worked here before she came on board.
Plans: Going back to school in the fall with an open heart for new adventures
Activities: Madison likes the outdoors, taking her dog Avery (a Wags adoptee!) on hikes, working out and building relationships with the dogs and people at WagsInn.
Best thing at WagsInn for her: Madison says that her favorite moment came when she adopted Avery, one of Josephine's famous puppies. She had grown attached to him while taking care of him every day and was delighted when she could call the little guy her own. She says, "I love all the rescues here like they are my own. We treat every dog — rescues and boarders — like our own dogs. We spend so much more time with them than at most kennels."
TAYLOR:
At WagsInn since: August, 2014 — Taylor is Lori's nephew and said that he heard about WagsInn at family functions, which gave him a perfect opportunity to ask for a job.
Studying: Biology at the University of Cincinnati
Plans: Taylor plans to apply to veterinary school when he graduates and hopes to wind up in a clinical setting. He hopes to establish a rescue organization or become involved with one, and also hopes to do vet visits with our rescues in the future.
Activities: In addition to working at Wags, Taylor delivers pizza for a small business in Cincinnati.
Best thing at WagsInn for him: Taylor loves to see how the rescues transform from their arrival at WagsInn to their readiness for adoption. He says that working here has taught him to "read" a dog's emotions based on their body language — a skill that he says, "I will always be able to use even without realizing it." For him, great moments are, "When a rescue is adopted. It is such a warm feeling seeing the dogs get a second chance with a loving family in a forever home." At Wags, "We try our best to maintain an inclusive environment, while fostering (a dog's) specific needs. I think this sets us apart from other facilities."
AUBRIE:
At WagsInn since: September 2017 — Aubrie heard about WagsInn from her brother Aiden and decided to apply for a job here.
Studying: In high school currently.
Plans: Going to college in the fall to study accounting.
Activities: Involved in Spirit of Southeastern, ("SOS") a fundraising and community service group at Southeastern High School; Aubrie also plays soccer.
Best thing at WagsInn for her: "A favorite moment was getting the dogs in after last potty in a giant rainstorm — Maddy and I dried them all off and then had to run through mud puddles to the front barn." Aubrie says that it's fun to work at Wags and that it is fun for the dogs — boarders and rescues — "they get to roam around, play with other dogs and be comfortable, just like home," she adds
So, now you have met all the terrific personalities taking care of the dogs — and having great experiences that last through their working lives — and beyond. Thanks to all of them for the great work they do here at WagsInn.
