Leisure Pursuits
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Name:
Emily Skinner, associate professor of literacy education and director of middle grades and secondary education
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Hometown:
Grand Rapids, Mich.
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Hobby:
Fostering puppies
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Total Puppies Fostered:
94
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When She Started:
2018
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Getting Involved:
My daughter went to a Charleston Animal Society summer camp when she was 12 and came home saying we had to get foster puppies as part of the camp. The next day when I picked her up, I was prepared to foster. They had these adorable pitties that were about 5 pounds. I wondered where all the other parents were. Well, there were no other parents. It wasn’t part of the camp; they just shared the information with the kids. So, we took them home and really loved it.
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Why She Loves It:
Constant serotonin. They bring joy, and having them around just makes you happy. If I take them to the beach for an hour, I can make 10 people’s day. When else do you get to spread joy like that?
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Greatest Challenge:
Giving them back. But I know how many animals it saves, and as soon as I see them in pictures with their new families, it’s so heartwarming.
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Her Favorite Pup:
Whichever one I have in my arms!
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Community Engagement:
Fostering is how shelters save lives. It takes the entire community to really be able to save them all.