A common question we receive at Fureverwood Rescue is “What are some ways that I can volunteer at an animal rescue?” Shelters and rescues all over the country are overrun with tasks that need to be completed and understaffed and short on man-hours to get everything done. Donations and adoptions are easy clear-cut ways to fill the needs of rescues, but animal shelter volunteer opportunities will always be abundant, particularly here in the south, where we have so many abandoned and abused homeless dogs. Dog rescue volunteers are some of the kindest-hearted people and are always in need.
At Fureverwood Rescue we have been fortunate to receive help from some of our lovely community members who love animals and want to give back to the community. We know that charity comes from the heart; so many of our neighbors have a love for animals and we appreciate that they are willing to share that love in ways that mean so much to the animals at Fureverwood. With as many dogs as we have at the shelter (23 currently), there is always something to be done and we are always looking for help in myriad ways.
One of our generous volunteers, Rita Heagren, makes time to come by the rescue and help in many ways, including trimming dog nails for us. This is such a needed service for our dogs as nails that are too long can get caught on just about anything, from carpet fibers to outdoor obstacles, which can cause nails to chip or break and splinter which can be very painful and even need veterinary treatment. Overly long dog nails can also make walking painful for the dogs. Rita travels all the way from Salt Lake City to help us out in many ways and we are eternally grateful for the help she has bestowed upon us and our pups.
Other ways to volunteer include teaching dogs to walk on a leash, bathing dogs, applying flea and tick treatments for dogs, helping at adoption events, and/or being representatives for your local shelter or rescue, and answering adoption questions. Cleaning pet areas, doing laundry, and washing dishes can also be a huge help to your local rescue or shelter. Another way to help your local rescue can be to distribute flyers or other informative literature that helps disseminate messaging to spay and neuter your pets and bring awareness to the local shelters.
Sherry Stone is another one of our volunteers who has made time to donate her time in ways such as helping at adoption events at Petsense, assisting with bathing dogs, and helping Danny transport dogs to the clinic for treatment. We appreciate Sherry and her dedication to helping improve the lives of these dogs while bringing her friendly personality with her. We would also like to highlight Linda McDonald, another one of our volunteers who has assisted us at adoption events and at the rescue helping with much-needed tasks such as bathing our dogs. Volunteers like Sherry and Linda are part of the reason we are able to help as many dogs as we do on-site, and we will always cherish their generosity and people like them who help make our operations a success.
Each and every local small shelter will have its own unique set of needs and the best way to meet the needs of your local animal rescue is by calling and asking directly for what they are in need of at the moment. They will all be appreciative of the help that is being offered to them and your phone call just might make their day by helping to lighten the load of the ever-growing to-do list.
At Fureverwood Rescue, we are always in need of volunteers. If you are interested in offering your services, or even just finding out what types of tasks we could use help with, please contact us via phone or email; we would love to hear from you!