And being under 16. I don't want a place that will put the animals to sleep if nobody claims them. I just want to be able to play with the dogs and brush/feed/love them for a few hours a day. Also, would that count as community service when I need to apply for college?
2007-03-08 08:43:46 · 13 answers · asked by Support Spears 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Community Service
Talk to your local humane society and your local volunteer shelter - they should be able to help you.
One thing, though, please be aware before you agree to the responsibility of becoming a volunteer that animal shelters need volunteers like you to do more than just play with and love the dogs. They need help washing the towels that are used as the dogs' bedding, and yes, their kennels need cleaned and their water needs changed.
Be aware that as a shelter volunteer they WILL ask you to help with these things. I am not saying that you won't ever get to play with or groom the dogs, but I am asking that you are aware that these things go into providing a loving shelter for these dogs until they are adopted and that they ARE necessary tasks to keep these dogs healthy, clean and happy. I just wanted you to have the WHOLE picture as to what really goes in to volunteering at a shelter.
Good Luck!
2007-03-09 05:47:13 · answer #1 · answered by sylvia 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want something like that, you shouldn't be working at an animal shelter. A kennel is your best bet - a place where people bring their dogs/cats/animals when they go on vacation, or leave them there for the day while they're at work, or bring them there to get groomed. Something like that. It is a really great experience. So look around for a local kennel or even a pet store (I'm sure the owners wont mind a pair of free hands lol) .
It does count as community service when you apply for college. If you don't plan on working there long, keep a record of how many hours you worked at the kennel or animal shelter. If you work there for an extended period of time, let them know how long. "I volunteered at _______ for 2 years and three months..." something like that. Make sure you get a letter from the owner of the place you decide to volunteer at with the name of the owner, the business, and a phone number you can reach them where they also say how long you have volunteered.
good luck!
2007-03-08 16:50:28 · answer #2 · answered by starsnmoons0101 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are plenty of places that will allow you to vollunteer. Check your phone book for local places. Many times a humane society needs people and they are generally no kill. Being under 16 you will need your parents permission to help these places. Each place has their own requirements you need to check with the place you choose. Most likely you would only be able to help out a few hours a week at your age, and they would have restrictions on the animals you can interact with. They use younger people for cage cleaning sometimes. It is definitly a good thing when going to apply to college. Especially if you are going into a science field, but it will count and look good as comunity service no matter what you go into.
2007-03-09 00:28:40 · answer #3 · answered by steffiegirl815 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest that you volunteer with a rescue organization rather than a shelter. Depending on your area, you may have everything from wildlife rescue centers to private individuals who network and rescue specific breeds of dog and then everything in between. Any of these people/groups would be thrilled to have a volunteer who was reliable. Of course, there may be things you cannot do yet because of your age, but there are plenty of things you CAN do.
Of course this will count as community service when you apply for college. You will also be able to get some letters of recommendation from the people in charge of the facility. Companion animal overpopulation due to irresponsible owners is a major problem in most urban areas. Anything you can do to help alleviate the problem, from working with the critters directly to educating the public, would count as community service.
The only thing I would really caution you on at this point is - it can be high burnout and very distressing. Depending on the type of facility, you may see things that haunt you the rest of your life. It still amazes me how cruel people can be to animals. I left veterinary medicine one year of college short of being eligible to take the test to be a doctor because I could no longer stand to see how some people treat their own pets. Now I donate money to rescue groups and let other people have the nightmares. I did my time.
Good luck and bless your little heart for wanting to help!
~Morg~
2007-03-08 16:57:12 · answer #4 · answered by morgorond 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I volunteer at a no kill animal shelter in Pennsylvania. One thing to consider is the state laws. In PA, due to liability, a person has to be 16 or older to work with the dogs.
However, at my shelter, I have noticed that we have very few volunteers that work with the cats. We have a cat room with many cats loose in it, but we have very few volunteers who go in and socialize with them.
It seems that people think of the dogs first and the poor cats don't get the attention that they desperately need. Whenever I go in there, they are all over me because they are starved for attention.
Please consider this until you turn 16.
Karen C.
2007-03-08 20:24:13 · answer #5 · answered by Karenpa 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Any time that you spend with a company on unpaid time is voluntary work - try volunteermatch.org. I don't know if a shelter will let you volunteer for just that - you need to write down your questions that you have and call up/visit the one closest to where you live, because there are ones that don't euthanize animals out there. Good luck & have fun volunteering!
2007-03-08 16:47:46 · answer #6 · answered by HappilyEverAfter 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds good. Just kind of be tenacious in trying to find a place that will let you help out.
It will count as community service. Any kind of volunteering shows that you are willing to go the extra mile. I put down my work with Habitat for Humanity.
Good Luck.
2007-03-08 16:49:08 · answer #7 · answered by Matthew L 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most shelters would be happy to let you volunteer. The biggest problem they have is with reliability. People get grand ideas about helping dogs and show up the first few times and then don't show up. I hope you would truly commit yourself before you do this and don't end up flaking out of your promises.
2007-03-08 16:47:07 · answer #8 · answered by David G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you shoud volunteer. i have experience it is alot of fun and it is so much fun to just be with the animals. you could also bring a friend so the animals can have more fun you can play doggy in the middle lol so yeah you should become a volunteer at an animal shelter
2007-03-08 16:48:24 · answer #9 · answered by zdk108 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is one of the nicest thing I have heard. My blessings to you my friend. There are shelters who do not put animals down but most do so you need to ask. Good luck to you. The world needs more folks like you
2007-03-08 16:56:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋