A Day Volunteering at the Animal Welfare Society

I love our local shelter, the Animal Welfare Society of New Milford.  I couldn’t wait to be old enough to volunteer at the shelter.  A lost of people think that volunteering at a shelter is either a LOT of work, which it is, or just  a little work, which  it could be.  What is REALLY important is that it’s a BIG COMMITTMENT.  A shelter depends on it’s volunteers a lot.   

This is what greeted me on my way in.  there were 3 sweet kitty cats sunning themselves onthe window sills!! 

 It was my birthday- and what  I wanted to do most of all was to be at the shelter.  So I got to go an extra day that week. I normally volunteer 2 days a week in the summer. but will do more if  it’s needed.  

  Some people thinking that volunteering at a shelter only means playing with the dogs and cats, but it’s  so much more! One of the very important jobs that have to be done is cleaning.  There is LOTS of cleaning.   We have to clean the  litter pans-  sweep floors, do laundry, yes, laundry.   

Everything has to be SUPER clean. If it’s not, then the animals can get sick!   We have to clean the cages, the yards, the sidewalks, too.  But, we do it because we wantour animals to have the best place to stay, other than their forever home, of course.

Mopping

Doin' Laundry!

Sweeping Floors

Sometimes there will be special animals who seem to have a need for some extra love. 

This little girl’s name is Bara.  She was such  a sweetie!   Her favorite place was in someone’s lap, cuddled up and begging for some love.   She has been  adopted!  I’m so happy for her, but it’s hard because sometimes you do get a little attached.   I spent a lot of time in her cage talking to her.   She came in with her brother, who still needs a home.  

We have quite a few dogs that have been waiting for a forever home for a while  Don’t they look so sad in their cages? 

 We have so many kittens right now. We are overwhelmed with kittens!  The sad thing is that a lot of people want kittens, and  they grow so quickly into  beautiful cats!   A cat is jsut a loving as a little kitten! 

Every animal in the shelter has to be socialized,  every day.   The dogs need to be walked. I love taking them for walks!

  If you find yourself with a little extra time, think about volunteering at your local  shelter.  There is always a need.  There is always things that need to be done, dogs to be walked, cats to be loved!