A MARTIN MARIETTA VALUE
To remain safe, Russell-Podkulski always
approaches stray animals with caution.
She says anyone attempting to do the
same should pay close attention to
the animal’s body language and respond
accordingly. Children should never
approach an unfamiliar animal.
www.martinmarietta.com | January/February 2018 The Conveyor 9
that appeared to have been hit by a
car. Marty, as he was later named, also
suffered with worms and mange. In his
case, the entire Bender team contributed
to the rescue, donating the $300 needed
for treatment. The animal was later
adopted by a local family who had been
searching for a dog for their son.
“We caught Marty up on his shots, had
him treated, bathed and groomed and
when that boy met that dog, it was love
at first sight,” Russell-Podkulski says.
While she’s opened her heart frequently
over the years, Russell-Podkulski has also
had to open her wallet. Ensuring a rescue
animal receives the necessary treatment
typically costs her several hundred
dollars. With nine animals at home, she
also spends an average of about $500 a
month on food and supplies. Thankfully,
she says, her husband is very supportive.
“Dan and I have been together for 15
years and he’s never said no to me,” she
says with a laugh. “I’ve already told him
that if we ever win the lottery, I plan to
buy a big piece of land so I can bring
every animal from our local shelters in to
live with us.”
Unsurprisingly, Russell-Podkulski’s
affinity for stray animals has garnered
her quite a reputation at Bender, where
co-workers, Martin Marietta customers
Maddie
Abbie, Calie and Sammie
and other frequent visitors have seen
her in action.
“Everyone here knows that she loves
animals and we’ve all watched as she’s
nursed them back to health,” says Rail
Operations Manager John Castro,
Russell-Podkulski’s supervisor. “That’s
just the person she is. Whether it’s a
person in need or an animal, she’s always
ready to help.”
Today, Russell-Podkulski and her
husband are nearing retirement age with
no immediate plans to take in additional
animals, she says, without officially
ruling out the possibility. At this stage,
the couple has already done their part
and are better people for it.
“These animals have done nothing
wrong and they never asked to be
dumped off like they were,” she says. “All
they ask for is a ‘furever’ loving home,
food, water, and, for the dogs, an occasional
car ride. In return, they give us so
much love. Dan and I agree that when we
go, we don’t want to go to people heaven.
We want to go to animal heaven.” ▼
Russell-Podkulski and her husband asked
that this article be dedicated to Bailey,
their first dog who died of cancer two years
ago. Bailey had been with the family for
more than a decade.