One of the most rewarding experiences in my life has been to volunteer with the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. I started volunteering when my beloved 16-year old chow-shepherd rescue passed away and my husband was not yet ready to adopt another dog.
I was longing for the company of dogs again, and there was the Shelter, ready with all kinds of mixed mutts and pure breeds!
Being an open door Shelter, many different types of dogs are surrendered or found lost/stray, some even confiscated from cases of neglect and abuse. But they were all adorable and needing lots of love, and I was ready to oblige (and even adopted a chi/terrier mix with my husband’s full blessing a few months later)!
As I juggled raising kids, working outside the home, and a full social calendar with family and friends, my time at the Shelter has ebbed and flowed over the last 14 years.
My volunteer roles also changed depending on what I could offer at that moment; taking out dogs, fostering cats, planning fundraisers, and even coordinating Humane Education. I certainly did have to take breaks here and there, but I keep/kept coming back because I care deeply about animals. It is also because of what the research says: people who give their time and energy to good causes feel greater happiness and reduce anxiety. Adding to that, it is scientifically proven that being with animals helps lower your stress levels and blood pressure!
There is something for everyone who is interested in helping: Children can volunteer as soon as they are 12 years old, with an adult. At the age of 18 they can volunteer on their own. There are many different ways you and your kids can help, some of them with animals and some without – every job is crucial and keeps our Shelter humming daily.
Dog TLC
Play and walk the dogs and puppies to give them positive socialization.
Benefits: You get to stay active yourself, so consider this a workout without the cost of gym membership!
Cat TLC
Give cats and kittens some fun exercise, brushing and cuddle breaks.
Benefits: Cue in the serotonin – the purring of the felines will definitely get you feeling content and calm too!
Rabbit and Guinea Pig TLC
Help small animals get into outside pens for hopping around and gentle pets.
Benefits: Looking into the eyes of the bunnies and stroking their soft fur will have you feeling instantly relaxed!
Laundry and Dishes
These important tasks mean our sweet animals will always have cozy bedding and clean bowls.
Benefits: You can use this as a practice in meditation. Tidy up the Shelter, tidy up your mind!
Green Team
Create a beautiful outdoor space that welcomes our community and changes people’s stereotype of the “dog pound”.
Benefits: You get your hands in the dirt (antidepressant microbes in the soil) and enjoy our colorful gardens!
Special Events
Public events to educate others about the amazing work of the Shelter and advocate for rescue and adoption.
Benefits: You increase your social connections which can help reduce the risk of chronic disease and serious illness!
You can also become a foster, an idea that could also work well if you have young children and cannot do the above options. As a foster, your family is a crucial part of an animal’s adoption journey. You assist with new social skills and teach them about being part of a household. Some animals become very stressed or are too young to be in a Shelter environment (or they are in need of medical recovery), and living temporarily in a home environment makes a huge difference. This allows the animals to learn from the foster parents, their children and other resident pets, so they can grow to be wonderful companions to their fur-ever families.
It is very simple to start the process as a volunteer! Go to the Shelter website to fill out a registration form and then attend a general orientation, available in person or on zoom.
Then, you decide what specific area you want to start with and you are provided with additional training and mentorship. If you are interested in fostering, the information is also on the Shelter website, scanimalshelter.org/becoming-a-volunteer/
Nga Trinh-Halperin is the Executive Director of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation and a volunteer. She is interested in helping young people to understand and experience the transformative power of animals.
