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Help wanted: no pay but happy tails
(by Elsie Walker - May 12, 2008)
Dogs like this need volunteers to be with them, and offer hugs, on adoption days.
Did you ever think you could make a difference just by spending a couple of hours walking, petting, and being with a dog? That’s all it takes to be a PAL dog adoption volunteer. The Pet Adoption League is looking for volunteers to help them on their adoption days. The more volunteers they have, the more dogs that can be taken to adoption sites where potential owners can see them. There, dogs who have been abused, neglected or abandoned get a second chance at a happy life in a loving forever home. Giving them that chance is what being a PAL dog adoption days volunteer is all about.
“We are looking for people who enjoy the company of dogs and who have three hours to spare on a Saturday three times a year or once a month, or more. We are working now on a getting enough volunteers so that we will have enough people to bring six of our dogs to the adoption[site] every Saturday. If we get 24 volunteers who can commit to one Saturday a month, we'll be all set and the dogs will be thrilled,” shared PAL member Kathleen Hurley of Liberty Township.
“Volunteers can call us at 973-584-0095 or click on the Contact Us link on our website (www.palpets.org). This link will allow them to send us an email to info@palpets.org,” she added.
PAL adoptions are held on Saturdays for three hours, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, at locations in Hackettstown and the surrounding area. There are four main locations and the schedule is typically: Global AG in Washington, the first Saturday of the month; Hackettstown Pet Supplies, the second Saturday of the month; Pet Value in Mansfield, the third Saturday of the month and PetSmart in Mount Olive, the fourth Saturday of the month. There are times when the PAL travels to other locations as well for special events or to try something new. The Calendar of Events on its website www.palpets.org.
What does a volunteer do on an adoption day?
“Our dog program manager, Valery Keith, brings the dogs to the adoption site in our van. The number of volunteers who attend determines how many of our dogs can get out and go to the adoption and be seen by potential adopters. We pair up a volunteer with each dog so the dogs are not sitting in crates. The volunteer's job is to walk the dog around the adoption site to show him or her off for passersby, to allow the dog to explore a little and get a little exercise, to cuddle the dog (which is a favorite activity of all the dogs and one that is very important for them emotionally, blankets are provided), and to spend a little time working on basic obedience. Valery teaches our dog volunteers how to handle the dogs and teaches the dogs how to behave politely when they are approached by people who are interested. In addition, each volunteer is given all of the important information about the dog he is with, so that he can answer questions people may have about the dog. People who are interested in [adopting] a dog will be asked to fill out a pre-adoption form and will be interviewed by Valery Keith or an experienced volunteer,” ”, said Hurley.
You might wonder what it is like to be a dog volunteer and what some people get from doing it. Recently, a few PAL volunteers took time to reflect on their experiences. They have a range of backgrounds, including one who has never owned a dog!
“As an empty nester , a life time lover of animals and a person who always had a dog or cat, I started volunteering for PAL more than 10 years ago. I started volunteering to keep busy, and I continue because there is a need in the community to place lost and forgotten cats and dogs in loving homes. The reward is in knowing that over the 10 years[with the PAL], I have helped place, sometimes in a very small way, over a thousand animals. These are animals that might otherwise have been euthanized or died in some other way never knowing the love of a person. It is my small way of putting some love back into my corner of the world. As a side benefit, I have become a much better pet owner and, I think , a much better person in general,” said Liz Schramm, PAL Volunteer, Oxford.
Jaimie Stewart, a PAL Volunteer from Hackettstown, shared, “Honestly ,I've never owned a dog in my life so I was a little hesitant at first. But after a while, I learned the basics of walking the dogs from Val. She will never have you handle a dog she doesn't think you can handle. I started last summer with the dog adoptions and also helping walk them throughout the week. I enjoy it very much and I know the dogs love you for it, just by how they look at you”
“…..When we moved to Hackettstown, along with our (then) five year old cocker spaniel, I would see the Pet Adoption League around town and read about them in the local papers. I wanted to help out, but didn’t know quite how. So for a couple of years, I sent in donations and then one day showed up at an adoption at Hackettstown Pet Supplies on Main Street. The first person I met was Kathy Hurley. She handed me a dog named Daisy. I spent two hours with Daisy, petting her and giving her some TLC. Although Daisy did not find a home that day, she did two weeks later. The rest, as they say, is “history”. I have been with PAL for 6 ½ years…..” shared Allamuchy resident Linda Miller.
“……. I would definitely encourage anyone what has the extra time to come out and try a dog adoption[day]. I guarantee you will feel a sense of accomplishment, said Stewart.
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