Andrew McIntyre’s main hustle helps people secure their dream homes. His side hustle places furry friends in them.
What began as a business relationship 10 years ago between McIntyre, a Regions Mortgage loan officer in Indianapolis, and real estate agent Amanda Klotsch grew into a bond rooted in their shared passion for animal rescue.
“We started working together professionally and became good friends,” said McIntyre.
When Klotsch founded the nonprofit Redemption Rescue in 2018 to help place forgotten, abandoned, sick or injured animals, McIntyre and his husband, Eric, signed up as fosters. That decision eventually led McIntyre to serve as board secretary three years ago and to take on the role of president this past January.
We started working together professionally and became good friends. Andrew McIntyre, a Regions Mortgage loan officer in Indianapolis
He credits Klotsch for grooming him for the leadership role. Klotsch knew McIntyre was ready for it.
“Andrew is thoughtful, dependable and approaches challenges with a calm, level-headed mindset,” she said. “He leads with compassion, integrity and a sincere desire to do what’s best for the animals and the volunteers who care for them.”
Coordinating logistics for both animals and humans requires meticulous attention to detail. On any given day, McIntyre and the Redemption Rescue team, all volunteers working full-time jobs, are helping place as many as 40 animals at a time.
“Rescue is equal parts heart and logistics,” he said. “One minute you’re celebrating an adoption, the next you’re coordinating vet appointments, scheduling transports or keeping track to make sure our fosters have supplies they need like food and litter.”
McIntyre and the Redemption Rescue team also regularly use social media to connect animals with foster families and adopters. The organization has helped over 1,500 dogs and cats find loving homes since its founding. McIntyre estimates social media plays a role in 90 percent of Redemption Rescue’s adoptions.
“I’ve never had someone say, ‘I don’t want to see a picture of a cute animal,’” said McIntyre. “Every dog and cat has a personality and a story. Our goal is to tell it well enough that the right family sees themselves in the animal’s next chapter.”
It’s exactly how Katie Clements, a Regions Credit Products Commercial portfolio manager, became involved.
“I’d reached out to Andrew about a dog that kept popping up in my social media feed,” said Clements. “When he told me they didn’t have any fosters to help at the time, I said I would do it. Thankfully, Andrew and the Redemption Rescue team helped me navigate the process, because I had no idea what I’d just gotten myself into.”
Despite her initial nervousness, Clements was immediately hooked. She’s since fostered five additional dogs, including Roxanne, whom she eventually adopted.
“She was a 4-month-old, 25-pound puppy when I met her,” said Clements. “She’s now 3 years old and almost 90 pounds.”
She was a 4-month-old, 25-pound puppy when I met her. She’s now 3 years old and almost 90 pounds. Katie Clements, a Regions Credit Products Commercial portfolio manager
Clements isn’t the only Regions associate whose connection to Redemption Rescue became permanent. Another of her former fosters, Lola (a 5-year-old German shepherd-Transylvanian hound mix), found a forever home with Schiela Pena, Regions Disability Services and Outreach manager. And Regions Community Development manager Kate Livingstone also adopted Luna (a 2-year-old Anatolian shepherd and Great Pyrenees mix) from the nonprofit.
In rescue circles, permanent adoption by a foster family is known as a “foster fail.” McIntyre has seen it happen many times with fosters like Clements.
“We’ve had quite a few foster fails on the first go-round,” he said.
Although McIntyre and his husband have successfully fostered more than 100 dogs, even they couldn’t resist the charms of one houseguest. Athena, a unique boxer and golden retriever mix, permanently joined siblings Maddie (a 9-year-old pit bull-boxer-bulldog mix) and Mila (a 7-year-old Staffordshire terrier) earlier this year.
Our goal isn’t to find the fastest adoption. It’s to make the right match, because that’s what gives both the animal and the family the best chance to succeed.Andrew McIntyre
The similarities between McIntyre’s professional and volunteer roles aren’t lost on him. It’s fitting that someone who helps people find homes by day helps pets find them in his free time.
“Every animal has a different personality, and every family has a different lifestyle,” said McIntyre. “Our goal isn’t to find the fastest adoption. It’s to make the right match, because that’s what gives both the animal and the family the best chance to succeed.”
While the hours can be unpredictable and not every foster placement works out, McIntyre says one thing makes it all worthwhile. And it might not be what you think.
“The best part of rescue isn’t adoption day; it’s seeing what happens long afterward,” he said. “We have a social media alumni group where adopters share updates and even get littermates together for playdates. We cherish those happy endings.”
Not a Lightning Round
(Because dogs have enough reasons to dislike thunderstorms.)
What’s in a Name?:
“When we have litters, we try to theme them to remember they’re part of a specific group,” said McIntyre. “We typically let the fosters name the animal, which is exciting for kids. We had a cheese-themed litter several years ago and someone named their dog, Jarlsberg. They ended up calling him JB.”
Making the Match:
“Our shelter partners are good about making sure they’re delivering animals that have been socialized with other animals and humans,” said McIntyre. “We don’t want to put any of our fosters in danger or have a dog that’s unadoptable.”
Lend a Paw – Ways to Help Your Foster Nonprofit Beyond Fostering:
“We have Doggie Days Out, where people can take the dog for a day, and we also have people who exclusively help with transports,” said McIntyre. “We post wish lists of needed supplies. Sharing, commenting and reacting to the organization’s social media posts also helps show up in more people’s feeds. It takes zero dollars and ten seconds to do.”