Let's talk SHELTERS
 

I have a question after talking to someone who works in a shelter....

I've wanted to volunteer before and have actually gone into The ASPCA to interview once but knew I'd be terrible at it....I get too emotional. I'd love to hear from those of you who DO or have worked at a shelter to get a better perspective .....

Lately I've been feeling that I just don't do my 'part' to help dogs :( though I'm trying with donations and such - but I'd love to hear from you who have hands on experience

I'd love to hear it too. I've been wanting to volunteer at our local shelter for a long time.

I'm a volunteer.........and I LOVE it!
 

In the summertime, my son and I volunteer to walk the dogs. I can't stand to stay inside and hear them cry or when they are taken to the 'room.' So we spend our time outside walking them and playing with them. It's really alot of fun.

Bless all of you who give their time and love to those poor dogs/cats
who have no one to give them hugs and kisses.
I thought when I retire I would also like to help but like V I'm not sure
I will be able to handle it. I cry when I see the deer outside in this cold
weather! Breaks my heart. Is there a way to learn to shut out the
horror and sadness to help these poor animals?


Carol & Buddy

:( :( :( :( That IS the cowards way out....

I had cats and all mine came from shelters - I remember at 16 getting one and only having 10 bucks and donated it - but I can see how the cost adds up....It's so important to have people like YOU Jess....that sounds like one I could handle...I know I couldn't work in a shelter that kills pets daily and here in houston - that's just what they do at our big one. GOOD for you doing this. IF I were well off financially I would do it - I know I would.....

and Yorkie3:thumbup: :thumbup: - that's really great info - & taking your son is really teaching him a big life lesson....

now THAT is something I could do and think I'll see if the one close to me lets people do that...I've dropped stuff off for the dogs but have never gone all the way inside... I'm too chicken & cry too easily these days :(

My advice...........volunteer at a no-kill shelter. Pop them the question prior to interviewing. I could not do it a a kill shelter............I'd fall apart! To me, there is no justifying killing them because there is no space or something stupid.

V, you could do pet-therapy and visit the elderly :) or.........walk the dogs, help groom them. Even, just helping run or put a fundraiser.......it doesn't matter. :)

I use to work with a man that changed careers because he was an animal control officer and could not take having to euthanize(sp) animals anymore he said it just broke his heart and he couldn't do it anymore.

Last summer my GF and I went to our local dog pound to volunteer. And I was in the door for about 5 mins when I was bawling like a baby.:( It just seemed helpless and sad, I kept thinking these poor dogs.. this is all they know.. Like the commercial now.. " I know I'm a good Dog and that I don't belong here." :( So sad.. But we tried to volunteer and were advised they didn't need any help :mad: I said.. What?! All they seemed to want was $$ which I understand..but c'mon. Then we volunteered to help with their site.. taking GOOD pictures of the dogs.. without the bars and cages in all the pics..like they had.. and updating them on their site..cause now the dogs don't change for months at a time.

So anyhow they were NOT very helpful..but we are pursuing other ways to help with their site.. going around them and through the county.
But that would be an idea for you V you are so good with pics and internet things.. maybe you could do something on their site?? Do they have one?

I understand that not all shelters are great or honest. I really feel proud of ours though.

One thing we are always needing is used clothes and towels...........they go by so fast. We use the rags for cleaning and the towels for grooming and keeping babies warm

I have some - can I mail them to you ???

I have baby blankets too ...what kind of clothes ?? I may have some I can send to you !!! I can't part with gifts and don't have alot - but I know the girls have stuff they don't wear

Basically old whatever (human clothes).......towels, etc They get cut up into rags and used to keep cages clean etc.

You can drop them off at your local shelter V. or if you want, you could definitely send them to our shelter. I can give you the address :)

I had naively asked the county shelter if I could volunteer when we adopted our cat. They told me they did not take volunteers. Afterwards I found out that usually they get so many animals that they "euthanize" adult cats after one day, and also that they throw all the animals, cats and dogs, into one room and gas them. In a way, I can see why they wouldn't take volunteers because volunteers are bound to be animal lovers and I doubt an animal lover can stand what goes on behind the scenes. I still wish I could have helped somehow. Also, people that work there have strange mannerisms, like they have died a little.
When we had adopted our cat, the lady at the counter had said "you are a lucky cat" to our cat and I had not quite figured out the reason until I found out more about the shelter. It's really sad.

yes...I'll take it - I'll drop off some of the things you mentioned in the shelter near me and if I have enough - I'll send some to your shelter too -

so I can take old t-shirts in ? I have probably 100 my husband doesn't wear anymore....his medication caused him to gain so much weight that he can't wear any of his old clothes ...:(

:( :( :( :( :( :( that was so hard to read....I hate that it's so true.

That is fantastc! T-shirts are great. ;)

v-just like you, i would just love to work or help out in one of those places,
but i just cant. i would be totally depressed... ive been to a shelter
about 2 times in my life and swore i woulnt go back.... i cried while i was
there and all the way home and couldnt stop thinking about it for weeks.
for me, its not a good thing... i just cant.. i would give anything i could
for those animals.. anything.

My daughter and I thought that we would volunteer our time too (especially since we homeschool and have more time then the average household, I guess)....we went in and they said that they could always use volunteers for everything...walking, outside play time, clean up, etc.

BUT this shelter kills their animals and we had tried to adopt from them a few years prior (when we had no animals for some reason - crazy, because we have always had pets)...anyway, we planned to adopt 2 adult dogs and 1 adult cat (cat for my grandmother who had just lost hers and yes, she wanted one)...anyway, they rejected our application because we didn't know why our old farm cat had died. I was alittle upset because for one, it cost $60 to adopt each animal and two, we were being honest and the farm cat was a stray that we just let stay in our barn....aurgh....when I asked about it, I told them that it was sad because 3 adult pets just lost out on a chance for a good home and that they shelter just lost almost $200....they told me that they actually lose money when animals are adopted???!!

Anyway, we had talked w/ a friend who had use to work w/ animals and he said that they do not support that shelter because they were not there to help the animals...that they don't care if they find homes or not! How crazy is that!

So, we decided not to volunteer because we couldn't stand the thought of the animals not being able to find homes and us knowing what is happening to them. Plus, my DH knew that I would be trying to adopt everyone of them if I could.

Another downside to this shelter, my youth group and wanted to do a fundraiser and donate needed items to the shelter. They had a long list on their website, so when I went in to set up everything and get a list of what they use constantly, they told me that they didn't really need the items, that they needed money more. I didn't really understand that (well, I know money is important, but why have such a long list of items)....anyway, we raised money instead, but we then split it between two shelters.

Aurgh....it is just crazy!

I know that some people look down on no-kill shelters too - I remember, in fact, reading a post about that here when I first joined! Crazy....I think that is great...and I totally back up and support these shelters like Best Friends Animal Shelter, etc. I know I make people made when I say this....but I think there is an over population of humans too....can't they be spayed/neutered too (hee,hee)....are we killing the homeless or abused or sick?? Really?!

I vounteered for just under a year with a local organization that places animals (cats) in PetSmart. They are no kill, and get their animals from kill shelters- taking the animals whose "time is up" first. The dogs are not kept in PetSmart, but in foster homes, with pictures and info at PetSmart, and coming out to the store for special dog day adoption events.

In under 1 year, I took home 4 cats. And I had 4 to begin with. It was very difficult for me to work there, even though it was no kill. Because you are still thinking, somewhere, there are animals being killed each day, because these are taking too long to get adopted. The ones I adopted were all black- in fact, all I ever adopt are black cats, they are the absolute last to go. Can you believe that in 2007 people still dislike black cats because of an old superstition? There was a mom and kitten set that they were asking to be adopted together (both black). The kitten was essentially growing up in a cage. After many months, I took them home. The large cage they were taking up could easily hold a litter of 5-6 kittens-which go fast.

After that, I stopped volunteering. I was spending every Saturday at PetSmart. I work full time. A full day away from my own animals was tough. (this was even before the 2 Yorkie puppies!) And remember too, depending on the set up, you may be dealing with the public. Which, not being used to since the retails days of high school for me, was startling.

You find out how ignorant people really are, and how unwilling to change they can be. How they prefer to live in their dim little worlds, rather than let the illumination of information shine in.

I am not trying to discourage anyone from volunteering, I am so grateful to those who can. I just know that for me, I cannot anymore.

Teresa

I volunteered at the shelter in my home town when I was in high school and didn't last more than a day. They actually "required" volunteers to assist with euthanizations to weed out those that wouldn't be able to handle the job, I guess. It was heartbreaking. I watched them bring in the first dog, a big happy fuzzy boy who was thrilled to be out of his kennel and had no idea what was coming to him. I just started bawling and walked out. :( At that shelter, they give animals two weeks, I think, and then they are automatically euthanized if nobody adopts them. It's so sad, and they kill soooo many perfectly good pets.

Our shelter here is different. They aren't a no kill shelter, but they will literally pack the place full before they start killing any animals. There's no time limit on how long an animal can be there. Still, I can't stand being in that place and seeing all those poor homeless animals. My aunt spends a lot of her free time there walking dogs, and I try to help in other ways by donating items they need. I had never thought of donating old clothes for rags. I've got tons of those laying around that I could take to them.

Ha ha ha, I get into trouble when I suggest the same thing, regarding the overpopulation of humans. Another conversation killer is instead of animal testing, why don't we use the inmates? More accurate results by using real humans!

I hear ya on the animal shelters and the dumb rules. I know it's important to be sure the animals get a good home and all, but geez! Reminds me of a local shelter here, we went to awhile back. The Saturday hours were 11-6. We got there around 4, walked around, had a cat all picked out, took him up to the counter to fill out the paperwork about 5:45, and the lady points to a sign facing on the way out that they stop taking adoptions 30 minutes before close. And they told us we had to come back the next day! We never did come back, they were closed on Sundays and we couldn't make it back out til the following Saturday. You would think with the over population of animals, they would have been happy to see another one go home. I know employees want to go home on time, but you would also think the shelter would have a rule that they needed to stay up to 30 minutes past close to complete adoptions, and then have the shelter close at 5 or something.

Teresa

I actually volunteer at the Humane League Shelter near me. To be a volunteer there you had to attend an informational meeting then go back and attend a 3 hour volunteer learning session. I've only been doing it since last October and never thought I could do it either. I help out with the laundry, which they always have lots of, wash the dog/cat bowls and give the dog/cat's treats. It is hard to see them in their cages, so everytime I give them a treat, I tell them I hope they get adopted soon. Shelters can usually always use towels, washcloths, blankets, treats, toys. Just doing what I do, makes me feel like I'm helping them in some small way and that makes me feel good.:)

While we are on the subject, does anyone ever feel guilty having these purebred little snots that have won our hearts? (I say this while one is sleeping on my lap, and the other just inches away from me on her own seat, she has to be independent). The 2 Yorkies I have are the only "breed" animals I have ever had. I always adopted from a shelter. But there is a sense of pride when I look at them, their beautiful hair, their Yorkie "strut" when they are locomoting all over the kitchen with a new toy, their big dog attitudes, and all else Yorkie. I just feel so bad thinking there are 2 dogs in a shelter somewhere that got the ax, because I had to get these from a breeder. (sorry if this is controversial, I just want to know what you think)

Teresa

Absolutely! I feel guilty quite often........but then again, everyone with kids and living in this country would too. I mean, look how many starving children there are in the world.......not to mention, kids waiting to be adopted. Nonetheless, people want to have their own ;) .......see where I am getting at?

I treat mine like the children they are to me. Heck, I might not even be able to have skin kids myself.....:(

Anyhow, I give them the best life I can afford.........and plenty of love.

YES !! Mine are my first yorkies but lately I feel so guilty too...add the money we spend on them and yikes :eek: ....so my way of dealing lately is to donate a little something and make it a regular thing...I don't have much but even small donations add up.

Yes I do feel guilty.Over here you do not see many Yorkies in rescue centres.Personaly I couldn't help out in a rescue centre,too upsetting.I try to do my bit by taking old clothes and blankets and things to my local centre.Sometimes buy cheap blankets from charity shops or car boot sales and they are always glad to receive dog food or treats.We have always had a rescue dog in our house and our present one is Bonnie who we have had for 7 years now.I also donate monthly to a national rescue.I like to think that I do my bit although I very rarely see the dogs.