Animal Shelter Volunteers

maybe you could look into volunteering for a no-kill shelter or a rescue group.

I volunteer at our local kill shelter. And I can tell you it isnt for everyone. It is very hard for me to go there, but I go there only because there are only a handful of volunteers. I feel as if, someone needs to pay some attention to the animals before they are euthanized (80% dont make it out alive). I also foster for a local group who pulls exclusively from this shelter. I also help take pictures to put on the internet of the animals. Although rarely sucessful, I beg rescues to take some dogs from our shelter. I try to find more foster homes for local rescues and now am working with a local cat rescue group to help improve the conditions at the shelter for the cats.

I wont lie to you, it is hard and I have come home crying more times than I can remember. I just do what I can do. I do want to take them all home, and I actually couldnt help but adopted a little puppy a couple of months ago. I try to realize though, I am *at my limit* and any more, then I wont be able to foster. It is a good, although deeply sad feeling to know that I have taken a dog outside for the last time and had I not been there the dog would have never been able to feel the sun before being euthanized. It is sad to know that so many wont make it out alive but however hard it is I try to concentrate on the ones I was able to help. It breaks my heart every time I step into that place, but if us few volunteers  (I do mean few, only 3 or 4 people actually go to play with the animals) dont go, the dogs have no one and have no love before they die. I have only been volunteering there for only 6 months and have had to take a month break. I have also had to cut back the time that I spend there because it truly is hard. I try not to get attached to any animal there.

It also helps for me because one of the other volunteers is a super nice lady who whenever something bad happens, encourages me and reminds me, we are the only love some of these animals will ever know.

I volunteered at our HS which is no kill, and I find it more depressing. Some of the animals there have been there for years and will live their lives out in the kennels. At least the animals at the local kill shelter dont have to suffer through years of being locked up. Not to mention, after a while the dogs start developing temperment issues. Sorry, I didnt mean for this to be so long.

I think it is wonderful what you want to do. I know many, many, many people who are involved in rescue locally but who cant step foot in the shelter, one even ran the shelter for years. It is hard, but you just have to keep in mind, even if they are euthanized, at least you will know you made their lives a little more pleasant.

You might want to do as the last poster said and talk to local rescue groups and see if they need any volunteers. Most dont have a shelter though.

I've worked (not volunteered, WORKED) in an animal Shelter, and there is one very important thing that you need to understand.  The animals come first, and you need to hold all your anger, hatred for these nasty people, sorrow, and hurt inside untilyou get home.  I know that some shelters have a very strong support system within it, so people can talk and get things out.  Other people have gone to therapists so they can talk about their job because family members can't handle it, or don't understand.
 
I will also tell you that as much help as it is for the animals, when it comes to putting one down, while it still sucks, it is a LOT easier for you to watch/help put an animal down if it's one you DON'T like, because you haven't developed that attachment to it.
 
I can't lie, there have been animals I really wanted to help and get better, but they just weren't meant for it, and once they bite you, scratch you, or otherwise attempt to maul you, you still feel like CRAP for having to put them down, but it doesn't hurt nearly as badly as having to euthanize those that you've fallen in love with and thought you had a chance.
 
It is imperative that you know how to react in an emergency situation, such as a loose dog or cat, a dog that seizes, or an animal that is suddenly vomting blood.  You can't stand there immobile going "OMG OMG OMGOMG!!!!!" because you have to get your butt in gear and tell one of the staff that an animal needs to go to the vet ASAP.
 
You have to stand be hind your principles when helping at a shelter, and though you may want to, DO NOT suggest to a family that a certain dog in the kennel is right for them if it is clearly not.  For example, when I was working at my shelter, a family came in (A couple and three small children).  They wanted the Australian Cattle Dog Puppy we had in.  I told them about the breed and that the pup probably would not be a good fit for them.  They require a LOT of exercise and can be nippy, and will likely view the children as prey until they are older.  It could be lived with, but it would take very diligent training on the part of the parents....who both worked full time jobs and had their kids in daycare.  It wasn't happening.
 
One of the staff members came to me later and actually YELLED at me for doing that and said "You probably coat that dog her life."  I told her "I probably saved her life.  That couple is highly unlikely to be able to hand a dog like that, and she'd be back hjere in a matter of days or tied up in the backyard."  And that was that.
 
It is your job as a volunteer or worker to give out every bit of information you know about a dog.  You cannot lie about an animal, cat dog or bird, just to make it more adoptable.  It's unethical, immoral, and can be downright dangerous for ALL involved.
 
I didn't post all this to be negative, but rather to point out that there ARE negatives to volunteering.  Several people are going to post positives, it's a given.  It can be a very rewarding experience, but you HAVE to understand what you're getting into.

Not to mention, after a while the dogs start developing temperment issues

 
I know what you mean mmthomason. I go to the shelter on a weekly basis now because I am looking to adopt as well. I know I wanted this beautiful boy, a pitbull/basenji mix. The first day I went to see him he came up to me and let me pet him from behind his cage and I fell in love. The second day I went I tried to pet him and he started to bite me, not hard, but enough for me to be scared on wanting to adopt him with my little yorkie. I spoke with the adoption counselor about him and she said "he's going cage crazy, he's been here for 3 months and if we dont adopt him out soon he will need to be euthanized" He's still there, and it kills me to know I cant adopt him out (my apartment complex doesn't allow pitbulls or pitbull mixes) I was told he is a very good dog, and I'm guessing thats why they haven't put him down yet. I pray that someone will come along and adopt him soon
 
I know I'm going to cry everyday I'm at that shelter volunteering. I cry when my boyfriend and I leave after just going to look at the dogs. But at the same time, I want to be there for the animals, and even if its their last few days, as least maybe I can make them a few of their best days they ever had. Also, when I get older, I really want to open up a No Kill Animal Shelter and I think it'd be good to see how things are run at a shelter. I have a huge heart for animals and I hate to see any of them suffer :-/
 
Thank you for your advice, I think I will volunteer and if it is too hard then I will quit, but I feel like I need to at least try.

It is your job as a volunteer or worker to give out every bit of information you know about a dog. You cannot lie about an animal, cat dog or bird, just to make it more adoptable. It's unethical, immoral, and can be downright dangerous for ALL involved.

I didn't post all this to be negative, but rather to point out that there ARE negatives to volunteering. Several people are going to post positives, it's a given. It can be a very rewarding experience, but you HAVE to understand what you're getting into.

 
Thank you Xeph! I love that you posted this. I want to know all aspects of what I am getting into. Im definately used to dogs being sick, as my mom's dog gets sick alot (vets dont know whats wrong with her) and I'm used to hurrying up to get her to a vet or clean up her vomit, that won't bother me.
 
I also would never lie to a person about an animal if I dont feel its the right match for them. I wouldnt want a worker/volunteer to do that to me. Thats the last thing I would want to see, an animal coming back again because it didnt work out with the family.

I completely relate to the inner conflict you desribe about deciding whether or not you can handle volunteering at the shelter.  I realized I couldn't handle the emotional toll of direct contact with the animals, but I wanted to do something to help.  So I volunteer "behind the scenes," working on all the activities that have to occur to make a shelter a successful one.  For example, there is so much work to do when it comes to fundraising activities and events, planning, administrative support, procuring items for auctions, "manning" booths at events in the community, etc.  Even something that seems unrelated to shelter work is valuable, such as providing a special skill you have (e.g., if you're an awesome photographer, you could volunteer to be at events to take photos that they'll use in newsletters, etc.).  There are lots of ways we can all lend a hand even if we can't quite bring ourselves to work directly with the animals.  For now, that's what works for me.  Maybe it'll grow into more in the future.  Good luck!

Thank you
I scheduled orientation for Sept. 23. I hope it all works out