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Monday, August 17, 2009
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Fostering matters of the HART EVERYDAY PEOPLE Staff Writer Jan Germann has a big heart that's especially vulnerable when it comes to homeless four-legged creatures.
A retired teacher, Germann moved to Gull Lake in 2005 after she retired from the White Bear Lake School District, where she taught high school English for 36 years.
"I retired and moved here that weekend," she said. "I think it's perfect. I love the winter up here. I love the solitude and beauty."
Germann and her oldest sister bought a small, run-down cabin on Gull Lake in 1988 because they loved vacationing in the area, but found that it was difficult finding accommodations that would accept dogs.
In 1998, Germann's sister was diagnosed with cancer and died two weeks later. As she neared retirement, Germann decided to remodel and add on to the cabin, just as she and her sister had plans to do.
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Jan Germann (center) and fellow Camp Have a Heart volunteers Haley Henning (left) and Ryann Lynch hugged pets available for adoption at Heartland Animal Rescue Team. Germann started the camp this summer to teach children about animal care and training. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Now, Germann and another sister, JoAnne, live in the home along with many furry friends. They have three dogs, two cats and are currently fostering two feline families for Heartland Animal Rescue Team - one mother cat with three young kittens and another mother cat with six kittens.
Germann has turned her garden room into a cat nursery for older cats and kittens and a storage room into an area for cats with young kittens.
Germann has been a HART volunteer since 2006.
"I've pretty much done everything (at HART)," she said, including greeting visitors, driving animals to other shelters, helping with fundraisers, cleaning and walking dogs.
Last month Germann was elected president of the HART board of directors. She continues to run the animal shelter's educational programs for children where she visits schools and leads day camps for children.
Jan Germann
Education: Macalester College for her bachelor's degree and St. Thomas for her master's degree in teaching the gifted and talented.
Pets you had growing up: Dogs, cats, a hamster, 11 rabbits, a parakeet, a turtle and fish.
Pet you'd love to have: A black standard poodle named Chaz.
Favorite TV show: The Closer.
Favorite book genre: Mysteries.
Favorite author: Janet Evanovich. "I laugh all the way through her books."
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Last week Germann ran the first-ever Camp Have a Heart day camp for 8- to 11-year-olds. There were 17 youths in the class who learned about dog care and training, cats and small animals, including ferrets, rats, hamsters, snakes, rabbits and birds. They also toured Lakeland Veterinary Hospital for a lesson on animal health.
Germann said she hopes to host the camp every summer. Until then, Germann is planning Young at HART, a monthly two-hour program for 4- to 11-year-olds which will start Oct. 3 and run the first Saturday of each month through May. Children will go on an "imaginary safari" and will learn about African animals, Germann said.
"It's nice to have a place to volunteer in the winter when we're not as busy," Germann said. "It gives me a chance to teach again."
The Germann house is always bustling, filled with both four-legged and two-legged guests.
"Everyone knows, if you don't like animals, don't come to the lake," she said of the many friends and family members who enjoy spending time at their Gull Lake home.
The Germanns bought a pontoon so the dogs could go boating with them and even purchased an RV to bring them along on road trips.
"Our whole life is focused on what the dogs want," Germann said with a smile.
Germann grew up in St. Paul where her parents owned a greenhouse. She's always loved gardening and now has made many flower beds around her home.
"I just love working in the dirt," she said. "I have lots of flowers to take care of. That takes a lot of my time in the spring and summer."
Retirement, it seems, suits Germann well.
HEIDI LAKE may be reached at heidi.lake@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5879.
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