Caleb Deason of Texas is an avid community volunteer who enjoys spending his time at the local animal shelter. Being a shelter volunteer is quite a rewarding experience, but the responsibilities of such roles are often not fully understood. In the following article, Caleb Deason dives into the what is required of an animal shelter volunteer and describes the rewarding involvement of this experience.
As the unsung heroes of the large world of animal care, shelter volunteers give their own time, energy, and hard work into looking after the myriad of surrendered animals all over the country.
But what does the average day of an animal shelter volunteer look like? It may be surprising to hear that rather than simply stroking cats and walking dogs, shelter volunteers have very busy days packed with all manner of animal care duties.
Caleb Deason Says it’s More Than Petting the Animals
There may indeed be several moments during the day when a shelter volunteer gets to give pets, strokes, and hugs galore to the animals in their care. After all, being hands-on with animals is ikely what drove them to volunteer in this area from the start.
However, volunteering at a shelter really means so much more. Animals need care every single day of the year, so there’s always a need for workers to clean, feed, walk, and offer medical assistance to all the furry inhabitants of the shelter.
Caleb Deason of Texas notes that volunteers find the days they spend at animal shelters to fly by, as both practical and administrative tasks keep them busy. Then there’s also the meeting of new potential owners, as they look to introduce as many animals as possible to their forever homes.
In fact, plenty of volunteers find that not only do they love to spend time with all the animals they work with, but they develop brand new skills and learn more on the job than they ever thought possible.
Physical and Emotional Care
There’s no shortage of jobs to be done at any animal shelter. Dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, livestock, and even fish all have physical needs that must be attended to. This can mean plenty of cleaning kennels and litter trays, along with bath times, brushing, feeding, and walking.
Caleb Deason of Texas explains that volunteering is as much about being emotionally connected with the animals as it is about looking after their physical needs. That extra moment of quiet stroking and human touch can be just what an abandoned cat or dog needs. Making animals feel loved is a great reason to volunteer at a shelter.
It’s not just the animals who need support, though! Those who volunteer alongside regular shelter employees find that the support all the staff give one another is what builds strong teams that are ready to continue the fight for animal welfare.
Joining a local shelter as a volunteer can mean making plenty of new friends, both human and animal. It’s a role that’s guaranteed to bring a myriad of rewards, and every day is a new, different experience.
Many Decide to Take “Work” Home
Caleb Deason of Texas says that these volunteers are those who love animals and want to do all they can to help. That’s why it’s not uncommon for those who give their time in shelters to fall in love with an animal to the extent that they open their own home and adopt.
Some shelters have a very strict policy on adoption of animals by volunteers, however. They usually ask for a volunteer to work at the shelter for at least six months before they can finally adopt an animal, so they know for sure it’s a good match rather than just an impulsive decision.
Doing the right thing for abandoned and surrendered animals remains every shelter’s number one priority, but they also care deeply about the welfare of the hard-working volunteers who give of their time to help. When a match is right, though, then everyone is happy, reports Caleb Deason of Texas.
Volunteers are the True MVPs
While many are fortunate enough to make it their career to work with animals, others go one step further and work in animal shelters for zero financial gain. Without volunteers, the extra care given to animals would be simply impossible.
Caleb Deason of Texas says that there’s no shortage of the need for volunteers at animal shelters, and those who run such establishments are forever grateful to anyone who wishes to give their time, no matter their capabilities.
Those looking to get involved with volunteering at their local shelter shouldn’t delay. There’s bound to be a task or activity that every volunteer can help with. With a little on-site training and guidance, becoming part of the shelter family is as swift and simple as two shakes of a dog’s tail!
