Volunteering makes you feel good!
Being a volunteer at an animal shelter is good for your health! Whether you’re a junior (ages 8 to 14), youth (ages 15-17) or adult (ages 18+), volunteering programs not only benefit the dedicated staff members, but getting to work with animals helps your overall wellness. Being an animal shelter volunteer provides you the satisfaction of contributing to your community and makes you feel like you’re doing the right thing. Most of the animals in the shelter are strays and may have had little to no human interaction. By working with these furry friends on a regular basis, you allow the animal to trust you and other humans, helping them become less timid and more desirable to adopters.
Instant results!
You’ll see an instant change in the animal’s personality almost instantly. It doesn’t take much time for an animal to accept your love. Whether its giving them hugs, or providing care such as bathing or walking, their personalities come out and shine! Spending time with the animal allows you to share your gifts through touch, play and providing a healthy lifestyle to pets who may have had no or limited interactions with humans.
Your help is noticed!
Animal shelters are constantly taking in new animals. Volunteers are needed on a daily basis. There will always be a dog to walk, cat to groom or animal to give your hugs and love to. Your help can never go unnoticed. You will always feel like you are helping in some way. Sometimes a good walk is just what’s needed to cure kennel stress. Some dogs may behave aggressively in response to stress while others may begin to perform repetitive behaviors, like increasing their frequency of verbalizing and barking, becoming destructive or urinate and defecate in their kennel. Stress affects a shelter dog’s physical health, which in turn may cause an increase in susceptibility to disease, and it may take longer for them to recover from illness. If dogs get out of the kennel to take a walk on a regular basis, they begin to act happy and healthy, and you’ll also feel the same!
Good for your emotional, physical and mental health.
It has been scientifically proven that spending time with animals helps to lower stress levels and blood pressure. Keeping active helps with your emotional health as well. If you enjoy walking, taking a dog on your walk can assist with building a unique bond with the animals, which helps your emotional health. Walking helps to elevate your levels of serotonin and dopamine, which will help keep you calm and relaxed.
Explore new interests and gain professional and life experience.
There are so many areas to explore to use your strengths and develop new skills. Volunteering helps with resume building. The more skills and job experience you have on your resume, the more desirable you are to a potential employer. You’ll also gain a list of references to show character, commitment as well as other skills.
Contribute to your community.
Your help at an animal shelter helps you to contribute to a cause you care about while getting involved with your community and making a difference.
Professional development.
As a volunteer, you are expected to behave in a professional manner. Being a responsible person and managing your time makes you a valuable employee and well-rounded person.
Make a difference.
If you are interested in becoming an animal shelter volunteer, please contact your local SPCA.
