Many years ago, I noticed that almost every story on the Oregon wire involving animal welfare quoted a Humane Society of the United States staffer named Kelly Peterson, and that she often was referred to as a former mid-valley resident.

Always on the lookout for people to write about, I tracked her down in Portland, where she still lives, and she agreed to let me write a story about her life and work. We met at Waverly Park, had about an hour of enjoyable conversation and I put together a story.

Over the ensuing years, we spoke again many times, about one animal-related topic or another, and became friends.

Last summer, she got ahold of me about a Portland-based volunteer group she had just helped start up called Fences for Fido, which builds, free of charge, fences for family’s whose dogs otherwise would have to be chained up.

The group came to Albany for a “build” in November for its first mid-valley project, and now Fences for Fido will return to Peterson’s home county on Jan. 30 with a build in Lebanon.

Kelly asked if I could help line up some volunteers — some members of the group will be doing a build in Portland the same day — and I said I’d be  happy to.

“Are you going to personally be on hand in Lebanon?” I asked her. “If so, that would help me recruit people. You’re kind of famous down here.”

She laughed and said that yes, she would be at the Lebanon project, along with her dad, Lebanon resident John Snyder.

I told her I’d run a photo of her on my blog to further assist in recruiting, and she laughed at that too, but nevertheless, here she is, with her dog, Keely:

kelly

So, if you are at all inclined in helping out a mid-valley dog and its family, please plan on attending the work party, which begins at 9 a.m. Send me an email and I’ll get back to you with more details.

Thanks in advance to any of you who can help.