Article by Gwen Jones, Department of Family Services
(Posted 2022 September)
Barry and Rita Altman have shared many experiences over their 55 years of marriage that have strengthened their bond – raising two daughters, moving to new places, and building a life together. However, one thing that has always united the couple is their deep love of and commitment to caring for animals.
Although Barry and Rita have had many pets over the years (typically 3-4 dogs and 1-2 cats at any given time), very few were sought out. Nearly all of the animals who joined their family were rescued by the Altmans. In fact, the couple has a reputation among neighbors for being the go-to family for found animals, as Barry jokingly says, “if you find an animal, bring it to the Altmans!”
The first dog the couple adopted was a stray that Rita befriended on her college campus in Bridgeport, CT. The couple had decided to hold off on adopting a pet during their first years of marriage, but when Rita discovered that her “friend” had been taken to the local animal shelter and would likely be euthanized, their plans went out the window and they adopted Zack.
Similar circumstances marked the couple’s many pet adoptions over the years. While the family was living in Fullerton, CA, a neighbor discovered that a hamster had built a nest in his garage, so he called the Altmans. Barry and Rita went to the local pet store and bought a habitat for the hamster. After that, Fluffy lived a full and happy life with the family.
In 1995, Rita wanted to find other ways to help animals, so she became a volunteer at the Irvine Animal Care Center. Her work at the shelter included walking and socializing the dogs and helping with pet adoptions.
In 2002, the Altmans relocated to Vienna, VA. Rita, a special education assistant teacher, got a job with Fairfax County Public Schools, while Barry, an engineer, worked in operations and general management for a small defense contractor that specialized in servers designed to operate in harsh environments.
Rita recalls driving down Maple Avenue when they first arrived, seeing all the shops and restaurants and being impressed by how convenient everything was. The couple, who are vegetarians, also appreciate the number of restaurants nearby that offer vegetarian fare.
Rita began volunteering at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter in 2004. She and three others became the “Monday Crew,” walking and caring for dogs. Although the work was hard, Rita enjoyed taking care of the animals and spending time with shelter staff and her fellow volunteers. She said, “It’s a lot of fun working with and being with like-minded people. You always have a common bond and can talk about your experiences.”
In 2011 Rita joined the all-volunteer board of the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (FFCAS), an independent, nonprofit fundraising organization that supports programs and needs at the shelter that otherwise would not be provided. The programs include dental care, lifesaving medical care, parasite prevention, and free collars, tags and leashes for every adoptable cat or dog. The FFCAS recently paid for trees to be planted at the shelter to serve as a sound barrier against the traffic noise on Interstate 66. Rita is currently the Vice President of the FFCAS.
Barry joined Rita in volunteering at the shelter but took on a different role. He works in customer service – manning the phones, answering questions, and assisting visitors. After he retired, Barry missed the camaraderie he shared with his colleagues and feels that volunteering at the shelter has helped fill the void. He also loves witnessing the animals leaving with their new families, saying, “Every time you see one of those little guys go out the door, it’s very gratifying. I feel like I’m making a difference.”
Rita eventually had to give up working with the dogs at the shelter because it was too physically taxing, so she found other ways to serve animals. She volunteers with Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, a nonprofit organization that provides pet adoption in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Her work primarily involves transporting animals to medical appointments and delivering medicine to animals in foster homes.
She and Barry also enjoy helping several animal rescue groups transport dogs and cats from high kill shelters located in southern states to shelters in northern states where they can be placed in rescues and foster situations, and eventually find their forever homes. Although this work may sound like an exhausting road trip, the rescue groups have made it easy for volunteers to participate by breaking the drive into shorter legs, so the process resembles a relay race. Instead of passing a baton, volunteers meet at predetermined locations to “pass” the animals along to the next driver. The animals are walked, fed, and watered during these stops to reduce their stress.
Three years ago, the couple also decided to foster animals. Fostering means bringing an animal into your home temporarily to give them a break from the stress of the shelter. The Altmans have grown to love the experience. “They (the animals) come to you shy and withdrawn – not used to having any space or love. You see their personalities emerge. It is a very rewarding experience,” said Barry.
Of the three pets they currently have, two are foster fails, meaning the couple decided to adopt the animals rather than return them at the end of the foster period. Oscar, a one-eyed cat arrived at their home and hid under their bed for two weeks. When he finally emerged and warmed up to the couple, they decided to adopt him. Now he sleeps in their bed every night and likes to cuddle on the couch. They fostered their dog Tessie for six weeks following a surgical procedure. During that time, she had to stay immobile, so she spent most of her time in one of the Altman’s laps. By the time she recovered, the Altmans had fallen in love with Tessie and adopted her.
Although Barry took a break from volunteering at the shelter during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned at the first opportunity. He anticipates being even busier since the shelter resumed walk-in visitors in July.
Rita is also looking forward to a busy fall. The FFCAS will be hosting one of their large annual fundraisers on Monday, September 19. The Putting for Pets Captain’s Choice Golf Tournament will be held at the Chantilly National Golf and Country Club in Centreville. Single golfers or groups of up to four players can sign up for a day of fun activities including 18 holes of golf, food and drinks, raffles, a silent auction and more. All proceeds from the event will benefit the animals at the shelter. For more information about the event, visit ffcas.org.
Rita is an enthusiastic supporter of the shelter’s Pet Assistance and Wellness Services (PAWS) Program’s Pets Services Events, which take place several times a year in vulnerable communities in Fairfax County. For these events, a mobile team from the shelter is dispatched to offer services such as rabies shots, microchips, spay and neuter registration, parasite prevention, and behavior assistance for free.
Barry and Rita offer advice to anyone considering volunteering with Fairfax County Animal shelter. Take the commitment seriously. If you sign up, you need to show up – the staff and the animals are counting on you. If you are concerned about the physical demands of the job, keep in mind that not all tasks are as strenuous as walking dogs. There is always a need for volunteers willing to wash dishes and do laundry. Finally, Barry says, “If you love animals, you will make lifelong friends of the animals. Just being with them is heartwarming and it makes such a huge difference!”
To learn more about the shelter, including how to volunteer, visit FairfaxCounty.gov and search “Animal Shelter.”
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).