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My Experience Volunteering at an Animal Shelter

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So, I found a plan B: volunteering at my local animal shelter. I realized that I didn’t need a fancy internship just to get the hands-on experience I was looking for. So, I spent the summer volunteering, and it was probably the best decision I have ever made.

Working at an animal shelter isn’t the most glamorous work. I can tell you from firsthand experience: Do not wear your favorite shirt when training the dogs how to sit and stay because the big slobbering kiss that the Boxer is going to give you is going all over it.  I wouldn’t wear new sneakers when feeding the cats either, especially near that one black tabby who shows her displeasure of particular food by spitting it out at random targets.

Despite all this, it’s an amazing and rewarding experience. While there are many tough chores, like cleaning up after the animals and washing their dirty beds, there are also fun ways to directly interact with the animals. I always love walking around and deciding which dog to take to the training room to teach new tricks. It’s always a difficult decision because the dogs always get so excited to see you, and it can be hard to just pick one.

I remember teaching a mixed breed Collie how to sit, and when I came back the next time, another volunteer had taught her how to do paw. So every time I came with a treat, without even giving the commands, she immediately sat and gave me her paw. The experience was as motivating and exciting as it was to teach my own Labradoodle puppy to do the same tricks. In addition to teaching the dogs tricks, you can also take them on walks and train them how to act appropriately on a walk. This is probably the most difficult task because each dog acts differently on their walk, and it becomes hard to gauge how each dog will react in certain situations.

When I first came to the shelter, I have to admit I was terrified of cats. But when I came with my friend, a cat lover, she convinced me to “socialize” the cats and interact with one of them directly. Slowly, my fear subsided, and now I love playing with the cats. While I still prefer hanging out with the dogs, I make sure to set aside enough time to go to the cat room during a visit, especially because most volunteers only come for the dogs.

Many people don’t realize the importance of donations for a shelter’s survival. Shelters often run low on basic and necessary supplies, like newspapers and towels. When I heard about this, I solicited small donations from my school to allow the shelter to purchase necessities, which made the shelter extremely grateful. People also don’t realize that in order to get involved, they don’t need to work hands-on at the shelter. There are so many other ways to contribute: raising money, soliciting donations, or even helping out at the front desk.

So, if you’re not a big fan of animals but still want to help, there are other ways to do so. Ultimately, plan B was a great decision!

doria

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Essay on Animal Shelter

Students are often asked to write an essay on Animal Shelter in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Animal Shelter

What is an animal shelter.

An animal shelter is a place where stray, lost, or abandoned animals are kept. They provide a temporary home for these animals. The workers at the shelter feed them, take care of their health, and try to find them a new, loving home.

The Importance of Animal Shelters

Animal shelters play a crucial role in our society. They protect animals that have no home and might be in danger. Shelters help control the population of stray animals. They also work to find these animals a caring family where they can live happily.

Adoption from Animal Shelters

Adopting a pet from an animal shelter can be a rewarding experience. It gives a new life to the animal and brings joy to the adopter. Adoption also helps the shelter to make room for more animals in need.

Volunteering at Animal Shelters

People can help animal shelters in many ways. One way is by volunteering. Volunteers help feed the animals, clean their areas, and sometimes even train them. This work is important and helps the shelter care for all the animals.

Donations to Animal Shelters

Animal shelters need money to run. They use the money for food, medical care, and other needs of the animals. Donations from people can help a lot. Even small amounts can make a big difference to the lives of these animals.

250 Words Essay on Animal Shelter

An animal shelter is a place where stray, lost, or abandoned animals are kept. These places provide a temporary home for animals that don’t have one. They get food, water, a safe place to sleep, and lots of love from the people who work there.

Why are Animal Shelters Important?

Animal shelters are very important for many reasons. The main one is that they help protect animals that are in trouble. They rescue animals that are lost or have been left by their owners. Also, they help to control the number of stray animals on the streets. This is good for both animals and people.

What Happens in an Animal Shelter?

In an animal shelter, animals are taken care of by trained staff. They are given food, medical care, and a safe place to stay. The staff also tries to find new homes for these animals. This is called adoption. People who want to have a pet can come to the shelter and adopt an animal.

How Can We Help Animal Shelters?

We can help animal shelters in many ways. We can donate money or items like food and blankets. We can also volunteer our time to help take care of the animals. The most important way is by adopting a pet from a shelter instead of buying one. This way, we give a home to an animal that really needs it.

In conclusion, animal shelters are very important. They help animals in need and also help our communities. We can all do our part to support them and make sure they can continue their good work.

500 Words Essay on Animal Shelter

An animal shelter is a place where stray, lost, abandoned, or surrendered animals, mostly dogs and cats, are housed. They are also called “pound” or “animal rescue center”. People who run these places care for animals until they find a new home. They feed them, give them a safe place to live, and provide medical care if needed.

The Purpose of Animal Shelters

The main goal of an animal shelter is to provide a temporary home for animals who don’t have one. They help protect animals from dangers on the streets like accidents, harsh weather, or bad people. Shelters also help control the population of stray animals. They do this by neutering or spaying the animals, which means they can’t have babies. This is important because there are already too many homeless animals in the world.

One of the best things about animal shelters is that they let people adopt pets. This means taking a pet home to become part of your family. Shelters have many different types of animals, so you can choose the one that fits best with your family. Adopting a pet from a shelter is a great thing to do because it gives a home to an animal that really needs one. It also makes room in the shelter for another animal that needs help.

Shelters do a lot of good work, but they often need help. One way to help is by volunteering. This means giving some of your time to help out. Volunteers might feed the animals, clean their cages, or play with them to keep them happy. Volunteering at a shelter can be a great way to help animals. Plus, it feels good to do something nice for others.

Another way to help animal shelters is by giving donations. This could be money, food, blankets, toys, or other things that the shelter needs. Donations help the shelter keep running and provide for the animals. Even a small donation can make a big difference.

Animal shelters play a very important role in our society. They provide a safe haven for homeless animals, help control the animal population, and offer an opportunity for people to adopt a new family member. By volunteering or making a donation, you can support these shelters and contribute to a great cause. Remember, every animal deserves a safe, loving home, and animal shelters are a big step in making that happen.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

  • Essay on Animal Rights
  • Essay on Animal Exploitation
  • Essay on Animals Also Have Feelings

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write a great community service essay.

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College Admissions , Extracurriculars

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Are you applying to a college or a scholarship that requires a community service essay? Do you know how to write an essay that will impress readers and clearly show the impact your work had on yourself and others?

Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for writing a great community service essay that will help you stand out and be memorable.

What Is a Community Service Essay? Why Do You Need One?

A community service essay is an essay that describes the volunteer work you did and the impact it had on you and your community. Community service essays can vary widely depending on specific requirements listed in the application, but, in general, they describe the work you did, why you found the work important, and how it benefited people around you.

Community service essays are typically needed for two reasons:

#1: To Apply to College

  • Some colleges require students to write community service essays as part of their application or to be eligible for certain scholarships.
  • You may also choose to highlight your community service work in your personal statement.

#2: To Apply for Scholarships

  • Some scholarships are specifically awarded to students with exceptional community service experiences, and many use community service essays to help choose scholarship recipients.
  • Green Mountain College offers one of the most famous of these scholarships. Their "Make a Difference Scholarship" offers full tuition, room, and board to students who have demonstrated a significant, positive impact through their community service

Getting Started With Your Essay

In the following sections, I'll go over each step of how to plan and write your essay. I'll also include sample excerpts for you to look through so you can get a better idea of what readers are looking for when they review your essay.

Step 1: Know the Essay Requirements

Before your start writing a single word, you should be familiar with the essay prompt. Each college or scholarship will have different requirements for their essay, so make sure you read these carefully and understand them.

Specific things to pay attention to include:

  • Length requirement
  • Application deadline
  • The main purpose or focus of the essay
  • If the essay should follow a specific structure

Below are three real community service essay prompts. Read through them and notice how much they vary in terms of length, detail, and what information the writer should include.

From the Equitable Excellence Scholarship:

"Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words."

From the Laura W. Bush Traveling Scholarship:

"Essay (up to 500 words, double spaced) explaining your interest in being considered for the award and how your proposed project reflects or is related to both UNESCO's mandate and U.S. interests in promoting peace by sharing advances in education, science, culture, and communications."

From the LULAC National Scholarship Fund:

"Please type or print an essay of 300 words (maximum) on how your academic studies will contribute to your personal & professional goals. In addition, please discuss any community service or extracurricular activities you have been involved in that relate to your goals."

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Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas

Even after you understand what the essay should be about, it can still be difficult to begin writing. Answer the following questions to help brainstorm essay ideas. You may be able to incorporate your answers into your essay.

  • What community service activity that you've participated in has meant the most to you?
  • What is your favorite memory from performing community service?
  • Why did you decide to begin community service?
  • What made you decide to volunteer where you did?
  • How has your community service changed you?
  • How has your community service helped others?
  • How has your community service affected your plans for the future?

You don't need to answer all the questions, but if you find you have a lot of ideas for one of two of them, those may be things you want to include in your essay.

Writing Your Essay

How you structure your essay will depend on the requirements of the scholarship or school you are applying to. You may give an overview of all the work you did as a volunteer, or highlight a particularly memorable experience. You may focus on your personal growth or how your community benefited.

Regardless of the specific structure requested, follow the guidelines below to make sure your community service essay is memorable and clearly shows the impact of your work.

Samples of mediocre and excellent essays are included below to give you a better idea of how you should draft your own essay.

Step 1: Hook Your Reader In

You want the person reading your essay to be interested, so your first sentence should hook them in and entice them to read more. A good way to do this is to start in the middle of the action. Your first sentence could describe you helping build a house, releasing a rescued animal back to the wild, watching a student you tutored read a book on their own, or something else that quickly gets the reader interested. This will help set your essay apart and make it more memorable.

Compare these two opening sentences:

"I have volunteered at the Wishbone Pet Shelter for three years."

"The moment I saw the starving, mud-splattered puppy brought into the shelter with its tail between its legs, I knew I'd do whatever I could to save it."

The first sentence is a very general, bland statement. The majority of community service essays probably begin a lot like it, but it gives the reader little information and does nothing to draw them in. On the other hand, the second sentence begins immediately with action and helps persuade the reader to keep reading so they can learn what happened to the dog.

Step 2: Discuss the Work You Did

Once you've hooked your reader in with your first sentence, tell them about your community service experiences. State where you work, when you began working, how much time you've spent there, and what your main duties include. This will help the reader quickly put the rest of the essay in context and understand the basics of your community service work.

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Not including basic details about your community service could leave your reader confused.

Step 3: Include Specific Details

It's the details of your community service that make your experience unique and memorable, so go into the specifics of what you did.

For example, don't just say you volunteered at a nursing home; talk about reading Mrs. Johnson her favorite book, watching Mr. Scott win at bingo, and seeing the residents play games with their grandchildren at the family day you organized. Try to include specific activities, moments, and people in your essay. Having details like these let the readers really understand what work you did and how it differs from other volunteer experiences.

Compare these two passages:

"For my volunteer work, I tutored children at a local elementary school. I helped them improve their math skills and become more confident students."

"As a volunteer at York Elementary School, I worked one-on-one with second and third graders who struggled with their math skills, particularly addition, subtraction, and fractions. As part of my work, I would create practice problems and quizzes and try to connect math to the students' interests. One of my favorite memories was when Sara, a student I had been working with for several weeks, told me that she enjoyed the math problems I had created about a girl buying and selling horses so much that she asked to help me create math problems for other students."

The first passage only gives basic information about the work done by the volunteer; there is very little detail included, and no evidence is given to support her claims. How did she help students improve their math skills? How did she know they were becoming more confident?

The second passage is much more detailed. It recounts a specific story and explains more fully what kind of work the volunteer did, as well as a specific instance of a student becoming more confident with her math skills. Providing more detail in your essay helps support your claims as well as make your essay more memorable and unique.

Step 4: Show Your Personality

It would be very hard to get a scholarship or place at a school if none of your readers felt like they knew much about you after finishing your essay, so make sure that your essay shows your personality. The way to do this is to state your personal strengths, then provide examples to support your claims. Take some time to think about which parts of your personality you would like your essay to highlight, then write about specific examples to show this.

  • If you want to show that you're a motivated leader, describe a time when you organized an event or supervised other volunteers.
  • If you want to show your teamwork skills, write about a time you helped a group of people work together better.
  • If you want to show that you're a compassionate animal lover, write about taking care of neglected shelter animals and helping each of them find homes.

Step 5: State What You Accomplished

After you have described your community service and given specific examples of your work, you want to begin to wrap your essay up by stating your accomplishments. What was the impact of your community service? Did you build a house for a family to move into? Help students improve their reading skills? Clean up a local park? Make sure the impact of your work is clear; don't be worried about bragging here.

If you can include specific numbers, that will also strengthen your essay. Saying "I delivered meals to 24 home-bound senior citizens" is a stronger example than just saying "I delivered meals to lots of senior citizens."

Also be sure to explain why your work matters. Why is what you did important? Did it provide more parks for kids to play in? Help students get better grades? Give people medical care who would otherwise not have gotten it? This is an important part of your essay, so make sure to go into enough detail that your readers will know exactly what you accomplished and how it helped your community.

"My biggest accomplishment during my community service was helping to organize a family event at the retirement home. The children and grandchildren of many residents attended, and they all enjoyed playing games and watching movies together."

"The community service accomplishment that I'm most proud of is the work I did to help organize the First Annual Family Fun Day at the retirement home. My job was to design and organize fun activities that senior citizens and their younger relatives could enjoy. The event lasted eight hours and included ten different games, two performances, and a movie screening with popcorn. Almost 200 residents and family members attended throughout the day. This event was important because it provided an opportunity for senior citizens to connect with their family members in a way they aren't often able to. It also made the retirement home seem more fun and enjoyable to children, and we have seen an increase in the number of kids coming to visit their grandparents since the event."

The second passage is stronger for a variety of reasons. First, it goes into much more detail about the work the volunteer did. The first passage only states that she helped "organize a family event." That really doesn't tell readers much about her work or what her responsibilities were. The second passage is much clearer; her job was to "design and organize fun activities."

The second passage also explains the event in more depth. A family day can be many things; remember that your readers are likely not familiar with what you're talking about, so details help them get a clearer picture.

Lastly, the second passage makes the importance of the event clear: it helped residents connect with younger family members, and it helped retirement homes seem less intimidating to children, so now some residents see their grand kids more often.

Step 6: Discuss What You Learned

One of the final things to include in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you. You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill.

You can also talk about how you changed personally. Are you more patient now? More understanding of others? Do you have a better idea of the type of career you want? Go into depth about this, but be honest. Don't say your community service changed your life if it didn't because trite statements won't impress readers.

In order to support your statements, provide more examples. If you say you're more patient now, how do you know this? Do you get less frustrated while playing with your younger siblings? Are you more willing to help group partners who are struggling with their part of the work? You've probably noticed by now that including specific examples and details is one of the best ways to create a strong and believable essay .

"As a result of my community service, I learned a lot about building houses and became a more mature person."

"As a result of my community service, I gained hands-on experience in construction. I learned how to read blueprints, use a hammer and nails, and begin constructing the foundation of a two-bedroom house. Working on the house could be challenging at times, but it taught me to appreciate the value of hard work and be more willing to pitch in when I see someone needs help. My dad has just started building a shed in our backyard, and I offered to help him with it because I know from my community service how much work it is. I also appreciate my own house more, and I know how lucky I am to have a roof over my head."

The second passage is more impressive and memorable because it describes the skills the writer learned in more detail and recounts a specific story that supports her claim that her community service changed her and made her more helpful.

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Step 7: Finish Strong

Just as you started your essay in a way that would grab readers' attention, you want to finish your essay on a strong note as well. A good way to end your essay is to state again the impact your work had on you, your community, or both. Reiterate how you changed as a result of your community service, why you found the work important, or how it helped others.

Compare these two concluding statements:

"In conclusion, I learned a lot from my community service at my local museum, and I hope to keep volunteering and learning more about history."

"To conclude, volunteering at my city's American History Museum has been a great experience. By leading tours and participating in special events, I became better at public speaking and am now more comfortable starting conversations with people. In return, I was able to get more community members interested in history and our local museum. My interest in history has deepened, and I look forward to studying the subject in college and hopefully continuing my volunteer work at my university's own museum."

The second passage takes each point made in the first passage and expands upon it. In a few sentences, the second passage is able to clearly convey what work the volunteer did, how she changed, and how her volunteer work benefited her community.

The author of the second passage also ends her essay discussing her future and how she'd like to continue her community service, which is a good way to wrap things up because it shows your readers that you are committed to community service for the long-term.

What's Next?

Are you applying to a community service scholarship or thinking about it? We have a complete list of all the community service scholarships available to help get your search started!

Do you need a community service letter as well? We have a step-by-step guide that will tell you how to get a great reference letter from your community service supervisor.

Thinking about doing community service abroad? Before you sign up, read our guide on some of the hazards of international volunteer trips and how to know if it's the right choice for you.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Volunteering at an Animal Shelter: How to Get Started

Here’s what to expect when volunteering at an animal shelter — from the moment you apply to the day you pet your first puppy or kitten.

Volunteering at an Animal Shelter

People volunteer with animals for many reasons, but not everyone is ready for the commitment involved.

On the surface, volunteering at a shelter may just look like petting kittens and walking puppies. In reality, shelters need a lot more from their volunteers.

First, contact your preferred shelter and find out what their volunteer needs are. Although many shelters are always in need of extra hands , some are fortunate enough to have more than enough volunteers and may have a waiting list.

You may be required to:

  • Fill out an application
  • Attend an orientation
  • Make a tax-deductible donation (to cover potential costs associated with volunteering)
  • Participate in training courses
  • Sign a liability waiver

Every shelter follows its own set of guidelines regarding volunteers. Some have rigid procedures; others require no more than a signature and identification before handing over a leash.

animal shelter volunteer essay

Responsibilities When Volunteering at an Animal Shelter

You may wonder what sort of duties you could be responsible for as a volunteer. Chances are your shelter is wondering what sort of duties you’d be willing to perform beyond playing the day away with masses of puppies.

Although lots of face time with puppies and kittens may very well be requested of you, other needs may include:

  • Walking dogs
  • Socializing cats
  • Showing pets to potential adopters
  • Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning
  • Photographing pets
  • Landscaping
  • Office tasks such as printing or copying

Decide what tasks you’d be most comfortable with initially and make sure the staff is aware of any limitations you have. As you spend more time volunteering, you’ll find a good routine and may even take on more hours and responsibilities.

Check out this multitude of jobs performed by animal shelter volunteers:

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Commitment When Volunteering at an Animal Shelter

Because most are nonprofits, shelters need volunteers to keep operations running smoothly and the doors open to the public.

If volunteers are in such dire need, then, why do some shelters have such complicated application processes? Believe it or not, it’s not to frustrate or deter you — it’s to ensure that you are committed and reliable .

Too often, shelters receive interest from people who aren’t prepared to dedicate more than 1 or 2 visits at the most. If each volunteer needs training to handle the animals and understand standard procedures, the process is a waste when trained volunteers quit after spending as little as 20 minutes playing with the animals.

Here’s what you can do to prepare yourself for volunteering:

  • Set aside at least 2 hours per week specifically for spending at the shelter.
  • Turn your volunteer time into part of your routine so it’s harder to skip.
  • Consider becoming a volunteer with a friend or family member so you can go together.

Reliability is one of the most important characteristics needed in volunteers. Shelters need to know they can count on a core group of people to keep the animals healthy and happy. So if you know that you plan to volunteer only for a limited time, inform the staff when you apply.

Volunteering at an animal shelter

15 Things to Know Before Volunteering at an Animal Shelter

Volunteering at an animal shelter can be a rewarding experience with many benefits. It also helps shelters that are low on labor continue their endless care of animals.

Shelters are not all created equal, and volunteering can be very different from one city to the next.

If you’re thinking of helping out at your local shelter, here are some things you need to know before grabbing your volunteer T-shirt and diving straight in:

1. Time Commitment

Shelters may have a set schedule for their volunteers, so you might not be able to sign up for just an event or pop in when you have a free day.

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animal shelter volunteer essay

There might also be a minimum amount of hours to meet to keep your volunteer title, so always ask up front what’s expected of you.

2. Training Requirements

You may be required to complete a training program or class before you can work at the shelter. Training may be given for each individual or, like at my shelter, held only once per month.

Ask when the next training will be available and how long it will take.

3. Tasks Involved

This item is particularly important. What you may end up doing can be far from what you imagine.

  • Are you allergic to cats but not dogs, or vice versa?
  • Do you detest poop but are happy to pass out fliers or answer the phones?

There are many tasks involved for the shelter to keep running, so ask what is available and see which tasks you prefer to tackle.

4. Animal Types and Sizes

Check to see what types of animals are housed or taken in at the shelter before signing up.

Most shelters have cats and dogs, but some may take in birds, rats or snakes. If you have an aversion to any type of animal, ask which ones you will be expected to assist.

Some shelters have separate buildings for cats and dogs.

5. Weather Conditions

Indoor areas are normally climate-controlled, but you may have to work in outdoor areas or runs for the animals.

Extreme heat or cold may be possible depending on your location, so be prepared to work with the elements or request indoor-only work.

animal shelter volunteer essay

6. Accident and Injury Policy

You may be volunteering at your own risk. Some facilities may require you to sign a waiver so that they will not be held liable if you are injured or involved in an accident.

If this is a major concern for you, ask about it in advance.

7. Equipment Use

Different types of equipment may be required for certain jobs.

Ask about the tools you will need to perform for your volunteering duties in case it’s something unexpected. Office work uses pretty standard equipment, but you might need to use pressure washers or construction equipment.

8. Noise Level

Even though shelters may take excellent care of their animals, even my own facility can be ear splitting with nonstop barking at times.

The cat cottage is much quieter, but if noise is a concern you might want to ask where you will be working and with which animals. Ear plugs are not an unusual sight.

9. Scared Animals

Not every animal at the shelter is used to being there or enjoys their surroundings, and they may be just as scared of you as you are of them.

As you get to know the animals, they can become more comfortable around you.

If you are unsure about approaching an animal, ask a shelter employee for assistance first. Accidents can and do happen, and sometimes a scratch or bite is just a scared animal’s way of trying to protect itself.

10. Applications

Shelters may require you to complete a paper or online application before you can be considered for volunteer work.

These applications can vary greatly. Some may ask for basic information such as your address or phone number, while others may require employment history, references and more.

Ask for a sample application if it’s required, and feel free to ask questions about the information they are requesting.

11. Allergies

Even if your duties restrict you to an office, being inside an animal shelter is a sure bet that you will come into contact with pet hair and dander. This shouldn’t deter you, though — there are plenty of ways you can help the shelter without having to be inside.

Graphic design, passing out handbills, volunteering at a fundraiser and more are all great ways to get involved without the fur flying by your nose.

12. Volunteer Overload

Shelters can be overflowing with volunteers sometimes, and they may not need or want to take on additional volunteers. Don’t fret.

Check around at other shelters or call rescue organizations to see if they can use some help. This could be anything from working with the animals to doing graphic design or helping them advertise available animals for adoption.

13. Shelter Expectations

If you haven’t been to your local shelter yet, stop by and ask for a tour. Shelters are operated differently — some may resemble a clinic or zoo while others are underfunded and understaffed. If your priority is helping a no-kill shelter, ask if they euthanize animals before you sign up.

Many shelters operate veterinary services at their locations, and those will involve euthanizations for ill pets. The type of euthanasia mentioned previously refers to shelters that euthanize animals due to overcrowding.

Unfortunately, many places still do this across the country, so ask up front if it’s a sticky point for you.

14. Animal Person May Not Equal a People Person

Some people work with animals because they prefer their company over people. In short, don’t take offense if someone seems a little quiet or shy. You have a common interest at heart, and talking about animals is a sure way to strike up a conversation.

15. Heartbreak

If you volunteer at a kill shelter, it can be heartbreaking to see animals you have come to know and love be taken for euthanasia. Even in a no-kill shelter like mine it’s easy to get attached to the animals and miss them once they are adopted.

You will also see animals in pain, dealing with injuries, trying to recover from abuse or even being returned after being adopted.

The key to being fully prepared before volunteering is getting the answers to the above questions. Also, be honest and realistic about how much time and effort you can spare.

By: MendocinoAnimalCare

7 Benefits of Volunteering at an Animal Shelter

From a practical standpoint, volunteering for a nonprofit organization is a great addition to your resume. It is also an easy way to open some doors if you’re looking to land a paying job in a shelter.

Here are 7 benefits of volunteering at an animal shelter:

1. Meet new friends. You will be surrounded by people who love animals as much as you do, and they might even become your lifelong friends. This widens your social circle and incorporates compassionate people who share your interest in helping animals. Guinea pigs, rabbits and even birds end up in shelters, so you’ll also learn about other animals too.

2. Your efforts will help an animal get ready and increase its chances for a new home. Animals coming into the shelter vary according to their needs. A feral cat may need to be socialized , a dog may have mats to remove or a guinea pig may be underweight. Animals that appear happy and healthy have a higher chance of being adopted, and shelters need your help to achieve this.

3. Boost your mood — and your health. Volunteering gives us a sense of satisfaction for helping others, can lower stress, make you feel needed and appreciated, increase happiness and so much more. A study reported on in Natural Health magazine in 2007 showed that 95% of volunteers surveyed said they gained a “helper’s high” — a feeling of euphoria and energy. Volunteering truly is a feel-good activity, and what better way to spend the day than with cuddly and furry friends?

4. Gain experience. Whether you’re working the phones, stuffing mailers, grooming or arranging meet-and-greet sessions with potential owners, you are gaining experience in many areas that can have great benefits in other areas of your life. Young adults can become better acquainted with animals, experience a set schedule of responsibilities, and gain a reference for an employment or college application. Working adults may include it on their resume or incorporate animal shelters into their work-related events and charitable causes. Someone who is unemployed can get a boost of self-esteem and confidence by being part of a vital team while looking for work.

5. Trying something new is fun! A new activity can be exciting and a change of pace for a mundane or repetitive schedule. Why not make that something new be volunteering? You will gain a host of other benefits, and the rush of happiness when a pet you helped gets a new “forever home” is nothing short of amazing.

6. Stay active. Being a volunteer keeps your mind, body and emotions active and healthy. Sitting at home on weekends in front of a television can get boring and leave many of your talents unused. Volunteering that time instead keeps you thinking, moving and feeling, and can help increase physical mobility. Besides, playing with a puppy sounds much more fun than being a couch potato!

7. Become part of a very important team. Animal shelters need money and people to stay open. Some of them face closure constantly, and you could be that one extra hand that helps another pet get adopted, shepherds through another donation or encourages a new person to volunteer. The ASPCA estimates that there are about 5,000 shelters across the country, and these shelters take in an average of five to seven million animals per year. The animals keep coming, and more people are needed every day.

Volunteering can be a long-term commitment and may not always be easy or convenient, but if you can stick with it, volunteering with animals is one of the most rewarding experiences available. All it requires is a little dedication and a whole lot of love.

Kristine Lacoste, Petful’s editor in chief — and an animal shelter volunteer — contributed to this article.

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Top Tips for Volunteer Success in an Animal Shelter or Rescue

a volunteer kneels on the sidewalk next to a shepherd type dog as it lays its paw on her forearm

Want your volunteers to embrace their work with commitment and enthusiasm? Here’s how to establish a win-win relationship with these critical and often unsung heroes that will have them inspired, empowered, and engaged. From transparency to accessibility to recognition and training, volunteers need straightforward information from recruitment through onboarding and (hopefully) years into their commitment to your animal shelter or rescue.

To ensure volunteer success, use these tips to create a motivating environment to retain your most crucial and valuable assets: your volunteers.

Be Accessible and Inclusive

Focus your messaging on how volunteers can best serve your organization to help prospective volunteers make an informed decision: is your program right for them? Consider these essential elements for proactive messaging and volunteer recruitment:

  • Provide need-to-know information before  application submission (volunteer tasks, animals’ needs, etc.)
  • Why consider your program
  • How do community members get involved
  • Minimum standards to participate (age, availability, proximity, etc.)
  • Skills (highlight which are nice to have and which are required)
  • Time commitment and schedule (highlight flexible schedule opportunities)
  • Diverse volunteer roles and tasks, including those outside the shelter, like outreach, lost pet support, or foster.
  • Where and when are opportunities available?

Though there will always be top volunteer needs operationally, attracting animal lovers of all interests and skill sets is helpful. Encouraging and empowering volunteers to be creative, whether their thing is social media, data, or baking, can increase your community engagement and lead to even more volunteer and donor support.

Another critical step in volunteer engagement is their onboarding. Streamlining the onboarding process helps reduce both short-term and long-term frustration for volunteers and staff and increases inspiration and motivation for new volunteers:

  • Be flexible: Consider “fast-tracking” volunteers with known skills.
  • Orient your volunteers to a culture of feedback;  check out this sample.
  • Consider providing a pre-recorded training to describe the program before the prospective volunteers commit to reduce staff time and applicant frustration.
  • Involve volunteers to train fellow volunteers – this empowers the mentors and inspires the mentees!

Be Transparent and Set Expectations

Be transparent with your volunteers so they have a deeper understanding of your organization’s opportunities and struggles. This will increase trust and empowerment.

  • What are the needs of your animal population?
  • What challenges might volunteers face (i.e., humane euthanasia decisions and compassion fatigue)?
  • Are there opportunities to meet with or shadow different staff roles to learn new ways to help?

Engage volunteers to help where the needs are greatest.

  • Motivate volunteers to support vital operational work (e.g., laundry, kennel cleaning) by asking them to do the “dirty work before the furry work.” Highlight the importance of this work for proper integrated care and overall animal health.
  • What is available?
  • What is required to get started?
  • Who can help train them or “buddy up” for role shadowing?
  • How will they be supported?

Train and Empower

Training means retaining . Follow these training tips to ensure your volunteers are prepared for duty, maximize their potential, and stick around for the long term.

  • Provide clear and concise training (written, oral, video, and signage).
  • Partner them with staff or experienced volunteers.
  • Encourage – and provide access to – ongoing animal welfare education.
  • Offer progressive training opportunities for growth.

Also, check out these  3 Tips to Train Volunteers with Staying Power .

Recognize and Support

Retain and cultivate volunteers as essential team members by fostering a sense of community and appreciation. These tips will help nurture a culture of volunteer value within your organization:

  • Prioritize making good use of volunteers’ time.
  • Offer social opportunities and events that include volunteers and staff.
  • Empower staff to lead and coach volunteers.
  • Recognize volunteers’ contributions with regular expressions of gratitude for their commitment.
  • Provide development pathways to advancement and track accomplishments.
  • Cultivate peer support programs (mentors).
  • Commit to understanding your volunteers’ experience and feedback.
  • Provide proactive communications that include changes, new opportunities, and success stories.

These essential elements will ultimately contribute to volunteers’ motivation and overall success— at the shelter and in the community as your advocates. By recognizing your volunteers’ dedication towards animal welfare, you will increase their investment in your organization, and vice versa.

We have lots more on this subject:

Featured Tools & Tips

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Tips to Showcase Your Volunteer Appreciation

Get inspired from these easy & accessible ways to show your volunteers the appreciation they so deserve.

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5 Ways to Show Volunteers How Important They Are

You know your volunteers are vital. Here are volunteer appreciation tips to help make sure they know it, too!

Explore ASPCApro Tools & Tips by Topic:

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  • Enrichment & Behavior
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A Day in the Life of Animal Shelter Volunteers

Standing on the threshold of the dog cage, 8-year-old Mike Tomlin eyed the black Labrador retriever with some uncertainty. He had arrived, with his parents, to find a canine companion at the Marti Huizenga Animal Shelter in Fort Lauderdale, FL. But he never owned a dog before, and he didn’t know how to approach him. Luckily there were several excellent animal shelter volunteers there to help.

For his part, the lab was also cautious. A lot of people had passed his cage that Saturday. Some petted him; others ignored him. But no one chose him. By the afternoon, he was tired and had been disappointed too many times.

Shelter volunteer Lenny Nourick watched all this. With the practiced movement of a shelter veteran, he guided Mike into the cage and slipped a dog biscuit into his hand. “I always keep a few in my pocket,” Nourick confided, “to help people break the ice.”

The tactic worked. Within a few minutes, Mike and the lab looked like they had been friends all their lives. When they left the shelter together, it appeared they would be inseparable.

For Nourick, it’s the most worthwhile part of his job as a volunteer shelter guide. “My job is to make it easy for people to adopt,” he explained, “and to make sure it’s a right fit.”

The Importance of Animal Shelter Volunteers

Humane societies around the world depend on animal shelter volunteers like Nourick, who comes in each weekend for 4 to 6 hours. Nourick’s job is to find out what sort of pet a person is looking for — he carries a sheet with the location of all the different breeds — and the temperament. Because he and other animal shelter volunteers work with the animals daily, they know what type of family is suited to each pet. Nourick, a volunteer for almost 5 years, is vitally interested in making the right fit because he nor any other volunteer wants to see an animal returned. “That ticks me off to no end,” he said.

Becoming a shelter volunteer is not for the faint-of-heart. Taking care of hundreds of dogs and cats is possibly one of the easier aspects of the job, Nourick said. The hardest part is the knowledge that many animals will have to be put down after a certain amount of time, or if they pose a threat to other animals or people. “I find it very distressing. It’s not a rosy world out there.”

But for many animal shelter volunteers, it is impossible not to help out. Connie Siegel has been a volunteer at the shelter for two years and enjoys it more every day. She said that her first overwhelming desire was to “rescue them all,” which is the most common feeling rookie volunteers go through.

That’s why shelters normally don’t allow volunteers to adopt any animal for the first 6 months; without that rule, the temptation to fill one’s home with otherwise hard-luck pets would be just too great. There’s always that one special kitten or puppy .

“Everyone goes through those emotions,” she said. “But you can’t take them all.”

Instead, animal shelter volunteers rejoice over singular victories, like the best friend Mike Tomlin found. Sometimes the victories are doubly sweet,” Siegel explained.

“We had a cat and dog that lived together here,” she recalled. “They were inseparable. The cat was older, about 5 years, and she ‘adopted’ the chow. Someone adopted both of them. We all cheered.”

What Animal Shelter Volunteers Do

Animal shelter volunteers perform a plethora of services. They help feed the animals, clean the cages and, of course, help people find lifetime companions. Volunteers also help transport animals between shelters and clinics to perform veterinary services. Some volunteers help educate children in the importance of responsible pet ownership. A few volunteers will “foster” animals that need special care and cannot be housed with the general pet population.

Shelters are very flexible in the hours. Every extra hour donated is helpful, but many volunteers have a tough time staying away. Siegel said she’s scheduled every other month for about 5 hours over a weekend to fit with her job as a flight attendant. But she usually spends 16 hours every weekend at the shelter. “People think I’m nuts, but I love it here,” she said.

People become animal shelter volunteers for different reasons. Nourick said he and his wife lost their dog of many years, and the shelter offered a course in pet bereavement. After the course, he stayed on as a volunteer. Siegel said she has always desired to be a volunteer, and had helped in an aviary for about a year. She persuaded her boyfriend that she wouldn’t bring home a slew of cats. She kept her promise – mostly. “I have four cats.”

Volunteering is a good way to encourage a lifetime of community service. Shelters accept volunteers at different ages, but usually, a person must be at least 14 or 15. Teenagers can also earn community service credits by volunteering at shelters. Finally, volunteering at a shelter is an excellent family activity. Each member learns the importance of kindness, responsibility and how even one person can make a difference.

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Volunteering At An Animal Shelter by Mykaella

Mykaellaof WEST PALM BEACH's entry into Varsity Tutor's January 2017 scholarship contest

Volunteering At An Animal Shelter by Mykaella - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

As a little girl, I've always loved animals. Cats, dogs, little bunnies, you name it. About a year ago, I decided to volunteer at a nice animal shelter down the street from where I live. Working at an animal shelter isn’t the most glamorous thing. I can tell you from firsthand experience: Do not wear your favorite shirt when training the dogs how to sit and stay because the big slobbering kiss that the Boxer is going to give you is going all over it. I wouldn’t wear new sneakers when taking the dogs out for a nice stroll either, you never know where you plan on stepping and you most certainly don’t want to accidentally step in any dog waste.

Despite all this, volunteering at the animal shelter is a great experience. It showed me that there are a lot of wonderful pets who are placed into shelters each and every day who really just want to be loved. It inspired me to encourage the people in my community to go out and adopt from animal shelters instead of buying pets. A neighbor of mine decided to go ahead and do so, adopting a little yorkie terrier named Chewy. Lisa claims that adopting Chewy was one of the best decisions she’s ever made. Lisa suffers from anxiety and depression, but ever since she’s gotten Chewy, her anxiety and depression issues has decreased drastically.

“I don’t feel so alone anymore,” says Lisa. “Chewy makes me happy and I’m not sure where I’d be without him.”

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10 Reasons to Volunteer at an Animal Shelter

Are you looking for a way to give back? You might want to consider volunteering at your local animal shelter. Not only will you be giving back to an animal in need, you will discover other benefits, too.

1.Boost your mood and reduce stress: Naturally, volunteering produces good feelings about serving someone in need. Volunteering at a shelter has the added benefit of being around animals, which has shown to lower stress and blood pressure. Cuddling and petting animals also help boost your serotonin and dopamine levels, which in turn helps you relax and feel happy.

2. You are making a difference: As an animal shelter volunteer, your primary goal is to help make the animal adoptable. This involves feeding the animals so they can be a healthy weight, bathing and grooming them and helping abused or stray animals become accustomed to human interaction. All these tasks help the animal find a happy home and better life filled will love.

3. There is a big need for volunteers: Animal shelters can’t function without the help from volunteers. There are so many animals constantly being brought in and lots of tasks need to be done. Volunteering a couple of hours of your time every week can help give animals another chance.

4. Make new friends and become a team player: If you are an animal lover, chances are the other volunteers will be animal lovers too. You will be able to meet other like-minded individuals who are just as passionate about rescuing animal as well. Volunteering will also teach you how to work as a team to get major tasks done.

5. Gain work experience or service hours: Volunteering is a great way to get work experience or boost your resume. It is also a great way for high schoolers or young adults to get service hours. Just because you are volunteering doesn’t mean you aren’t developing new skills that will help you along your career.

6. Help develop a sense of responsibility and selflessness: Helping at an animal shelter can be a big responsibility. Not only are the animals depending on you, but the entire organization is also depending on you. You might think dog walking or socializing with cats isn’t making a difference, but it has a bigger impact than you know. Volunteering also helps you become selfless by giving your time to your community . All these skills help make a leader.

7. Something new and fun: If you need a change of pace, volunteering at your local animal shelter can give you something new to do. Invite your friends and make a day out of it. You will be able to bond with them and your new furry friends.

8. Not a people person? No problem: Let’s face it, not everyone is a people person and that’s OK. You will mostly be in contact with animals and focused on their care. This is perfect if you are shy or prefer keeping to yourself.

9. Stay active: Dog walking is one of the main tasks at shelters. Dog walking will help you get some fresh air and burn calories. Other tasks may involve a lot of cleaning which can also give you a small workout.

10. You get be around animals who need you: The best part about volunteering at a shelter are the animals! You get to play and care for cats and dogs while helping them get adopted. You will build bonds and see your new furry friend’s personalities develop. In turn you will experience the unconditional love only a dog or cat can give.

Are you experiencing depression or anxiety? Visit our Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Service page for more information.

You may also be interested in:

5 benefits of dog ownership.

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5 Reasons to volunteer at a local animal shelter

If you love pets, you can become an animal shelter volunteer at your local SPCA. The experience has many advantages for your career as well as your overall well-being. Here are the top reasons to volunteer at an animal shelter.

1. Your Local SPCA needs Volunteers

Volunteering at your local SPCA is one way to give back to the community. Many animal shelters are looking for volunteers to help them with various aspects of raising pets.

Most animal shelters would struggle without volunteers. Abandoned and abused dogs need to interact with people to get used to human interaction. They also need to be fed and walked regularly.

2. It is Beneficial for Your Emotional and Mental Health

Generally speaking, giving back to the community has positive emotional and psychological effects. Working with animals has additional benefits that can boost your overall health.

Petting and cuddling pets have been shown to reduce blood pressure and increase levels of serotonin and dopamine. Those hormones help you to relax and manage depression and stress. Studies show that people who frequently play with pets tend to have lower levels of triglycerides and cholesterol.

3. There are Lots of Fun Activities to Do

Another benefit of working with a local SPCA is that there are many activities. You can pick from an activity that you enjoy even as you help out at the animal hospital. For example, if you love photography, you can volunteer to take pictures of pups.

If you enjoy DIY and crafts, you can volunteer to make toys for your local vet clinic. You can work as an adoption counselor to match pets and their new owners. There are children’s programs and many other activities that may coincide with your skills and passion.

An animal shelter will need volunteers for:

Walking and taking care of the dog

Administrative and counseling duties

Making toys for cats and dogs

Cooking food and making treats for pets

4. Prepare Yourself to Adopt a Pet

Volunteering at a local SPCA is a great way to gain experience in taking care of dogs or cats. There are lots of things you can learn about taking care of pets. By the end of the program, you will have learned about animal psychology and physical health.

If you plan to adopt a pet in the future, working at an animal shelter will give you the experience you need. You can tap into the knowledge of other professionals at the local veterinarian. You will have the opportunity to ask questions from highly skilled staff.

5. Open Up New Opportunities

Volunteer work has many long-term benefits and can open up new opportunities for you. You can use the experience on your resume. You may also use the experience to find a job or another volunteering opportunity.

Time to Get Involved

The beauty of working for a local animal shelter is that you can choose from many activities and responsibilities. The work hours are flexible, allowing you to commit a few hours a week. Always choose something you enjoy so that you can make the most of the experience. At The Brandywine Valley SPCA, there is always a wide variety of volunteer opportunities at both our Delaware and Pennsylvania campuses. Feel free to call or visit to learn more.

All rights reserved. © 2024 Brandywine Valley SPCA.

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Volunteer at AHS

From in-shelter support to at-home foster care, volunteers support every facet of our work. Together, we're creating a more humane world for animals.

Explore opportunities and apply Review volunteering FAQs

Volunteer requirements

  • Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. If you're younger than 16, there are other ways to support animals and AHS.
  • Volunteers must read and comprehend detailed policy and protocol information and follow shelter rules.
  • Human interaction is a requirement of all volunteer roles. Volunteers must always communicate professionally.
  • Volunteers must understand and fulfill all responsibilities of their role independently.
  • New in-shelter volunteers are required to begin in an entry-level role and are not allowed to take on tasks that require direct animal handling . Foundational volunteers offer their time and talents to AHS without having to commit to long-term volunteering or a specific shift.
  • Most volunteer roles require volunteers to stand, and/or walk for up to three hours; lift and carry up to 20 pounds; reach and lift; possess vision abilities including close vision, distance vision and depth perception; and speak to customers, employees, and other volunteers.

Group volunteer opportunities

Your group can support our work and the animals in our care by coordinating and participating in offsite group service projects (like making toys, collecting and donating items from our “wish list,” or holding a fundraiser). Learn more about group volunteering options .

Volunteer roles and application process

Animal lovers who are interested in becoming a volunteer at AHS must complete a four-step process. Learn more about available opportunities (including foster volunteering), the application process, and what to expect once you’ve submitted your application.

Current volunteers

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  • Oct 23, 2020

Why You Should Volunteer at an Animal Rescue

Updated: Oct 24, 2020

Are you looking for a community service project for school credit? Wanting to boost your resume? Do you want to spend time with animals or are considering adopting, but aren't quite ready to make the leap? Perhaps you’re looking to make new friends? We invite you to consider volunteering at BCARL.

Even if you’re only giving a few hours a week of service, your time and effort really makes a huge impact on the animals, workers, and community.

animal shelter volunteer essay

Here are the top 3 reasons why you should consider becoming a volunteer.

It’s Beneficial for You

It’s no secret that spending quality time with animals has numerous health benefits . In fact, many studies have conclusively confirmed that being spending time with animals is good for your emotional, physical, and mental health . Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of bringing home a furry friend. But if you’re unable to have a pet at home, you can still reap many of the same benefits by bonding with the animals at your local rescue facility.

When you volunteer at an animal rescue, you instantly see the results of your labor, which is a reward in and of itself. Studies have linked our work satisfaction to the meaningfulness of our work , and there’s little more satisfying than seeing a fearful, damaged animal made whole and thriving by your love, care, and efforts.

Also, if you’re considering adoption but aren’t yet ready to make the leap, volunteering is a great way to dip your toes in the water.

It’s Beneficial for Animals in Need

BCARL is a non-profit, as are most local animal rescue facilities. This means that we are based entirely on donations (of both time and money). Volunteers are able to fill in the gaps of needed services. Volunteers help to socialize the animals, spend time with them, walk them, and many other important tasks that help keep the facility running.

Of course, many people think working with animals means snuggling puppies all day, and while there are plenty of opportunities for play and bonding time, much of animal welfare involves behind-the-scenes work as well as hands-on interactions and daily animal care. It’s important to be realistic about the nitty gritty of animal volunteerism, because the animals in our care depend on us to provide their needs and to help them move on to their forever family.

When an abused, hurt, or sick animal is surrendered to BCARL, it can be one of the most difficult things about working or volunteering at the facility. But when you volunteer, you have the privilege of watching their wounds heal. And more than that, you become part of their healing process. At BCARL, we watch dogs go from cowering at the back of their kennel to running to the gate with their tail wagging, begging you to take them out to play.

The transformations are always amazing, and knowing you played a part in their recovery is so very, very rewarding.

It’s Beneficial for the Community

By volunteering, you contribute to a cause you care about. So, if you are passionate about saving animals, volunteering at BCARL would be right up your alley. And even more, you create a better community to live in. Volunteering inherently means helping, and it provides the unique opportunity of connecting people in the community with shared values. Volunteering makes a difference in your community because it allows us to make a real difference to the lives of the animals, people, and organization in need. This holistic approach creates a better community for everyone.

When all is said and done, being an animal rescue volunteer at BCARL makes you feel like you are doing a good thing. And we need more good things in the world.

Your work ensures that the health and well-being of animals in your care is improved, so that each animal has the best possible chance of finding a new home.

You are contributing to the solution, which makes you feel good about the work you are doing. If you’re interested in finding out more about our volunteer opportunities, check out our volunteer process !

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Americans can’t afford their pets. It’s pushing animal shelters to the brink.

How animal shelters are coping with a crisis of abandoned cats and dogs.

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Share All sharing options for: Americans can’t afford their pets. It’s pushing animal shelters to the brink.

A beagle looking through the bars of a kennel at an animal shelter.

Lonely and stuck at home, millions of Americans turned to animals for comfort in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, adopting and fostering cats and dogs from shelters at record rates . Videos of empty animal shelters went viral; Wired called it “the feel-good pandemic story you need right now.”

“It was a really fun time to be in animal welfare ,” said Bobby Mann, chief programs officer of the Humane Rescue Alliance, the largest animal shelter in the Washington, DC, metro area. “We did absolutely see an uptick in adoptions.”

But starting in 2021, shelters began filling back up as there were more animals entering than leaving, and now many are packed to the brim. From Rhode Island to Seattle and everywhere in between , shelters are reporting they’re at capacity, forcing an increase in the number of dogs killed due to space constraints. Earlier this year, almost half of shelters surveyed reported an increase in euthanized dogs, while only 10 percent reported a decrease.

“Perfectly adoptable dogs are losing their lives and it is a crisis,” said one municipal shelter that was surveyed. “We need volunteers, fosters, and adopters.”

A row of dogs in kennels at an animal shelter.

“By and large, shelters are screaming from the rooftops that they’ve been in crisis for a while, and it’s not letting up,” said Stephanie Filer, executive director of Shelter Animals Count, an organization that collects and publishes data from thousands of animal shelters and conducted the euthanasia survey. The group predicts the situation will continue to worsen this year.

The trend threatens the immense progress that animal shelters have made to reduce the number of animals put down since the 1970s, when 13.5 million of the 65 million dogs and cats in the US — more than one-fifth — were euthanized. In 2019, fewer than a million dogs and cats , about 0.7 percent of the country’s 135 million, were put down.

It’s one thing for, say, Peloton bikes to pile up in some warehouse as Americans return to normalcy and consumer demand rebalances in response. But when the product is an animal — and make no mistake, we treat animals as products — the rebalance of demand and supply can result in mass suffering, as shelters are forced to make the hard choice between packing more and more animals together in crowded, noisy environments, euthanizing them, or turning them away.

What’s driving America’s animal shelter crisis?

The state of animal shelters can largely be tracked by a simple metric: how many animals are entering shelters versus how many are leaving, known as the population gap . An animal can be taken into a shelter because they were picked up as a stray (the most common reason), surrendered by their owner, or rescued from a cruelty case or puppy mill . Animals leave shelters when they’re found by their owners, adopted, transferred to another shelter, or euthanized (almost 15 percent of cases in 2019).

In 2020, when people were adopting shelter animals at record rates, 2 percent more animals left shelters than came in over the course of the year, according to Shelter Animals Count. But in 2021, that figure reversed — 2 percent more animals entered shelters than left, either as strays or surrendered by their owners. In 2022, the trend worsened: 4 percent more animals entered shelters than left. That may not seem like much, but each percentage point amounts to tens of thousands of animals.

Shelter Animals Count projects that by the end of 2023, the population gap will tick up to 5 percent.

Many of the animals currently entering shelters are strays. While owner surrender rates have fallen in recent years, there’s been an 8 percent increase in stray intakes from January to June 2023 compared to the same time period in 2022, and a 26 percent increase compared to the same period in 2021. But why so many are coming in off the streets is a bit of a mystery.

One theory is that some of these strays are just owner surrenders in disguise. In 2020, due to Covid-19 precautions, many animal shelters stopped allowing people to walk in and surrender their animals, instead requiring them to make an appointment — a practice many shelters have kept in place. The demand for surrender appointments is now so high that many shelters have long waitlists. So the uptick in strays could simply represent people trying to jump the surrender line by claiming they found a stray animal (which doesn’t require an appointment). Or they could be simply abandoning them on the street.

It’s tempting to judge people who surrender their animals, and some surely do so for shallow reasons, like deciding a pet is too much of an inconvenience or failing to properly train them. But the main reason so many people are giving up their pets — especially dogs — is because they simply can’t afford to keep them.

For low-income families, it’s hard enough to find affordable housing, and affordable pet-friendly housing is even harder to secure. Many apartment buildings ban certain breeds or dogs over a certain weight. Shelters are taking in especially high numbers of large dogs over 40–50 pounds, Mann of the Humane Rescue Alliance said.

“The same [economic] trends that affect people always affect animals,” said Filer with Shelter Animals Count, referring to high inflation and the national housing crisis that has led to a rise in eviction rates and homelessness in recent years. Housing insecurity is the top reason people are surrendering their animals, according to Mann and Filer. If someone gets to the point where they’re surrendering their animal out of financial hardship, they’ve generally tried everything else and they have no other option, she added.

The high stray rates, Mann speculates, could also be a consequence of high pet acquisition rates early in the pandemic: There are now simply more animals out in the world who can become strays by, for example, slipping out of their homes and getting lost.

Veterinary costs have also heavily outpaced inflation from July 2022 to July 2023 because of increases in the cost of medical supplies and rising wages due in part to a veterinarian shortage . Some veterinarians partly blame the corporate and private equity takeover of clinics and hospitals for rising vet care costs. There’s also a shelter worker shortage , which is part of an economy -wide labor market shortage .

Some people may be surrendering their pets because pet ownership is just difficult, especially with animals that are having a hard time adjusting to post-pandemic life after years cooped up with their owners. Many dog owners report behavioral issues as they head back to the office or bring their poorly socialized animals into public spaces.

animal shelter volunteer essay

“We’re just overstimulating these animals that have never had this level of stimulation,” said Mann.

It may just be too much for some pet owners to handle; training can require a lot of time and effort that some people aren’t willing to spend.

“I encourage people not to take on more than they can handle,” said Crystal Heath , a veterinarian who works with shelters and veterinary clinics in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. “And I don’t think that dog ownership or cat ownership or pet ownership in any way is a right that people should have. But I also am not going to be judgmental about somebody who brings an animal in or takes care of an animal who would be killed otherwise and provides them with the best care that they can.”

Heath suspects part of the stray problem could also be due to reduced spay and neuter access in the initial months of the Covid-19 pandemic, as veterinary offices suspended nonessential services.

Spay and neuter surgeries were down 13 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, according to a paper by veterinary researchers at the University of Florida. By the end of 2021, spays and neuters had bounced back close to 2019 levels, but a year of reduced access, according to the researchers, “may have the potential to undermine progress made in controlling pet populations and euthanasia in shelters.”

Spaying and neutering pets is key to keeping shelter populations down and reducing the number of euthanized animals because it prevents them from having babies that may wind up in a shelter. Intact animals — those who haven’t been spayed or neutered — also tend to have higher rates of certain behavioral issues , like increased aggression and escape attempts (in the effort to find a mate), which could result in more strays and surrenders.

Amid all this bad news, there’s one silver lining: Cats are having a moment. Cat adoption rates are much higher than those for dogs, which makes sense in the context of the housing crisis and inflation, as cats are more affordable and have fewer housing restrictions.

animal shelter volunteer essay

“Cats were previously our challenge ... now cat adoption rates are in the 60 [percent range],” Filer said. “Dog adoption rates are in the 50s.”

What your local animal shelter needs

Adopt, foster, volunteer, and donate: Those four actions, Filer said, are needed to help shelters climb out of the hole they’re in.

The first one is obvious: Every animal adopted (instead of purchased from a store or breeder) means one less animal suffering and potentially euthanized in a shelter. If everyone who buys an animal chose to adopt instead, the need for euthanasia in shelters would drastically fall because there are far more dogs purchased every year than euthanized . The hard part is persuading the many people who only want to buy a dog with a particular look or size (even if how they’ve been bred can increase their risk for serious health issues) .

“I wish they had to look into the eyes of who we have to kill before bringing more lives into this world,” said Heath, who sometimes performs euthanasia, about dog and cat breeders. She wishes there were more public funding to care for animals — and argues some of it should come from puppy mills and dog breeders who are driving pet overpopulation.

A woman looking at a dog in a kennel.

To help with the staff shortage at shelters, try volunteering at a shelter or even fostering animals. I know some people who don’t feel they have the time, money, or lifestyle to properly care for a cat or dog long term, so they foster regularly instead. It’s also a great way to test out adoption if you’re unsure it’s for you.

Shelters really need money, too. Donations to shelters are down, Filer said, while the amount of work is up. And more and more shelters are implementing critical but costly programs that make pet adoption, and pet keeping, more affordable.

For example, Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC, runs a pet food bank and a low-cost vaccine clinic (and vaccines reduce additional vet bills down the road). It also has a veterinarian who travels to people’s homes to help in emergency situations.

“That has been a big shift in our strategy over the last probably three or four years,” Mann said. “I believe if we did not have these comprehensive programs in place, we would see a significant increase in owner surrender.”

If you’re not in a position to adopt a pet anytime soon, giving money might help someone else hold on to theirs.

The animal shelter crisis is a window into the national housing crisis and its ripple effects. It’s also a telling example of our twisted relationship to animals: We consider dogs to be man’s best friend, yet we breed so many to suffer while millions languish in shelters, many of whom are ultimately killed to make room for ever more strays and surrenders.

Declining euthanasia rates in shelters has been one of the few success stories in the animal welfare movement over the last several decades. But that progress is at risk if we don’t do more to change how pets are acquired — and if more of us don’t open our homes, or at least our wallets, if we can afford it, to shelter animals.

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animal shelter volunteer essay

Essay on How to help Animals

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This essay provides advice on how to help animals, from simple everyday tasks to more involved activities. Learn about the different ways to contribute to animal welfare, from volunteering at a shelter to adopting an animal in need.

Animals are some of the most important creatures in our world. They provide us with food, companionship, and so much more. That’s why it’s important for us to take care of them and help them whenever we can. Here are a few things you can do to help animals:

Adopt or foster an animal. If you’re not ready to commit to having a pet full time, you can still help by adopting or fostering an animal from a local shelter. This will give them a safe and loving home while they wait for their forever home.

Donate to animal charities. There are many animal charities out there that provide food, shelter, and medical care for animals in need. Donating money or supplies to these charities will help them continue to do their important work.

Speak up for animals. If you see an animal being mistreated, speak up! You can also write letters to your local government representatives and newspapers to advocate for animal rights.

Be mindful of your food choices. Eating a plant-based diet is one of the best things you can do for animals. Eating less meat and dairy can help save the lives of millions of animals every year.

Volunteer. There are many animal rescue centers and shelters that need volunteers to help take care of the animals. Volunteering your time to help these animals is an incredibly rewarding experience.

By following these steps, you can make a difference for animals everywhere. Remember, animals need our help to stay safe and healthy, so do your part and help them out whenever you can!

FAQs Related To Essay on How to help Animals

1. what kind of animals can i help.

You can help all kinds of animals, including domestic animals, wild animals, endangered species, and aquatic animals.

2. What is the best way to support animal charities?

The best way to support animal charities is to donate money or items that they need, such as food, toys, or medical supplies. You can also volunteer your time to help at the charity.

3. What can I do to help animals in my local area?

You can help animals in your local area by volunteering at animal shelters and rescues, donating items and money to animal charities, and speaking out against animal cruelty.

4. What can I do to make a difference for animals?

You can make a difference for animals by educating yourself and others about animal issues, volunteering your time to help animals, and supporting animal charities.

5. Are there any animal-related activities that I can do with my family?

Yes, there are many animal-related activities that you can do with your family, such as visiting animal sanctuaries, volunteering at animal charities, or adopting a pet from a shelter.

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