Volunteer!!

[ChiChi]

I FINNAILLY GET TO VOLUNTEER!! i am goignto the shelter to sign up, but the best part about it is that (since i homeskewl) it is one of my electives!! i am soo happy! and since i am going into ninth grade, i get to take a dog training class too!! i can wait! i start in August! and it is a no kill shelter.... yeah me! LOL!!!

[Carrie]

Wooo hoooo Chi chi!!! that is sooooo exciting. And it's really neat that it can be an elective. And a dog training class to boot. Now, is the home scewling or is it schewling... really working? LOL! Just kidding.

Be sure and tell us about your first day! Congrats!

[ChiChi]

LOL!! fine homeschooling!! *sighs* but i wasnt doing to good in spelling either.... hehe

[gaddylovesdogs]

That sounds like a lot of fun! Have a great time! I'm thinking of volunteering at a local no-kill shelter, too.

[Ritz459]

Have fun! I keep on trying to volunteer at our shelter, but every time I try to get in contact with them, they never reply. And then my Mom has to volunteer with me because I'm under 18, and she is only halfheartedly trying to get in touch with them and refuses to just drive out there and have us say, "Here we are, put us to work", so I don't know if I'll ever get to...

[flyndog]

You're going to take a training course, get lots of hands-on experiene handling lots of different dogs, AND get school credit? That's too cool! Congrats! You'll be great!

[calgal]

I think you may end up being a Vet. since this is where your heart is! Congratulations!!

[mulroony]

That is really cool. I am going into my senior year of college, and I get to take a companion animals course. (focus mostly on dogs and cats) I am really looking foreword to it because it has weekend field trips to the shelter, and focuses a lot of time on shelter issues in class. It also addresses a lot of ethical issues, and training. I am willing to bet I will be the only math major in the class though

[tommyjake]

Yay! have fun! Im going to volunteer at my local animal rescue centre too!

[Pippinislove]

Originally Posted by Ritz459

Have fun! I keep on trying to volunteer at our shelter, but every time I try to get in contact with them, they never reply. And then my Mom has to volunteer with me because I'm under 18, and she is only halfheartedly trying to get in touch with them and refuses to just drive out there and have us say, "Here we are, put us to work", so I don't know if I'll ever get to...

That sounds totally like my mom too. I'm under 18 as well and she has to set up everything since I am not an adult, and I keep pestering her to get a schedule for me, but she never does. ARGH It's killing me knowing I could have started WEEKS ago. :O

[oc_spirit]

Wow ChiChi that sounds awesome!!!!! Congrats to you!!!!

Ritz and Pippin, as a fellow "under 18er" I know what it's like to get turned down due to age as well, HOWEVER I also do know that if you're persistant and can show the adults why you're just as suitable for the job as anybody else over 18 that you have a good chance of egtting what you want anyways because it shows maturity, self-confidence, enthusiasm, and you proove that you're not someone who gives up on a problem easily. This was actually how I became head councillor at a riding camp when I was still 1year too young to even be considered as a councillor AND went on to become the co-trainer for that stable (this was around 4 years ago when I was 12-13). The trick is to be perisitant without being a nuisance. Don't give up and NEVER whine or complain that "it's not fair" but rather "it is inconsiderate to turn me down without giving me a fair chance to state my case and help you understand why it is that I'm a suitable candidate for working with the dogs at this particular shelter...(this yould be where you'd gone on to state your qualifications).

At 16 going on 17, I'm VERY independant from my parents which surprisingly HELPS me in "the big scary world". Adults see that I'm completely capable of looking after nyself without someone there to consistantly baby-sit me and make sure I stay out of trouble so they are more apt to respect me.

Now after that big long drawn out speeck I'd just like to say that I thnk you two should really persue those volunteer positions at the shelter. If you're persistant with the boss of the place, they'll see you won;t give up when working with a stubborn dog or one who doesn;t understand. You guys obviously know how to work with dogs and both of you would be a huge asset to any shelter regardless of your age!