When Peggy Taylor retired from a long career with the AFL-CIO in 2002, she planned to find another full-time job after just a few months off. But that plan went out the window when she began volunteering at the Washington Animal Rescue League, a recently remodeled animal shelter that looks more like a day spa for dogs than a stereotypical dog pound.
Taylor started out by walking dogs about 20 hours a week, but soon expanded her volunteer efforts and today does a variety of jobs for the organization. She works with dogs and cats that come to the shelter, guiding them from skittish animals without a home through the adoption process.
“You get to see the dogs go from being terrified or sick and wondering why they’re there to being relaxed and seeing their personalities come out,” said Taylor. “You know you’re making a difference in these dogs’ lives. You can see it in their personalities.”
Taylor cut down her hours slightly at the shelter when she started adopting dogs. Today, she has three dogs — Remy, Oliver and Zack — and often takes in foster dogs that are having trouble adjusting to the shelter. In fact, Taylor had 11 dogs in her Adams Morgan rowhouse at one point when she took in a golden retriever and her puppies.
Having time for a house full of dogs is a far cry from Taylor’s pre-retirement life, she said.
“I was once a cat person, and at some point in my life I became a dog person,” she said. “But I worked too many hours to get a dog.”
While she wasn’t always a “dog person,” Taylor has traded in a busy career to devote herself to helping local dogs find good homes.
“Every once in awhile I think about going back to work,” she said. “But I love the freedom of this and it’s very satisfying. I would really have a hard time giving this up.”
