Ayres Volunteer Program

Volunteers

The Volunteer Program

With 100 animals to care for at any given time, the full time and part time workers that the shelter hires are very much overwhelmed with work. Not only the physical needs can not properly be met, but the psychological needs of the animals as well.

The answer to this problem is volunteer workers. It is the volunteers that make sure the dogs have a clean, dry blanket everyday, the cats are held and cuddled, sick animals promptly taken to the vet, adoption follow-up calls made and too many other jobs to mention. Volunteers are one of the most important elements to make sure the shelter is giving the animals in its care the kind of quality care they deserve.

Volunteer Katie Carpenter, is shown giving T.L.C. to one of our cats, 'Benny'.

Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, from a dedicated board member to a young school girl. Everyone is welcome and so very much appreciated. Adult volunteers have their choice of fund raising activities, office work, dog walking, animal care, driving animals to adoption clinics or the vet or in just simply baking for our bake sales, our spay and neuter program and shelter receptions. There is a job suited to everyone.
Young volunteers are asked to fill out an application, informed of safety procedures and their parents notified. They are scheduled to work three at a time so they can be closely supervised. The staff plans activities for them and makes sure snacks and drinks are available. Birthdays and special events are celebrated so that the children feel how much they are appreciated.

Every trimester we feature one or more volunteers. See Featured Volunteers and Staff.