Volunteering / I got to play with doggies! (pics)

[luvthemstrawberries]

My supervisor's beloved dog passed away recently, and he's been keeping an eye out for a new family dog lately. He came in yesterday and showed us one he likes on the local SPCA's website. We were all talking about our love of animals, so he suggested we go see them at lunch. Woohoo, any chance to see fun furballs!

So we rode down the road and got to play with some awesome dogs and cats at lunch. (Thank goodness my headaches weren't raging!) Haha, it only encouraged my doggie-fever that's been going on for years now. Can't wait till I can get one!!

So this is a 2-part post. 1) For any of you that volunteer at local shelters or adoption agencies, I know it is rewarding. But how hard is it for you? Is it heart-wrenching to get attached to them, especially the ones that aren't adopted out? It breaks my heart that so many can't be given homes and never lead the lives they were meant to... but that's a whole other subject I don't want to get into now. I guess I'm just looking for some opinions on volunteering - I've been considering volunteering at this particular place for a while now, and going there really made me want to. What kind of different jobs do you PSers have on your volunteer shifts?

2) Pictures! I just wanted to share, since it's such a great and fun thing to be there with all the animals. He emailed me the pics he took with his phone, and the dogs are online also... so here are the fun ones I got to visit and play with...

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

First, this pretty little girl was Bee - she''s a hound puppy, about 3 months old

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

This is Bee on their website:

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

And this is Bee''s brother, Andy

(I found it SO coincidental that growing up we had a beagle named Barney Fife, after The Andy Griffith Show... and the two hound puppies I saw yesterday were Andy and Bee... technically Bee on the show is BEA, since it''s short for Beatrice, but still... sure makes me want to continue in the family tradition.

Anyone else find that ironic?)

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Next was Priscilla, a Dalmation/American Staffordshire Terrier mix - so energetic, and so strong! Such a fun little girl.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

This is a bad phone picture, but you can see Priscilla''s spots - so pretty!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

And lastly, this is the guy my boss came to see - Edison, a white German Shepherd. Such a BIG guy!! He was a stray, but had to have been someone''s pet - he LOVED tennis balls, and he''d catch them for you, bring them near you, and drop it... then roll it to you across the floor with his nose! Lots of fun. I hope my boss'' family likes him and that he fits in well with them.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Sooo cute!

I''ve never volunteered at an animal shelter and think that it would be rewarding but emotionally exhausting if you''re easily bonded to animals. If you''re the type who falls in love with every dog you meet, you may find your time spent there challenging because you may miss the ones who are adopted out and feel sad for the ones who are not. (just my thoughts though - that is how it would be for me.) It''s very generous of you to take time to spend with the doggies.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Well, that''s it - thanks for letting me share!

I thought the pics might be fun for you guys. I just love being around them all, and hope I can start volunteering there. Any volunteer advice/experience you guys have would be great!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

How many hours a week are you planning to help out? Or are you thinking every other week? I''ve spend too much time volunteering and got a bit burnt out on it after a year and now try and be more selective of what I do and how often. It was very rewarding to me at first, but eventually, I found it just became routine rather than entirely fullfilling. Maybe just helping the animals twice a month would be enough for you to feel like you''ve contributed, but not so much that you become overly emotional about the reality of those precious dogs.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Thanks MC! I am easily bonded to them. It also makes me frustrated with the people who don't care enough to try to help with the overpopulation problem and don't spay/neuter, even though they could if they cared at all. Being unable to pay for it or get there is a different story. Anyway, different subject for a different time.

I still think I'd enjoy it - it's such a great thing to see the many that do get good homes. Plus it's such good therapy just be be around animals. So easygoing and carefree. They also had cats there - I didn't get any photos while there, but this is one little guy that my coworker is really considering getting - we got to see visit him there, and he was so chill and relaxed!

Meet Monty:

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Haha MC you beat me!

I''d probably do one night a week at most to start out with. Twice a month might be a good suggestion, so thank you! I''m sure it would be tough emotionally at first to dive in there and be right there alongside the ones that don''t get homes and the ones that do.

 

[princessplease]

Look at the little babies!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

OK, last one, I promise - my coworker also liked this adorable little guy. I picked him up - he's so TINY in my arms!

Athens, 4 months old:

 

[bee*]

They''re all gorgeous!!

I worked in our spca for years and I used to have lots of volunteers helping me. They all seemed to get along great and it was so nice having help as well so the staff really do appreciate it.

 

[Elmorton]

Aww! I didn''t read the whole thread, but I did want to answer one of your Qs - DH and I both volunteer occasionally at a no-kill shelter.

I don''t have a hard time leaving them behind when I leave, and though I get pangs of "ohhh I wish I could take you home with me!" I know it''s not realistic for us to have another pet. We have two kitties, a small house, and kids are in our future. For our situation, I feel that it would be irresponsible to adopt another - and so volunteering is how I share the love with an animal I''d love to adopt if we had miles of square footage and an unlimited budget. So, I understand that my work in the shelter is to benefit the animal so that they can find a home that is BETTER than what I could offer. Typically, I spend my time in the FIV cat room, so I absolutely cannot adopt an FIV cat since both of our furbabies are FIV-free. That simple fact does make it a little easier for me. It does break my heart that these kitties are less likely to be adopted, but what makes me tear up is not the kitties in the shelter, but ones who are abused/neglected/allowed to roam without a home. To me, the ones in the shelter are the lucky ones because they have a chance for a happy home, and they''re cared for, have medical attention, etc.

Re: getting attached. I first started volunteering in college, and there was this AWESOME cat named Huge Hefner. I loved that cat. But my happiest day at the shelter was when I showed up and he''d been adopted. It''s the easiest thing ever when you get attached to an animal and then find out that it went to it''s forever home! I will say though that it''s harder if you find out that an animal is gone from the adoption floor because it''s sick (esp. when working with FIV cats), but I can''t see this as a reason to stop volunteering. When you go to volunteer at a shelter, you''re not only doing it to make the animal''s life happier, but you''re socializing the animal so it can be adopted and have greater success in a forever home.

 

[Sha]

Cute pics! Thanks for sharing. I think volunteering at an animal shelter would be my DREAM JOB. I love animals, especially doggies!

 

[Elmorton]

Oh! I forgot to tell you about what we DO when we volunteer. At the first shelter where I volunteered, you basically signed in and then asked what needed to be done. I cleaned out litter boxes, did laundry, washed stuff...I''m not a big dog walker, but that''s really what they needed people for the most. At the shelter where DH and I volunteer, the volunteers ONLY do socialization. You walk in, and then you ask someone what animals needed to be walked or socialized (if it''s bad weather, you just sit in a room and play with the dog). For cats, you just sit and pet them. I usually take a book and just sit in the FIV room - it''s AWESOME. The kitties are so excited to see humans, and so they just curl up in your lap/next to you etc - for me, it''s like being at home only like my cats have multiplied Both shelters I''ve volunteered at had great orientation sessions where they tell you all the stuff you need to know (sanitizing, reporting if an animal bites, reporting if an animal does a trick), so I''m guessing you''d have to do that first, and they''ll basically tell you the lay of the land then.. I think the bottom line about the shelter where I currently volunteer is that the people who are on staff at a shelter are BUSY all day - with paperwork, medical stuff, cleaning, helping potential adoptive parents etc, and the volunteers can be an invaluable source of info about an animal which helps the staff better find homes for them.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

princessplease - Hehe aren''t they cute!!

bee - Thanks for the input!

Elmorton - Thanks so much for the insider opinion! I appreciate all the advice you gave. I think the reasoning you gave is the way I feel about why I''d still like to volunteer, even though it would pull at my heart strings, most definitely. And that''s a great way to look at working there - that being there is their first step to having a home at all. And re: getting attached. I think my hardest time would be leaving on the days that I know one of the animals'' time there is up. I honestly don''t know if I''d be able to leave on those days knowing I could take home the animal and save it - because I''d quickly rack up a houseful of animals. Ugh, thinking about it right now just makes my heart ache for all of them. Unfortunately, this place can''t afford to be a no-kill shelter. They''re making great strides in trying to get there, like their new low-cost spay/neuter clinic... but it would still be so hard on those days. I actually wonder how that works... areo the volunteers even privy to that information? I''d almost rather not know.

Sha - It would be my dream job too!! If I can ever be a SAHM, my goal is to use some of those hours I''ll finally have away from work to volunteer during the daytime.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Elmorton - Ah! You got in again while I was slowly typing.

Thanks so much for the info!!! That's exactly what I was curious about. At this shelter, from the info on the website, you do an initial orintation session, then a separate training session for the volunteer job you're wanting to do. So I think you volunteer more based on a certain job. And they have everything from dog room cleaning to dog referees to bathroom break people. I think I'd like the ones that are the most involved with the animals, but I'd sure be willing to help out with other tasks as needed to, because I know how important all the little things are to making the big wheels turn.

 

[lulu]

I did cat rescue for years. Trapping ferals, bottle feeding kittens, finding homes. Very rewarding but very emotionally difficult for me.

 

[AmberGretchen]

My DH and I both volunteer at our local shelter regularly (at least once a week, sometimes more often). We''ve done a wide variety of things - most often, we work with the dogs at the shelter. We take them out for walks, and work on training nice manners - we do a lot of working on things like sit, down, stay, waiting at doors, not jumping up on people, etc... It really helps to make the doggies way more adoptable - nobody really wants that crazy dog that jumps all over you, but the one that sits nicely and waits for you to give it a treat is much more popular

Its extremely rewarding when you get to see what a difference the training makes in getting the dogs adopted, and honestly, its rewarding just to take the dogs out for a walk - they are so thrilled to get out in the fresh air most of the time.

We''ve also helped out with the dog training classes that our shelter offers to the public - the adoption fee includes a class you can take with your dog, so we mostly get dogs that have been rescued from our own shelter or a nearby one, and we teach everything from obedience, to puppy socialization and manners, to Agility (a dog sport). That''s a lot of fun, and I find it really rewarding to watch how we''re helping people bond to their shelter doggies and in some cases, helping the doggies stay in their homes.

We''ve also done some work over on the cat side, mostly when they get really busy during kitten season - we socialize kittens, which basically involves petting them, holding them, playing with them, etc...to get them used to human contact as much as possible.

Overall, I''ve been volunteering at the shelter for about 2.5 years, and its been one of the highlights of my life during that time. Yes, there is heartbreak, but its so far outweighed by the incredible feeling of knowing you helped even one animal find a good home. Seriously - go for it, you won''t regret it, and they will appreciate your help so much!!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Date: 6/4/2009 1:40:42 PM
Author: luvthemstrawberries
And this is Bee''s brother, Andy


(I found it SO coincidental that growing up we had a beagle named Barney Fife, after The Andy Griffith Show... and the two hound puppies I saw yesterday were Andy and Bee... technically Bee on the show is BEA, since it''s short for Beatrice, but still... sure makes me want to continue in the family tradition.

Anyone else find that ironic?)

OMG these too are SO CUTE - I love their adorable hound ears, I just want to squeeze them

 

[Elmorton]

luv - re: putting animals down. A friend of mine was looking for a cat recently at a non-no kill shelter and a staff member told her that a "kill" shelter simply means that they put animals down in EXTREME cases - like the animal is extremely, extremely injured, it's deemed that the animal would never be able to adapt to a home (attacks humans). These are the animals that as a volunteer, you'll never see, because they're brought in as intake and then kept under surveillance/quarantine while vets and staff decide what is in the animal's best interest. They don't put down an animal simply because they need more room - it's not like on the 1st Tuesday of the month, anyone who has been there since last month goes moving. And, I know that all the shelters in the area have no-kill shelters and rescues on speed dial, so sometimes even those extreme cases are actually just sent to shelters that have more resources. I hope that helps your peace of mind!!

 

[elrohwen]

I looove volunteering at the animal shelter! I thought it would be hard for me, but honestly, I was always so excited when dogs would go to a new home. I worked at a no-kill shelter, so even when a dog was there for a while, I knew we were taking good care of him and that he''d find a home eventually.

 

[Dogmom]

OMG!! I work at this shelter!

Edison is awesome. He is the BIGGEST white GSD I have ever seen and is a love. Did you get to see Angel? She is a mini version of one of my dogs (an SPCA alum) and a sweetie.

I''m so glad you enjoyed your visit

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

lulu - That sounds like such a rewarding thing to do, helping all the cats like that.

AmberGretchen - Thanks for the input! That really is so true - that every second you''re there, you''re helping the animals become more adoptable. Thanks so much for your honestly about it, seriously.

I''d also like to learn more about dog training, so that''d be a great place to learn it. (And yes, the little hounds were SOOOOOO adorable!!!!

)

Elmorton - Thank you for the info - peace of mind is always good!

It''s certainly something I''d like to know before I go in. It wouldn''t deter me from it, but I''d want to be prepared.

Elrohwen - Thanks for your input!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 6/5/2009 9:04:45 AM
Author: Dogmom
OMG!! I work at this shelter!

Edison is awesome. He is the BIGGEST white GSD I have ever seen and is a love. Did you get to see Angel? She is a mini version of one of my dogs (an SPCA alum) and a sweetie.

I'm so glad you enjoyed your visit

Dogmom - my gosh, are you SERIOUS???

I had no idea anyone on here was this close to me! What a coincidence!! Haha wow, I still can't get over this.

Edison was so much fun. I'll be interested to see if he fits with them. I've never seen a white one in person - so interesting!

I'm sure I saw Angel, but I didn't get to visit with her. I would have spent all day there, seriously, and played with them all if I could. Then I'd take them all home with me!

Do you actually work at the shelter or are you a volunteer? Were you there Wednesday? This is so neat! Haha I'll probably be seeing you if I end up volunteering there.

Thanks so much for letting me know! Haha I bet you had to do a double take when you started to recognize all those doggies!

 

[Dogmom]

Lol, it was great seeing photos of our dogs in your post! I''ve worked here for a little over three years. I''m in the administrative office, so I''m not out with the animals as much as I would like. I do try to get back and visit the dogs often, though. On Thursdays when we are closed to the public for adoptions, some of us will get a dog from the back to keep us company in our office

I was here Wednesday and had a visitor come in for a tour around lunch time. I remember seeing Edison in one of the visit rooms with a group. I might have seen you!

One thing I wanted to let you know that might help with your decision to pursue volunteering here. We have an "adoption guarantee" to all the animals here in the Adoption Center. Once an animal enters the adoption program, they are with us until they find a home. None of the animals you would be working with will be euthanized (barring a behavorial or health issue that may develop, which has happened VERY rarely.) We''ve had cats that have been with us for several years waiting for just the right home. The only "good-byes" you''ll have will be when they leave for their new home

I''d be happy to talk with you more about this, and it would be great to meet a fellow PSer! My contact info is on our website on the "donate" page.

 

[AmberGretchen]

packrat - our shelter''s policies are really similar to dogmom''s/the shelter you visited, and I have to say that helps a LOT, knowing that animals will only be euthanized if there are serious health or behavioral problems where the animal would only be suffering anyway. I really can''t say enough good things about volunteering - I''ve learned such an incredible amount, and its so rewarding