Volunteering with animals

[Tayl405]

Has anyone ever done it?

I signed up to volunteer for an animal adoption program here. I just did it minutes ago and haven't heard from them yet, but I really need to do something with meaning, and animals are a passion of mine.

Just wondering if anyone has any good or bad experiences...

[midtwenty]

It will be very rewarding, but be prepared to see a lot of animals who have been treated cruelly and abused. It will break your heart at the same time as uplift you.

[sunshine79]

I volunteered for awhile at the local humane society where I adopted my cat. It had its ups and downs.... it was great to play with the cats and give them some cuddling and loving, but I felt like I spend the majority of my time dealing with stupid people who came in and wanted to play with the animals without any intention of adopting them... the volunteer's job is really to get them adopted. I couldn't stand the parents that let their kids come in and run around and scare the cats, and that's pretty much why I stopped. If I could just go in and give some love to the cats without people around it would be ideal, but that's not the case. I stopped volunteering and now I give them money every month instead. I hope that you have a good experience, though!

[winneythepooh7]

I adopted both my cats from North Shore Animal League. I saw some of the wierdos that came in there trying to adopt animals. Animal Hoarding is a big thing believe it or not. Be prepared to deal with people like them. They can't feed themselves but they have like 80 cats.

[Tayl405]

I think mostly what they need help with is events...they go to major events in Philly (like marathons and stuff) and bring animals with them. Actually, it might be what a couple of the girls on Real World did, if anyone saw it. It looks like they need help transporting animals to and from the locations and promoting.

This is the site:

http://www.peoplepetpartnership.com/aboutus.html

[Lil BK]

Wow, what an incredible thing to do! I couldn't handle the difficult parts of volunteering for a place like that but every few months our Humane Society posts ads in the paper asking for food, litter, bleach, rewhides, ect. I always go buy some and hit up all my friends as well. Last time we collected quite a bit of stuff and were thinking that in the future we'd have a party where everyone brought shelter donations. Those places are always so hard up... Also, off topic but people who work out there have the HARDEST jobs and are doing such a serivce to creatures who can't help themselves. Next time you're filling out thank-you cards or sending flowers, think of the staff at your local animal shelter. Omg, I teared up.

[littledancerus]

I volunteer at the Humane Society that is by my work. I walk the dogs or take them out to the runs to play. I could play with the cats too but I'm not much of a cat person. I tried once and got all scratched up. So I stick to the dogs. I only go for about 2 hours a week, but it feels good. Also, Urban Decay is selling bracelets that support the Humane Society if anyone is interested... :)

[Tayl405]

I have my orientation April 21--I'm so excited! I don't know what I'm going to be doing yet, but I don't care. Anything if it helps. I'm gonna check out those bracelets...

[Jedi of Zen]

I did this once at the local Humane Society. I had to take an orientation class, and in the class there was only myself and one other male, and about a zillion females. The other guy kept interrupting the teacher to make comments about how much he knew about dogs. Anyway the first day I went to volunteer after the class, the other guy was there too. Well we were both out in the back walking dogs, and I had forgotten about this, but we were supposed to take along plastic bags to pick up the dogs' poop. Well my dog decided it had to poop, and while it was pooping the other guy walked over and started screaming at me violently about how I was supposed to make sure the dog pooped on a bag. I feebly told him that I had forgotten about the bags, and asked him where I could find a bag (since I didn't recall seeing them anywhere inside). He mumbled something about "look in the back room" and proceeded to call me a bunch of names. I never went back after that.

I've since heard that violent prisoners sometimes work in pet shelters as a means of reform. I don't think this guy was a prisoner, but he was sure damn violent. That fucker.

[Kitty]

I have my orientation April 21--I'm so excited! I don't know what I'm going to be doing yet, but I don't care. Anything if it helps. I'm gonna check out those bracelets...

That is really awesome! Let us know how it goes :)

[gypzye]

I used to volunteer at the Humane Society but then I moved to the other end of the Valley and now it's like an hour drive... ugh, sorry, but I don't have THAT kind of time to dedicate. I'd walk, bathe, brush the dogs, let them chase balls in the enclosures, basically just give them some time out of the cage and some human contact. It keeps 'em sane, poor guys. :( The cats always had a line of people volunteering to work those kennels and I love both so I worked the dogs, with emphasis on the bigger dogs because a lot of times they're the most neglected. I also cared for the rabbits in much the same manner. Most people didn't know how to handle the rabbits and were a little scared of 'em so I did it because I was comfortable with them.

My time there was very rewarding. I loved the work and I loved it when I could steer a family towards an animal they probably otherwise would have overlooked.

I would really love to be a foster home for a rescue organization but I'm afraid I don't have the time or the space for that kind of commitment at this point in my life. But when I buy a house, I am definitely going to foster rescues.

Good for you for taking this step! It always made me feel really good about myself... animals are so grateful for anything you do for them and it was such a blessing to be on the receiving end of that love at a time in my life when I really needed it. :)

[Tayl405]

I'm getting really excited...I get emails every day about things they need help with but I have to wait until my orientation to volunteer. I wish I didn't have to work for a living and could spend all my time with animals..