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Thread: Volunteering with Animals

  1. #1
    Featured Member JenniferNorth's Avatar
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    Default Volunteering with Animals

    I'm really wanting to foster (dogs and/or cats) but that's just not viable right now. Between space and how busy our lives are, I can't do that. Is there something else anyone can suggest? I really want to make a difference somehow. I thought about writing for local animal shelters, or making blankets for Project Snuggles. I've also thought about working with Dogs Deserve Better, but I heard they were a somewhat sketch place in terms of actually accomplishing stuff for the animals.

    Suggestions? I know it's soooo OT, but most of us adult workers love our fur babies, because at the end of the day, they don't judge us. (Seriously, there are days I love my dog more than my hubby! )
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  3. #2
    Moderator Aurora_Sunset's Avatar
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    Default Re: Volunteering with Animals

    I volunteer with my local shelter as an adoption counselor (vetting people to make sure the animals go to a good home) and as a cat care volunteer in the morning before they open. There are tons of other volunteer positions there too - dog walking, taking dogs outside the shelter to get them out in the public eye, taking pictures/writing personality blurbs, doing personality tests... If you check with your local humane society/shelter, I'm sure they utilize volunteers for a bunch of tasks.

    And while the cat care/dog walking stuff seems "basic," there have been times where I am literally the only volunteer to show up for cats, do it all myself, and it takes me almost 3 hours. That's a lot of time for the staff to focus on the million other things they have to do before they open. (Plus I get to spend one-on-one time with all the kitties). So even if your shelter only has positions like that, it really is a tremendous help.
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    Veteran Member Dominic.2's Avatar
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    Default Re: Volunteering with Animals

    Chances are the *largest* shelter in your county knows of all of the smaller shelters. So you might contact them first.

    Generally my extended family and I have provided the following assistance for local animal shelters:

    -dog walking (they gets walks twice a day, this is fun)
    -kennel cleaning (no one like to volunteer, so I usually do it while dogs are on walks)
    -pet food donations (kibble) for local low-income families
    -cash donations
    -website updates like Aurora mentions (writing personality blurbs, pictures taken and posted)
    -puppy and kitten socialization (who doesn't love this?)
    -sitting with an animal after surgery or recovery.


    If you have experience with large breeds (over 60 lbs or so) or correcting obedience problems, then they will love you and have lots of volunteer work for you. Often large dogs with behavior problems are abandoned so they need some work before they can be re-homed.

    Aurora's not kidding about cat care. Usually there is only one person to do it. So help is always appreciated.

    There are also "breed specific" shelters and very small no-kill shelters, some of these may be under the radar somewhat and just have a web presence and email address with no phone number.

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    Featured Member R-209's Avatar
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    Default Re: Volunteering with Animals

    I volunteered to help out at my vet's once. It was an interesting experience. Seeing the sick pets was rough; I comforted an older dog as he woke up from cancer surgery. Then there was this one kitten who was getting vaccinations and actually batted the syringe out of the tech's hand.

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    Featured Member rareaspasia's Avatar
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    Default Re: Volunteering with Animals

    I've wanted to volunteer for years at the local spca but I just don't have the time as it's a forty minute drive from my side of town. I did save some kittens that had been abandoned by their mother and that was such a great experience. They're very happy with their new owners. I love animals so much.

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    Default Re: Volunteering with Animals

    Try finding smaller shelters to work at. They advertise on coffee shop boards, Craigslist, FB 'swap' groups, etc.

    I volunteer at a smaller rescue that takes dogs from owners & directly off the streets. They always need people to help clean kennels, walk the dogs, work at adoption events, fundraise, transport to vet appts, etc.
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    Default Re: Volunteering with Animals

    Great suggestions. I think just about all of them need people to donate food and if you can spare the time a walk or cleaning is a need that will never go out of style.

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    Default Re: Volunteering with Animals

    Do you have a car? Many rescues and shelters need help transporting animals to their new homes, other rescues, etc. I found out about it years ago through a yahoo group. I would get a notification each time my city popped up on a transport route.

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