Fifteen-year-old Amanda Plaugher is one of Old Dominion Humane Society’s (ODHS) youngest volunteers, and the role she fills as “Puppy Pawty” coordinator is one of the rescue’s biggest responsibilities. The year-round parties are an integral part of raising money for the rescue dogs, and the time and organization she dedicates to the task has made them a success. The Spotsylvania teen began volunteering when she was just 12. Not one to shy away from a big task when it comes to her love of dogs, Plaugher started running the parties when she was 14.
“I thought helping out with the ‘Puppy Pawties’ was a wonderful opportunity, and it gave me something to do when I was unable to get to the facility since I’m not able to drive yet,” she said. “I never imagined the parties would grow into such huge popularity and that I’d be practically running it all. It’s just a really incredible experience.”
The party planner extraordinaire, who has planned 76 parties since the “Puppy Pawties” started in 2022, is booking them well into June already. She puts her heart into every facet of planning the events, including responding to emails from families who are interested in holding parties at the rescue facility and answering their many questions. She provides them with information about the puppies, sends pictures of the party space and collects the information for their particular events.
Once that part of the job is completed, Plaugher coordinates with other volunteers to decide which puppies will be at each party and assigns volunteers to help run them. The parties are hosted nearly every weekend of the year, and Plaugher and her team of volunteers are always on hand to ensure the puppies are being gentle with their guests and the area is kept clean throughout the parties. When guests choose party packages with gift boxes included, it’s Plaugher who makes sure they’re assembled and ready for the party. Lastly, she’s responsible for collecting payments and getting feedback from the guests to make sure everything went smoothly.
To put the “icing on the cake,” Plaugher is working on a second birthday party for a nine-year-old girl who was the first person to hold a party at ODHS. After experiencing a unique and fun-filled event, she’s marking her birthday with a celebration surrounded by puppies once again.
“I haven’t narrowed down what I want to do in the future, but it’ll definitely have something to do with helping animals,” said Plaugher, whose family adopted Maxx, a rescue from ODHS, in 2021. “My parents are very supportive of all the work I do with ODHS, and my mom even works alongside me in helping with the ‘Puppy Pawties’. Plaugher, who is homeschooled, is in the 10th grade.
ODHS Puppy Parties are held in the community room, where the tiniest residents of the rescue are housed. The parties include an hour of puppy playtime for guests during a two-hour event. The one-of-a-kind events’ proceeds go to ODHS’s dogs and their care, such as food, supplies, spay/neuter and everything they need to ensure they’re healthy and happy until they find their permanent homes.
Learn more at https://www.olddominionhumanesociety.org/puppy-parties.