Doberman Rescue of Colorado Volunteers:

Hi! My name is Catherine Maroney. I got involved in the Doberman breed 23 years ago with my first Doberman, Roxie. Since then I've owned 5 dogs myself and fostered many others. It has been a total pleasure inviting these dogs into my home to live with my dogs for a while. It's so hard to see every one of them go! My little girl, Taylor, loves the dogs too and is huge help feeding, playing with and walking them, We'll never own another breed.

I was a born animal lover. You name it; I loved it. 23 years ago I found myself animal-less. I decided it was time for me to obtain a dog for a companion and as a deterrent to the less savory aspects of life. I thought an Australian Shepard was a good idea, but a friend convinced me that a Doberman would be a better choice. I haven't had any other breed of dog since. First there was MiLady and shortly after that followed MiLord. MiLady passed and MiLord was fading, so Ebony joined the family. About a year later came Kato. During these years I bred and handled the wee beasties. I placed my grand-puppies with good homes and became a part of their families. I was known as Grandma. I laughed with them and cried with them. I taught them and they taught me. MiLady, MiLord, Ebony, and Kato are gone, and now there is Rogue. In our picture, he is about 6 months old. A happy go lucky, black and tan flying fur ball who needed another like him for a friend, and I needed a new direction for my interests in Dobermans. It was time I gave back what all my Doberman friends had given me. I had heard of Doberman Rescue before and came across an ad while looking for a dog for my Grandmother.  I offered to be a foster home and have since had several foster dogs. This has been a kaleidoscope of experiences that has enriched both Rogue's life and mine. "Rewarding" seems such an inadequate word to describe what fostering has meant to me. Yes, I am a Doberman fan.

While I truly enjoy the work I do at the Longmont Humane Society, after hearing about the Doberman Rescue, I felt drawn to it. During my childhood, my family had a pair of Dobermans - Bacchus, a male and Becky, a female. While Bacchus was patient, stoic and tolerant towards the antics of my brother and I, it was Becky who was the mother-hen. Neither of Becky’s "kids" could go anywhere or do anything without her being right there with them to make sure they were safe and protected.

I experienced and came to appreciate and understand what wonderful, loving and devoted pets Dobermans can be. Over the years I also came to understand how terribly misunderstood they often are. I feel that any dog treated with patience, love and respect can be a gentle member of the family. I think all animals can be loveable if you treat them with love and patience and provide appropriate training. And, I've had lots and lots of practice on the many, many animals I've had and loved over the years.

I continue to work at the humane society but now devote as much free time as I can to Doberman Rescue doing whatever I can to assist in placing the dogs with the right people in the right homes. And I dedicate my time to the Doberman Rescue in honor of Becky and Bacchus, who played a large part in who I am today.