Our first day at the shelter...

[NoahsMommy]

My husband and I had our orientation at the local (well...over an hour away...but at least we have one) Humane Society. It was so great, we met all the dogs, cats and even the beautiful hawk and a bald eagle! (I think their names were Glory and Liberty). We learned how to take the dogs out for walks and how to get them back in their cages.

We had about an hour free before we had another appointment to get to, so we played with the cats outside in their "pen". It was so great! There was a cat named Kit that I just can't stop thinking about. She licked our hands, snuggled up next to us, played with a ball and laid in the sun. She's a sweetie. There were so many really great cats there, I just know they will make someone very happy.

This shelter get's pretty busy (people wise)...so hopefully these sweeties wont be there that long. It was an amazing day...I'm so glad we are doing this...time well worth spent.

[toughCookie]

congratulations! I bet that was so fun, and it is wonderful of your and your husband to volunteer! I bet the humane society is happy to get 2 new, caring volunteers :) it will be hard to not want to take them all home! kind of like working in a bookstore or craft store, or clothing store, you are tempted by all that you see! when do you start ? you will be a great volunteer, the doggies and kitties are lucky!

[lynnestankard]

Way to Go Kelly!!!!! What a wonderful thing for you both to do.
You're going to have to be sooooo strong and not come home trailing lines of furbabies behind you!!!:D :D

Carry on with the good work. :) :)

Lynne

[kimlovescats]

That is so wonderful! Alot of my kitties came from our local Humane Rabies Shelter as well. I would have a very tough time not taking them all home too! ;) But what you are doing is GREAT!

[jenluckenbach]

Helping keep the animals at a shelter socialized is probably more important than people think. The cats/dogs are in cages or runs forgeting what is was like to have a family. That makes it harder to adjust to a new family when they are lucky enopugh to get adopted. The more contact with people that they can have the better.......What I am trying to ay is....WAY TO GO....And thank you from the animals.

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
Helping keep the animals at a shelter socialized is probably more important than people think. The cats/dogs are in cages or runs forgeting what is was like to have a family. That makes it harder to adjust to a new family when they are lucky enopugh to get adopted. The more contact with people that they can have the better.......
This is the EXACT reason that I don't feel I need to take them home. I've told myself that I'm preparing them for their destined owner...that and I have two cat hating cats at home...Basil, however, loves other cats. I mean...no he doesn't. :)

The animals are so loved and they have so many volunteers! There were at least twenty volunteers there while we were there. The person that did the orientation is a full time employee and said there is a couple that lives on premises so that the animals have 24 hour care. Neat huh? Talk about a dream job huh?

[Lillycat]

what a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful thing you are doing ......and you are so right in thinking your time there will help them acclimate to their new home-to-be!!!

[smokey the elder]

Wow! Where is this paragon of animal care? On the right coast it's all we can do to get any volunteers. Please send some of these guys to NY.:p

[Christiansmommy]

That's really neat that you and your husband are volunteers. Those animals can use all the love that they can get!! :) Once my son is older and maybe in Kindergarden (right now he is at home with me)...I wouldnt mind volunteering at the local shelter. I love visiting the shelters and seeing all of those cute dogs and cats!! Its wonderful that people love animals so much that they volunteer...animal lovers are the friendliest people around!!

[wayne0214]

Remembering the day I adopeted Amy. I went to the Visalia, Calif. animal shelter about 2 weeks earlier, and picked her up from her cage. She was so loveable, that I thought to myself, "I am sure someone will take her before long". Yet, I returned 2 weeks later and she was still there, so I adopeted her. If there was an animal shelter of considerable size close by, I would volunteer my services also. But even now, I am considering driving the 100 mile round trip in order to be with the pets.

................wayne

[jenluckenbach]

Wayne, you ARE an animal shelter !!!!!


that's what my vet always tells me, anyway.

[wayne0214]

jen. you know, I never thought of that:D OK, so I am operating my own private animal shelter, the only difference is, I suppose, is that mine are not caged up.;)

........wayne

[jenluckenbach]

Not all shelters cage their animals. Well, the SPCA or county humane societies do, bit we have quite a number of rescue organizations in my area and several of them have bulidings for their cats. Roaming freely with the other cats. I think this is the best not only for the cats, but the cats act more natural toward their perspective people this way. You, as an adopter, can interact with them better than when they are caged............SOOOOOOOOOOOO.....you (and I, and several others) qualify !!!!!!!:D

[Cataholic]

I want to qualify, too! How many more do you think I need before I become a cattery?

[jenluckenbach]

OK fellow "independant cat shelters" what do you think???? 4 maybe 5 more?

[Barbara]

I guess a dozen is minimum to change from a herd to a shelter.

[wolflady]

Originally posted by NoahsMommy

...
The person that did the orientation is a full time employee and said there is a couple that lives on premises so that the animals have 24 hour care. Neat huh? Talk about a dream job huh?

That would be a dream job! How neat! Which Humane Society is this again? I really would love to have a career with animals someday. It could happen! ;) Enjoy your volunteering experience!
**hugs**

[NoahsMommy]

A cattery....hee hee!! :D

Karen, the shelter is in Ojai, CA. But don't you get any ideas! We're coming UP THERE. :) ;) :p

And guess what....our Thanksgiving is becoming a huge family drama...so, we're coming back early (Friday) and we get to go see the animals on Saturday now!!! YAY!!! :D

[Lillycat]

i think any number over 4 should qualify......my three keep me verrry busy!:eek:

[wayne0214]

There is a rescue place in Bartlesville, Okla., who has about 36 cats (I think) who allows them to run through the building. The only problem is that it is difficult to clean up after them, and more than an few volunteers are needed. This is the same place that denied me a flame point siamese that I wanted to adopt, because they said I have too many cats already!

............wayne

[smokey the elder]

Don't take it personally. My rescue group looks really hard at people with >10 cats because of potential hoarders. Usually personal and vet references, and the home visit, put our worries to rest.

Besides, maybe your RB kitty was telling the shelter folk, No, he needs to adopt Otis.
:)

[wayne0214]

Smokey the elder, OK on the Otis adoption. I wouldn't trade him for anything. I enjoy his maturity and patience, which is somethint that none of my other furkids seem to posess. It could be their ages -all are less that 2 years old.

Speaking of hoarding cats, did you all see on Animal Planet in Detroit, Mich. where this man allowed cats to multiply under his house. The "animal cops" stated that they got 247 cats out from there. Of course they were all living in filthy conditions, and all of them were feral. What a sad situation for all those kitties. I often wonder if any of them could be domesticated, if someone had the time to work with them?

........wayne