Person of the week: Joan M. Fish
[+] Enlarge.Courtesy of Anthony A. Calderoni
Joan M. Fish of Shillington with her greyhounds Tucker, left, and Knight.
Age: 64.Address: Shillington.Family: Brother, John V. Mintz, Mount Penn.Occupation: Formerly worked for Humane Society of Berks County, Reading, and CNA Insurance, Reading.Making a difference: In 2002, Fisher adopted two retired racing greyhounds from First State Greyhound Rescue Inc., Blandon. Just a few months later, she started volunteering for the organization, which specializes in finding permanent homes for greyhounds rescued from dog racing.The rescue, which was formed by a group of people at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire 10 years ago, has offices located in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey and plans to celebrate its 10th anniversary this October.Fisher said she has had dogs all of her life but only became familiar with greyhounds over the past eight years. Since mid-2003, Fisher has been helping with the rescue’s meet and greet events.During these events, rescue volunteers and greyhounds available for adoption visit local pet stores, community and senior centers and other area businesses, providing opportunities for the public to learn more about the breed and the organization’s mission. She also helps with the greyhounds at the Renaissance Faire.”Most people do not know anything about greyhounds,” she said. “They’re couch potatoes. They’ve done their running, and they have lived in horrible conditions.”Fisher explained the rescue staff places most of the rescued dogs in foster homes until they are matched with an appropriate owner. People wanting to adopt a greyhound must fill out an application which the staff reviews and uses to find a suitable match between owner and pet. The organization also serves as a resource for owners after adoption.”These dogs have been raised in crates, stacked on top of one another,” she said.”They are only taken out of their crates for a few moments a day to race,” she explained, adding they have never been in houses or walked on carpet or grass. “A greyhound has never, ever had a home,” she said.Fisher had the idea to publish a cookbook entitled, “Chow Hounds Cookbook,” which includes recipes for people and pets. Proceeds from book sales benefit the rescue.Fisher also volunteers at St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, Whitfield, where she makes rosaries. In past years, she volunteered at the Animal Rescue League in Mohnton and with the local Sierra Club and the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 131, Reading.Rewards: “You take an animal that has never had anything good in its life and you give it a forever home,” she said. “And that’s where our collective heart is with First State Greyhounds, to find them forever, loving homes.”Advice to others: “Choose a group that does something that you care about and if it’s animals and you can’t afford to give money your time is valuable,” Fisher explained. “I would give my time to something that is close to my heart.”Recommended by: Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein, animal advocate.- Compiled by Jill E. Sheetz