- May 1, 2024
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“Knowing that she was well loved created an urgency to find her owners, because I know if I were missing my dog…I just can’t even imagine it.”
Animal behavior specialist and Coldwell Banker Premier Properties realtor, Courtney Keppen, was doing her job, viewing property on Clermont Court, when she spotted a white female German Shepherd. Keppen assumed the dog belonged to someone in the neighborhood, but after knocking on doors she realized the dog didn’t live anywhere around. By the time she was done searching for a possible owner, it was dark outside, so Keppen decided to take the dog home with her and seek for her owner online.
“She was clearly very thirsty and had been on her own for what seemed like a few hours, if not longer,” Keppen said. “She had definitely been someone’s dog, as she was well behaved but scared, seeing that she was in a new environment. I was concerned that there was distraught family missing their dog out there.”
After placing an ad on Facebook that night, Keppen was contacted by the Flagler Humane Society the next day with the owner, and all parties met up around noon.
"At first, I was leery because white German Shepherds are popular dogs, and I didn’t want anyone trying to claim her,” Keppen added. “But the second I saw the lady’s face and the dog’ behavior, I literally let go of the leash. The lady came running at us, yelling her name, and the dog was ready to go to her, so I just let them reunite. Then, I met the lady, and she gave me a giant hug.
“It was a very rewarding experience to know that that dog is not running around in the street lost forever, but that the people have their dog back.”
After hearing the story about his sales associate, Coldwell Banker manager Tom Heiser felt compelled to get involved with the Society. Heiser instructed Keppen to inquire about anything Coldwell could do for them, whether getting money for the shelter or finding families for the animals.
“Coldwell Banker nationally is working with Adopt-a-Pet.com to hopefully adopt 20,000 animals within the next year,” Heiser said. “I’ve always had animals growing up, and I remember one night my next door neighbor’s dog was chasing a deer and got lost, so we were out for two hours in the middle of the night looking until we found him.”
With the two being avid animal lovers and pet owners themselves, Keppen and Heiser admire their company for taking part in an organization that’s near to their own hearts.
“For me it makes this company feel more like a family,” Keppen said. “Having that outlook and trying to do everything you can for animals is my passion in life. The Humane Society passes out pamphlets for training that anyone who adopts a pet,
"I’ll do a training session for free just to make sure that the success rate of having that dog stay in the home is higher. Having a company that backs that and shares the same emotions is priceless.”
“Years ago, Russell the Golden Retriever was Coldwell Banker’s mascot,” Heiser said. “We’ve always had affection for animals, because we’re all about making a house a home. Children make it home, but pets make homes too, and that’s why Coldwell got together with Adopt-a-Pet.com to try to save 20,000 animals this year.”
Coldwell Banker Premier Properties is located at 211 ST Joe Plaza Drive. For more info, call 445-5880.
