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Never Mind the Pink Sea Snail

There are a lot of real animals who need people out there, and a lot of people who need animals. Sometimes it just takes an introduction. For some time, I worked as a docent at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum - an organization that treats injured wildlife and re-releases them. In cases where the animals will never be fit for release, the museum employs them as wildlife ambassadors through educational programs, visitor interaction, and natural history exhibits - all with a mind to keeping the animals stimulated and comfortable (raptors, for example, sit on perches high above visitors and get several months time away from the museum each year). Now and then, I'd get to jess up the resident barn owl and share his unique life story with visitors. And although I grew up surrounded by pets, it was always a miraculous thing to earn the trust of such a grand and beautiful creature and to see how he made the faces of others light up.

Walk with the animals. Talk with the animals. Volunteer. Connect.

-Jenifer Morgan...off to chat to a chimp in chimpanzee...
Posted by: tmeronek on 07/27/2007
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Jess  on July 27, 2007 at 07:29 AM 1
Shelters and rescue groups are in desperate need of foster homes! Consider offering your home to foster a dog, mamma cat and kittens, rescued bird or bunny, or whatever animal calls to you. You'll be able to provide one on one attention they may not get in the shelter. It really improves their socialization! ---Jess (foster mom to several litters over the last 6 years)
Evelyn Saungikar  on July 27, 2007 at 07:56 AM 2
Finally, a bite that's not about shopping. Bravo!
Lou  on July 27, 2007 at 08:56 AM 3
Volunteering at my local Humane Society is by far the most mutually beneficial volunteering possible! I'm working on getting my five hours of dog-walking in, so I can qualify as a "paw-jama party" host, aka fostering a dog for a weekend!!
Shelley  on July 27, 2007 at 09:13 AM 4
I loved this tip! Unfortunately our local shelter doesn't let people volunteer anymore due to liability issues...:(...but they did tell me I could spend as much time as I wanted to there. I like to try to take extra goodies for the animals at holidays. I'm with you, Jen. I would take them all in if I could. (My husband is SO inhibiting that way!;) One of the things that just INFURIATES me is that so many people are willing to pony up hundreds of dollars for a purebred dog or cat while thousands of them are put to sleep. I've loved animals my whole life and I think they (and children) are the most precious things on earth. It breaks my heart that the whole world doesn't feel that way.:(
Marnie  on July 27, 2007 at 09:25 AM 5
Awesome tip today! I love volunteering at the local (no-kill)shelter: I know we're not ready to take on a little kitten at home, but at the shelter I get my kitten fix every week! Also, seeing a cat that's been around for a few months finally go to that perfect home is the ultimate in warm-fuzzy feelings.
Wayne  on July 27, 2007 at 09:25 AM 6
Our county run shelter doesn't take volunteers except for special events. A shame really. I have noticed that most of the private shelters and rescues have taken to securing their compounds and even moving them into the mountains to hide them from the general public in order to reduce the amount of animals left at their doorsteps. Seems getting ahold of them to volunteer is a nightmare. My wife used to volunteer at an Exotic Feline Breeding compound nearby. I used to work 7 days a week to support that effort. She did enjoy being around the panthers, tigers and other cats though.
Karen  on July 27, 2007 at 12:29 PM 7
Thanks for this great tip! My daughter and I have been volunteering at our the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society (CA) once a week for the last three years (since she was 7). She is the most dedicated volunteer I have ever seen; on the days when I'd rather just sit on the couch, she's the one who says we have to go keep the dogs & cats company. So many added bonuses to this volunteer opportunity: spending time with my daughter, showing her how wonderful it is to volunteer, feeling like we're really making a difference. And we've only come home with one new dog (to add to our first dog, cat, hamster & snake)!
Gudrun  on July 27, 2007 at 12:49 PM 8
Great tip! And thank you for not suggesting that everyone just run down to their local animal shelter and adopt a pet! While many people have wonderful intentions of adopting a pet and showering him or her with love and attention, the reality is that many homes are not ideal for pets for many reasons: owners with long work hours, extensive travel schedules or children with allergies. If you have the time and ability to care for a pet, great! But if you don't and you really need a pet fix, voluteering is a great alternative. It's a win-win, you get your pet fix and the animal gets your undivided, loving attention! I volunteer at a large animal shelter that "employs" over 250 volunteers. I work a three hour shift once a week, helping to socialize or train dogs to become better canine citizens. Sometimes it breaks my heart but every week I fall in love.
Leigh O'Bryan  on July 27, 2007 at 12:52 PM 9
FYI - you urge people to volunteer at their local humane society and give a link to www.hsus.org which, actually, is not directly affiliated with local "humane societies" but rather works to protect animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work. HSUS (The Humane Society of the U.S.) is a great organization in that one of the many things it does is provide training programs, outreach, disaster assistance and more to local animal shelters. Not all organizations with the name "humane society" are related to each other. Anyone can open an organization and call itself "The Humane Society of (fill in the blank)". Just thought I'd share that bit of info with you and, if someone is interested in finding the nearest shelter to volunteer, Pets 911 (also given in the bite), is the best link to use. Spay and neuter everyone! And adopt from your local shelter rather than buying from a pet store or breeder! Thanks!
Elizabeth  on July 27, 2007 at 12:55 PM 10
I recently started volunteering for the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon and it has been so rewarding!!!! Not only do I get to spend time around animals, but I am helping to control the feral cat population, which in turn helps to control the amount of cats that end up in shelters. I strongly recommend volunteering for the FCCO or a similar program in your area.
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