A Home for Everyone

In the past few years I have worked with quite a few different animal organizations, one being the Frederick Animal Shelter. I, along with my mother in the beginning, would go on our own schedule to work with the different animals in the shelter (mostly cats since I favor them).

Volunteers younger than 18 must have a guardian sign and must have one volunteer with them if they are younger then 15. As with many other jobs volunteers must learn how to deal with situations and how to care for the animals present.

The website www.Petfinder.com is just one of the resources available for volunteers to help without going to the shelter. This website allows volunteers to make profiles for pets at the shelter and those in foster care and more which in turn can get them homes. I did one imaginative profile where a little kitten was in hiding from the mob and was in the Witness Protection Program and needed a home to hide him and provide him with a new life. As one can see the stories don’t have to be logical or real. It’s up to the writer. (That kitten was adopted within the week.) I like working with the animals one on one best.

The shelter has a cat room, large dog room, small dog and bunny room and a quarantine room as well. This room holds new entries and mother cats with their newborns (or soon to be newborn). In the back of the building sits a viewing and visiting area where dogs are able to run free and interact with people that have interest in them. The cats stay in their designated area though to keep trouble to a minimal.

Every month or so the shelter has a photographer come in and take photos of the animals available so they are always up to date for potential owners to see.. The animals learn better social skills and are more likely to connect with someone if they have more contact with a person and being the person who sees them go from lonely to teaching them to be loving and trusting and in the process is a good feeling. It’s sad to see the animals go "home," but it makes me feel so good to know that a pet I worked with has gotten a home and will live a better life.

The shelter can always use more help from people and it’s a great thing to do with friends and family, especially if you have a deep love of animals as I do.