Among Home 4 The Holidays’ unexpected first-year beneficiaries was Helen Woodward spokesman John Van Zante himself. He had been looking for “his dog,” whom he envisaged as an 80- to 100-pound black Lab or black Lab mix who enjoyed running, hiking and swimming. But he hadn’t yet met his right match. At a December 1999 adoption event at Escondido Humane Society, a shy, scrawny stray black dog, about 35 pounds, so skinny his shelter name was “Bones,” ventured out of his crate and approached him, putting his paw on Van Zante’s knee. “He was a little impatient with me, as if to say, ‘Where have you been? I’ve been waiting all day.’ He had his paws on me but wouldn’t look at me. He moved closer and sat down. The adoption counselor said, ‘He likes you. He’s been here a long time. His time is running out.’ I kept saying, ‘He’s not my dog,’” he explained, as he filled out the paperwork. She congratulated him on his new dog and handed him the leash.  Ten years later, the dog, renamed Howie, goes to work daily and shares quarters with Van Zante and his “best bud” Cat Van Zante, a long-haired grey tiger cat rescued from a crack house, whom the cat-allergic Van Zante agreed to foster for two weeks — nine years ago.  — Nicole Sours Larson Q&A with Helen Woodward’s John Van?Zante Q: Can you tell us a little history about yourself, and how you ended up where you are today? I’m probably the only person you know who was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa. After high school in Monroe, Iowa, I went to college in Minneapolis, then began a 26-year career in broadcasting…mostly radio but also some time in front of the camera. The HWAC had an opening for a public relations manager. A few weeks later, I started my new job. That was March of 1999. Q: What do you enjoy most about your position? The things that I like most about my job at HWAC are the same things that I liked about broadcasting. I never do the same thing two days in a row. And in radio you’re only as good as your last show and your last ratings book…so I have to keep getting better at what I do. For some people that’s a lot of stress, but for me it’s an opportunity to stretch my imagination and creativity. I also love it that my dog, Howie, comes to work with me every day. Let’s be honest. It’s the people in the kennels and the stables and the vet hospitals who do the hard work. It’s the volunteers who visit the convalescent homes with animals, the teachers who show kids how to meet a dog or hold a cat, and the people who deliver pet food that allows senior citizens to keep their best friends. I have coworkers whose jobs are to care for other people’s pets when they’re out of town. I’m so blessed to even know these people. Q: Is there any one thing that stands out as your proudest moment, and/or greatest accomplishment? There are two things that I consider the greatest accomplishments and one that is my proudest. Iams Home 4 the Holidays began when HWAC President Mike Arms, operations director Rita Truderung, adoptions manager LaBeth Thompson and I met to discuss Mike’s idea about a holiday adoption drive to help San Diego County increase adoptions, lower euthanasia and take business away from puppy mills during the holiday season. We started with 14 shelters completing 2,563 adoptions. This year we’re leading 3,500 shelters and rescue groups in 18 countries. Our Surf Dog Surf A Thon originated in 2006 at Dog Beach in Del Mar. Families could teach their dogs to surf during Surf Dog Clinics, then come back the next month and compete for prizes. We work with the best people available, including Pat Weber from San Diego Surfing Academy, Rob Kuty from San Diego Pet Training, and the amazing Guy Takayama…a quality person who also happened to be a world champion tandem surfer, as well as designer and manufacturer of GT and Surfah Dog surf boards. In September we held our fourth Surf Dog event. It’s the largest dog-surfing event in the world. Thousands of people attended including people from Japan, France, Spain, and Korea. More than 100 million people worldwide saw the photos, watched videos, heard about it on the radio or read the printed stories about Surf Dog 2009. My proudest moment “began” in late 2004 (during Home 4 the Holidays) when we learned about a U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel from La Jolla who wanted to bring home a puppy from Fallujah, Iraq. Jay Kopelman had given up his job as a stockbroker after September 11, 2001 to go back into the Marine Corps. During the battle of Fallujah, some Marines from Hawaii (the “Lava Dogs”) found a puppy in an abandoned house. Jay met the pup and fell in love. Working with my friend Kris Parlett from the Iams company offices in Dayton, Ohio, we thought, “How hard can it be to fly a puppy to San Diego?” Little did we know! Finally, four months later, bending a few rules and working with Iraqis, American radio and TV networks and a private company that trains bomb-sniffing dogs, we flew the puppy, “Lava,” to San Diego and reunited him with Jay. The story spread worldwide. Jay’s book, “From Baghdad…with Love,” hit the New York Times Bestseller List. Since then others have brought dogs to America from Iraq. Some called me before starting their projects to ask how much they could make on book and movie deals. That’s so wrong! I’m proud of this because we were able to do a good thing for Jay and Lava and because our motives were pure. I’m so undeserving to have been a part of this, but I’m proud that I was. Q: I understand the famous dog actor “Benji” and his human Joe Camp sit on the board of directors at HWC. How is it working with them? Joe is very much of a Southern gentleman and Benji will do almost anything for a tummy rub! The current Benji is the fourth dog that dog that Joe rescued from an animal shelter and turned into a star. When I met Benji I was a bit star-struck. I nervously asked, “Can I pet Benji?” Joe drawled, “She’ll be disappointed if you don’t.” That, in a nutshell, describes who they are. Nice, decent, down-to-earth “people” who do what they can to make this a better world. When Joe and Benji joined our board of directors, Joe brought along his business sense and his love of animals. Also on our board is Academy Award-winning actress Diane Keaton. We met her through mutual friends in 2001, and she drove down from Los Angeles to HWAC. She and Mike talked about Home 4 the Holidays. As Mike walked Diane to her car, he asked if she would be our international H4TH spokesperson. She replied, “Of course!” She joined our board of directors a few years ago. Q: I would imagine you’ve attended some pretty “swanky” events over the years and have rubbed elbows with many VIPS, and famous actors and actresses. Can you name just a few and tell who has been your favorite(s) and why? At HWAC we never know who will walk in. As far as the animals are concerned, it doesn’t make any difference if a person is rich or famous. Betty White received our Humane Award in 1999. She was as amazing and wonderful as you would expect. Other recipients were Tippi Hedren, Kristen Bell and Linda Blair. They’re all wonderful! (Forget the rumors you’ve read about how her role in “The Exorcist” messed up Linda Blair. She’s a super sweet and absolutely beautiful woman who runs her own pet rescue organization!) Most recently we’ve been working with Hilary Swank as the 2009 Iams Home 4 the Holidays spokesperson. She, like Kristen Bell, began as a teenage animal shelter volunteer. Hilary’s a great talent and a nice lady. She loves animals! Again this year, the great Chargers running back Darren Sproles helped us to kick off our San Diego Iams Home 4 the Holidays drive. Darren is as amazing off the field as he is on the field. Q: How do you enjoy your spare time? I’m a runner, so that means getting up around 4:30 or 5 four times per week to run before work. This past summer I bought a surf board and began teaching Howie to surf. I also like to kayak (Howie goes on the kayak with me) and boogie board. There are also visits to the dog park almost every day. I have a really unattractive, 30-year-old motor home that I take to Fiesta Island, Balboa Park, the beach, the zoo, etcetera It’s a great place to hang out, read, or take a nap. Q: We all have a “bucket” list, what is yours? Right now I’m training to run my first full marathon in February. I’ve completed a short Triathlon but would like to do more of them. (I have a friend who is trying to convince me to do an Iron Man Triathlon). Maybe a leisurely cross country motor home trip (but with a newer motor home). More time with God. He’s always there and steady. I’m the one who strays or drags my heels. He doesn’t seem to mind carrying me when he has to. Q: If you could be remembered for one thing, what would that be? Wow. Tough one. I would like to be remembered as someone who lived a good life and tried to make the world better, who never intentionally hurt anyone else and was there to support the people close to him.