August Volunteer of the Month Gets the Job Done When it Comes to Adoptions!

Known fondly as the “adoption whisperer,” Jill Horvath is the SPCA of Texas August Volunteer of the Month.

Jill has an innate ability to work with some of our more challenging pups and get them adopted, focusing on dogs that have lived at the shelter the longest.

“Jill has made it her mission to help our long stay dogs get adopted,” wrote one of her nominators. “In one month, she helped two of our longest stay residents, Nash (535 days) and Diamond (816 days) find their forever homes by taking them to mobile adoption events. Jill is a fierce advocate for our animals, and truly takes the time to match them with the perfect family!”

Jill began volunteering with the SPCA of Texas in December of 2019 and has successfully mastered all levels of training, including Fear Free and behavior training.

“I adopted my first dog from the SPCA of Texas,” smiled Jill. “So, I looked into volunteering here because the SPCA is the best at what they do.”

“Jill has done an incredible job making it her goal to get our long stay babies adopted,” noted another nominator. “She dedicated weeks to desensitizing Nash to crowds of people and getting to know him in order to get him out to mobile adoptions, and as soon as her goal was reached, she came back the same day asking us who she should take next.

“The following week Jill was able to get Diamond out to a home through her dedication and commitment. Hats off to Jill, we are so lucky to have her!”

Nash’s adoption is one of Jill’s favorite memories of her volunteer work with the SPCA of Texas. “He was one of our longest residents,” she smiled. “He was only there because he was very shy. Through the work of the Foster team’s Borrow-A-Buddy program and behavior team, I was able to get him out and acclimated to people a bit. I’m so happy to say that Nash is in the best home now!”

With our recent focus on encouraging volunteers to take approved dogs to mobile adoption events, Jill jumped right in without hesitation,” wrote a nominator. “She first took Nash, our little shy but playful pup, and helped him find his forever home! Not stopping there, she then set her sights on Diamond, our longest-stay resident.

“Jill went the extra mile, quite literally, taking Diamond all the way to Waxahachie, where she found her the perfect home. Jill’s resilience and unwavering dedication make her a standout volunteer, and we are incredibly grateful for her tireless efforts.”

In her volunteer work during the summer of 2024, Jill had a special place in her heart for a loving pup named Noodle. “She was a sweet, three-and-a-half-year-old, mixed breed,” Jill said. “I liked to call her ‘best dressed’ with the spotted sox on her paws. Noodle was in the shelter for well over a year and is great with dogs and kids. While she was not on our adoption floor Noodle was available by appointment and I was always happy to show her to an adopter at any time.” (Not long after this interview, Jill got Noodle adopted at the SPCA of Texas NorthPark Center mobile adoption event!)

Volunteering at the SPCA of Texas can mean different things to many people. Jill says, “There really aren’t words to describe the passion I feel for it. The joy I feel when a dog gets a home has never changed over the last couple years I’ve been volunteering. Adoptions are my favorite—the other volunteers you meet and the staff that you get to work with every day truly lift you up when you’re having a not so good day and get to share those great moments.”

She wishes other people knew that volunteering at the SPCA of Texas is like a family and there are so many ways you can volunteer. “From dog walking, administrative support, adoptions and other areas, you can choose what fits your needs and availability,” Jill noted.

Jill Horvath has made an enormous impact on the SPCA of Texas as an organization, as well as on our pets, our staff members and on the people we serve. We see and feel it every day.

As for the impact Jill has seen or felt as a result of her work, she says, “For me, it’s the countless animals that find good homes. From watching the behavior team, to now being trained to work with behavior—seeing dogs come in so afraid initially, watching them literally change before your eyes and find their homes.

“To see people come in, the joy they feel when they walk out the door with their new furry friend. Or when the staff pulls together and gets a dog or a cat adopted—it truly is a team effort. And most importantly, when someone has lost a beloved pet and they’re coming in, finally ready to show that compassion to a new friend, to help match them up with the most perfect fit is so rewarding.”

Speaking of the most perfect fit, the SPCA of Texas staff agrees that Jill Horvath is just that—the most perfect fit! “Jill embodies our mission to find our animals the loving homes they deserve….She focuses on our most vulnerable dogs who need that extra exposure and advocates for them tirelessly….Jill has helped countless animals find their forever homes….We are so very thankful for her….Jill has been a dedicated volunteer with us for years, and her big heart and deep care for all our animals have always shone brightly….Jill, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”