Get Set for a Pet: Volunteer at a Local Shelter!
By Brittnee Maxfield
Are your children clamoring for a new pet in your household? Or are you thinking you might be ready for a dog or cat of your own, but not quite ready to commit? Volunteering with animals is a great way to spend time with them while deciding if you are really ready for a pet. Not only does it help you make the decision, and maybe even meet the per- fect animal, but donating your time is a wonderful gift to local animal by helping them to care for these pets. Volun- teering is also a great way for your family to spend time together, and to show your support for our community.
The Serve Fresno Initiative
In April of this year, Fresno Major Ashley Swearingen introduced her “Serve Fresno” initiative, asking Valley residents to pledge one million hours of volunteer service before April of 2011. That is only two hours of service per Fresno resident in the coming year! In those two hours, you can make a difference in the life of a homeless animal by volun- teering at a local shelter. There are opportunities at county animal control facilities, as well as community-funded no-kill shelters. You can find these volunteer opportunities by visiting the HandsOn Central California website at www.
handsoncentralcal.org, or by contacting a local animal shelter directly.
Opportunities for Volunteers of All Ages
Volunteer opportunities working with animals are now avail- able to children of all ages at one local no-kill shelter. Starting this September, the Valley Animal Center will offer a Junior Volunteer Program where children under the age of 12 can volunteer with their parents to help care for the animals. The shelter will continue to offer volunteer opportunities to children ages 12 to 17 and adults 18 and older as well, making volunteer experience accessible to the whole family.
Even the youngest volunteers can learn about giving to the community by collecting supplies for animals in shelters.
A Volunteer’s Role
At the Valley Animal Center, a small staff provides for the basic needs of over 400 animals each day, including feeding them, cleaning their kennels and condos, and providing for all of their medical care. However, without the help of vol- unteers, these animals do not receive one-on-one attention as often as they’d like. Your help is needed to simply love these animals, pet them, and make them feel at home while they await an adoptive family.
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