Meet Lisa Smith (Parker) | Executive Director and founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Smith (Parker) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I believe risk taking as important to help push ourselves personally to the next level and within a business setting. Those leaps may seem like they lack foundation, but if you have done the proper steps, you will find your standing on solid ground and rewarded because of it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I had a passion and it became my profession. I find myself very fortunate in that regard.
I think we are set apart from others because I did not take the time to look at other business models surrounding what I did. I acted intuitively and it has worked out very well.
Parker’s animal rescue hopes to be a business model for other rescues, both regionally and nationally someday.
It’s not always been easy because trying to find foster homes is extraordinarily difficult in this area because it’s so small. I also believe we have given our followers such faith that we will take care of the animals that many of them do not step up to help Foster. I would like to break down some barriers and let folks know that without them saying yes to fostering, animals will not make it out of overcrowded areas to come to our wonderful program. We are actually in a Foster crisis right now and hardly anyone is stepping up to invite these poor animals into their homes. I would love to turn around the “I can’t Foster because…” into “I can!” We have every justification for not fostering covered and we can help set folks up for success.

What I have learned along the way and most folks don’t realize is that my job is dealing with people 99% of the time. It’s a high touch people program and we love what we do.

I would love more people to understand that what we do requires 100% of our attention 100% of the time. We work extremely hard with each and every animal and human foster to create success. What goes into placing a foster dog or puppy in a home takes the upmost dedication, but we believe every dog should be entitled to the basic needs of being able to feel safe and show their true personality to be matched with a forever home!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, I’m pretty much a mountain girl so we would head north!
I would want them to see all of the Hot Springs in the area and climb some peaks and spend some time in our beautiful forest.
We have so many wonderful restaurants in the downtown area. It would be eating and drinking our way through the day and then spending time in the mountains. Or is it the other way around?!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My recognition would go to the animals who have inspired me to be a better person. I know we always need to do better by our furry companion friends. Their willingness to forgive and love has always inspired me.
I would also give a shout out to my coworkers, Kea and Wyllow for keeping me on track and organized.

Website: http://parkersanimalrescue.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/parkersanimalrescue

Facebook: https://facebook.com/parkersanimalrescue

Image Credits
Wyllow Hildner