Ray Varga of Middlesex Township provides foster care for animals like this kitten for the Butler County Humane Society. He also volunteers at the shelter and donates pet food and funds.

Butler County is filled with a variety of people doing interesting things. This weekly feature offers snapshots of some of them by asking them five questions. The latest installment appears below.

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Ray Varga, 51, has always loved animals and finally found the time last fall to volunteer for the Butler County Humane Society.

About 600 names are on the shelter's volunteer list, but Varga is one of about 15 who foster animals. Foster pets are typically those that require special attention, such as kittens that must be bottle-fed or elderly pets with medical needs.

Varga and his wife, Theresa, have fostered five puppies, six kittens and two dogs at their Middlesex Township home in addition to supporting the BCHS in other ways.

Here, Varga talks about his love of animals and his experiences as a volunteer.

Question: Why is fostering important for shelter animals?Answer: We're their voice. If we don't speak up for them or do something for them, a lot of them are just discarded. ... The more socialization you give them while they're young, the friendlier they are. I'm making a good pet for somebody, one that's not going to the kill shelter. It can keep going and give someone else love and enjoyment.

Question: How do you avoid becoming too attached to a foster pet?Answer: You don't just go to the shelter and say, “I'm going to get a dog today!” They are very particular about who they give a dog to. I know that whenever I give an animal back to them, (the pet) is going to a good place.

Question: Tell us about a recent fostering experience.Answer: Several weeks back, there was a kitten somebody dropped in the Dumpster; someone just discarded it. (The BCHS) asked us to care for it for the weekend and (Theresa) had to feed it every couple hours with an eye dropper. He probably shouldn't have survived, but he did. To know that you helped give an animal a second chance — it's an awesome feeling.

Question: In addition to fostering, how else do you support the BCHS?Answer: I try to get up there at least one day a week for three or four hours or longer. I do whatever they need. I volunteer to walk the animals, we foster, I do repairs for them, I donate money to them, I donate food when they need it.It's important for people to know, even if they don't have time to go up there, they can always donate supplies or (give) monetary donations. There are other ways of helping the local shelter.

Question: What do you enjoy most about having animals at home?Answer: I can have a real bad day, but when I go home and hear them barking or when I see them, it just brings me nothing but joy.