Our Founder

A Legacy of Compassion

“ADOPT-A-PET – MAY I HELP YOU?” Many of you over the years have gotten to know that voice on the other end of the phone. Some of you never knew her name; some of you just knew her as Gloria; some of you knew her as a dear friend; our volunteers knew her as the foundation and pillar behind Adopt-A-Pet; and I knew her as Mom. On June 13 this year our world crumbled when my mom Gloria unexpectedly passed away. Gloria Barinholtz was Adopt-A-Pet’s founder and president, our inspiration, our strength, our leader of the pack.

After spending many years volunteering at other shelters, she founded Adopt-A-Pet in 1981 and worked like a dog the next 22 years pursuing her passion: saving innocent animals’ lives. Gloria hadn’t found a pound or shelter she could live with, and so Adopt-A-Pet became the area’s first “shelterless shelter” – a new concept based on placing animals in foster homes, rather than a shelter facility, while waiting to be adopted into permanent homes. Though many were growling that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, she was determined to make it work. Since then, through her dogged efforts, Adopt-A-Pet has placed an amazing 11,000 homeless dogs and cats into new loving homes.

She spent upwards of 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, juggling 3 phone lines, collaring new foster homes, screening adopters, showing animals, meeting with vets and giving advice to pet owners. Need a new leash on life? Lost your best friend? Gloria would answer all of these calls and make sure you weren’t barking up the wrong tree. Like a searching bloodhound, her instincts were keen. She was a master at the art of sniffing out a suitable prospective pet owner over the phone. She asked every doggone question there was. Her obedience rules could tame the fiercest and ferocious. If it’s a Labrador Retriever you want fetching your slippers, better get a fenced-in yard. If you want your new kitty to experience the great outdoors, it had better be on a harness with you at the other end of the leash! But her devotion to educating pet owners and striving for purrfect matches eventually paved the way to Adopt-A-Pet’s success.

As I was calling people close and distant with the sad news of my Mom, it amazed me that so many said the same thing: “She was one in a million.” I’d always known it, but never realized how many others knew it too. She had a heart of gold, she was the cat’s meow. She was down-to-earth, a free spirit. And she may very well have been one of the few ever who left this earth to be greeted by thousands of wagging tails and grateful meows on the other side.

So God has taken back one of his Angels – and although it seems much too early to us and we may not understand why, he must have needed her for something very important. But when you think of Gloria, don’t be sad for her. She lived a full and blessed life, leaving pawprints on the hearts of all who knew her, pursuing her passion, realizing her dream, and having no regrets. Though it is a huge loss for all of us and for all the animals she cared so much for, let her lessons live in your hearts forever. Honor her memory by being kind to ALL living creatures and leave your mark on the world by helping those who can’t help themselves - and you’ll always land on your feet!

This Ol’ Mom, she’s Number 1
Absolutely second to none
With a yak-yak, she’ll call you back
And find that dog a home,
... But now we know she was just on loan

So as I step into her shoes, I bring with me all that she’s taught me: about animals, about compassion, about life. And if I can achieve even a fraction of what she did, I will be thankful to have made a difference.

With the help of some of our awesome volunteers who have stepped up to the plate and gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that her legacy lives on, Adopt-A-Pet will indeed live on. We are blessed to have such dedicated friends and supporters. And with YOUR continued support, a little reorganization, a lot of determination, and Gloria supervising from above, we WILL honor her memory by continuing on with her life-saving work.

You may notice our new address, new phone number and new logo, but we’re still the same Adopt-A-Pet and we will continue helping the helpless and saving animals’ lives. As long as there’s a need, we’ll be there doing our part. Gloria wouldn’t have it any other way! And make no bones about it – neither will we.

Randy B, President, Adopt-A-Pet, Inc.
November, 2003