A quick run out to Blackbird Café this morning for oatmeal with raisins and a cup of coffee brought some emotional refreshment and plenty of mental stimulation as well. I saw Jeanne Sommer while I ordered, and we sat down to chat about why she loves dogs and quickly raced to her connection with animals, all the cool stuff she is working on with others, like Kim Langer at Lakeshore Paws, business-driven thinking, the real estate market, and how to communicate to other people in town who have been supporters of her personal and professional efforts like Mark Forszt, Barb Young, and Mike Langer.
Interestingly enough, spending time in Belize on a family trip meant spending time sitting and watching the shore, which turned into running around with a golf cart and feeding stray animals. That was one of the many triggers in reigniting the passion she has for animals that she had collecting strays as a kid in her garage.
Jeanne and Lakeshore Paws see the need to actively support every animal shelter or cause, because the need is so high and the resources available are strained. Her naturally high sense of urgency is driven to help these efforts by bringing additional results-oriented private organizations to the course. She works directly with others, like Molly Judd, Miranda Reeves, and Heidi Richardson on the Lakeshore Paws team, and creative folks like Kevin Judd and Sheila Eden to help get that message out.
Harley-Davidson of Valparaiso has been an early and helpful partner hosting a number of adoption events for the group at their Friday Cruise-In Nights.
Lakeshore Paws has another great event coming up on August 14th at Sunset Hill Park - Run for PAWS.
Their efforts have caught on quickly with 30 dogs placed in homes within the first 30 days, and Jeanne knows the support from the community is there, and she is excited to be racing after the need that is beyond the current supply of help these animals require. Talking to someone whose mind is always going towards what makes them passionate was as stimulating as the coffee this morning.