I volunteered at the humane society!

[tessa_s212]

The dogs at the humane society.. OMGOSH!!! so cute! There were two jack russels. One I bathed. She was the sweetest dog ever. She didn't want a bath and got me all wet, but soon she settled down to staying in the tub, but still crying. But inbetween the crying she was soaking my face with kisses. Such a sweetheart. A boy and father were looking at her today. I was secretly watching as the sweet girl was just licking their faces and wiggling about. I was SO hoping she'd find a home today. They didn't takeher, but maybe they'll be back. I can't go next weekend, but she better be gone by the weekend after that. So, with hopes that she'll find a home, I said my final goodbyes today.

I also bathed a litter of about 8 -12 week old puppies. SO CUTE! But they had fleas and a few sores because they were found in a barn. But no worries. I got them all cleaned up and no more fleas! Nice and fluffy cute puppies with no more poop on them!

And I didn't get to play with the other jack russel..but he's been there for about a year. No one wants him because he's too hyper. He'd make a WONDERFUL agility dog. Buster was his name.

Aww... and there were two field bred english setters. The male was big and GORGEOUS. My sister LOVES english setters and was by his cage the entire day when she wasn't working.

My mom went back and looked.. and even SHE wants to take the red and white husky home. She even considered getting my brother an agility dog. I don't know if she's serious, but if she is, DUSTIN ***HAS*** to want this dog enough that he's willing to pay for it AND care for it. Because I will not care for his dog like I do now. And it WILL be shorthaired incase he decides after a month of getting it he doesn't want t care for it.

Needless to say, I liked it there.. and I will be going back. Hopefully once a week. But this weekend I can't. I have a dog show.

[bigdoglover]

Good for you for volunteering!!! Its too bad about the JRTs....actually, its too bad about all of the dogs in ALL the shelters. But its great to have people like you to volunteer to help these guys have some good quality time with people!

[Jamila]

Its fun to volunteer at shelters. I hope to get to go back to PAWS here and help out.

[tessa_s212]

bigdog, I have faith that the sweet lovable JRT will find a home. She's too much of a sweetie not to.

And, to share a success story. Today an old man came into the shelter and adopted Ollie, the shelter's "mascot" who had been there since they first opened last year. Ollie finally found a home, and I suspect with a guy that is going to treat her well. He just couldn't believe that someone hadn't already adopted the old guy.

Here's ollie: http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/...?petid=6487227

[Kuchi]

Glad you fun. Good luck volunteering and at the dog show!

[Doglover1988]

Congrats on volunteering that is a good thing that you are doing. Just thinking about the shelter and going there makes me cry. When I went there to adopt gracie making the decision made me bawl. I knew that some of the ones I didn't choose would get put to sleep and that made my heart break. I would love to volunteer but I don't think I could.

[tessa_s212]

doglover, the way I see it is this. You can't help and save them all. But simply trying might save just ONE more than not trying at all. And that one dog, IMHO, is MORE than worth any tears I might shed. Afterall, it is the dogs that matter, and not I.

Easier said.... I'm sure it will be so much harder than if that day where a dog I have bonded with might actulaly have to be euthanized.. but luckily, our humane society is very very reluctant to do that.. So, hopefully that day isn't anytime soon.. and I'm sure if a dog were to be euthanized, I'd do everythign I could(look at breed rescues, beg parents to foster it, etc etc) to help save it.

[Swiftwind]

It sounds like a great place to work, and it's for a good cause! It must be sad seeing all those dogs that need homes, though. I'd want to take every single dog home with me (even though I know that wouldn't be possible! ). Next time you go you'll have to tell us if the JRT puppy is still there or not. It sounds like the other Jack Russell needs to go to someone with a lot of land and time.

[annie_so_pink]

Wow Tessa!! Congrats on volunteering!!!
I can't wait until I can volunteer(I'm 14, you have to be 16 to volunteer), but once I am old enough, I will definitely be volunteering!! I just can't wait!!! It must be hard working with the dogs, not knowing about what is going to happen to them, but at least working with them, you are making a difference in their lives and I think just the satisfaction of knowing that would be better than knowing the situation that is going on within shelters and not doing anything about it.

[tessa_s212]

I can't wait to get more of an oppurtunity to work with them. When filling out the volunteer paperwork before actually volunteering and telling the people about all of my experience, they said it might actually be a neat idea to let me work with the dogs some on training and such. But, that was only another worker.. it would have to be confirmed with the owner I believe. But heck, it doesn't have to be advanced stuff. Just things like sit, down, and stay should be sufficient enough to get them adopted out.