Volunteer Spotlight on Tom Mueller

This will be the first of many spotlights to come. The purpose of these posts is to introduce and recognize our wonderful volunteers, the first being Tom Mueller.

Tom Mueller literally fell out of the sky. I can’t remember how he first found us, but his active involvement started when he volunteered to help Ghost, a dog in need. From there, he continued to transport and foster for us. No matter what I asked, the answer was, “Sure!”

I first met Tom face to face in the parking lot of Aloma Jancy Animal Hospital. He’d come to lend a hand with an incoming transport. One of the dogs that emerged was 50 pound Shiloh! Since Shiloh’s photo made him look like a smaller dog, I guess I kind of panicked! When I asked Tom if he’d foster Shiloh for me, Tom said, “Hey, that’s nothing, I do Saints!” I was thrilled!

Not only has Tom fostered Shiloh, Emmitt, and Jasper, but he has transported many dogs to and from!

In an email from Holly to Tom, congratulating him for Jasper’s successful adoption, Tom did not toot his own horn! Holly responded with:

Tom, you make it sound like it was no big deal, but it was. There aren’t a lot of people who are willing to foster. There are even fewer who will take a dog that has issues. And there are just a fraction who will take one who displays any aggression. When I say I appreciate you, I say it knowing how special you are! ~Holly

Tom Mueller, sometimes known as simply “Big Tom”, has fostered and/or transported nearly thirty dogs over the past three years, many of which have been neglect or abuse cases. Tom is always thrilled to lend a helping hand to rescues, especially with “special cases” (aggressive, abused, ill, deformed, etc.)

A graduate of Florida State University, not many could guess that Tom has his Master’s Degree in Library Science! A native of Chicago, Tom’s first Saint was named Karma, after whom – nearly 40 years later – he named his dog rescue: Saint Karma’s Dog Rescue.

With each and every dog Tom fosters, he strives to find what he and his daughter call the “Perfect Home.” In the past he has found the Perfect Home for nearly every dog he has fostered, and continues to do so with no benefit to himself aside from the reward of knowing those dogs are happy and loved by their new parents. He is very close to each dog he cares for. Parenting (for human-children and dog-children) is more or less an art.

Aside from the dog life, Tom always enjoys a good cup of strong coffee with a good book. He loves various artists such as Joan Baez, Joan Jett, Neil Diamond, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, The Dresden Dolls (of which his daughter is proud to say she introduced to him), and Storm Large. Thanks Tom, for all of your hard work, and you can do attitude!