Column: Fostering shelter animals is dear to 2025 Rose Court member
A member of the 2025 Rose Court, Lisette Parker is pictured with her adopted dog, Pancake. Before adopting, her family fostered Pancake through Pasadena Humane. Lisette and her family have fostered dozens of puppies, dogs, kittens and rabbits from the shelter, giving each one a safe and loving environment as they wait for their forever homes. (Photo is courtesy of Lisette Parker)
I’m thrilled to share the news that Pasadena Humane is partnering with Hill’s Pet Nutrition for the second consecutive year to raise awareness about pet adoption in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.
Our “Welcome Home” float will honor the love and companionship that pets bring into our lives and shine a spotlight on the transformative power of adoption.
It just so happens that one of our amazing teen volunteers, Lisette Parker, was selected to be a member of the Rose Court this year. Lisette exemplifies the impact young people can have when they dedicate themselves to a cause they care about deeply.
Lisette’s journey with Pasadena Humane began when she attended preschool across the street from our shelter. “I would make homemade dog treats and pass them out to all the dogs on the weekend,” she recalls.
Her connection with animals grew from there, leading her family to become foster volunteers when Lisette was in third grade. Now, at 17, Lisette and her family have fostered dozens of puppies, dogs, kittens, and rabbits, giving each one a safe and loving environment as they wait for their forever homes.
One of the most memorable experiences for Lisette was fostering Pancake, a Chihuahua puppy who had a broken leg, was severely underweight, and had an extreme fear of people.
“Each day after school, I would take Pancake into my room and sit with her as I did my homework. All the while, the tiny dog would shake and cower in the corner,” Lisette recalls. With patience and love, Lisette earned Pancake’s trust, culminating in a joyful moment when the pup finally wagged her tail in excitement.
Pancake worked her way into Lisette’s heart and now thrives as a beloved adopted member of Lisette’s family, a symbol of resilience and the power of compassionate care.
Lisette’s dedication to fostering animals has prepared her well for the demands of the Rose Court. “Volunteering at Pasadena Humane has helped me build core leadership and responsibility skills from a young age,” she explains. Both experiences, she notes, require organization, accountability, and a commitment to community — qualities she has honed over years of service.
Passionate about making a difference in her community through volunteering, Lisette hopes to inspire others to do the same. “By sharing my experience of working with Pasadena Humane, I wish to show the importance of helping those in need, whether they have two legs, four paws, feathers, even scales,” she says.
For other young people interested in community service, Lisette offers wise advice: “It’s not about finding the time to volunteer, but about making the time.”
For her, volunteering has not only provided a sense of purpose but has also shaped her understanding of empathy, commitment and community.
All of us at Pasadena Humane are so profoundly grateful for volunteers like Lisette, whose dedication brings hope to the animals in our care. Providing second chances for animals in need is a community effort. And the most impactful way folks can make a difference for animals is by fostering or adopting.
As we celebrate the love and companionship pets bring to our lives with our float in the 2025 Rose Parade, we’re proud to showcase Lisette as a shining example of the difference young volunteers can make for the animals and in our community.
Thank you, Lisette, for all you do.
And to all of the animal lovers in our community, I hope you’ll tune in on January 1 to watch our “Welcome Home” float in the Rose Parade.
Dia DuVernet is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on November 15, 2024.
