I don't know how you do it...

Being a volunteer at a high intake animal shelter is much like riding a roller coaster.  You have your up and your down days.  There are moments when a dog you have worked with and shared numerous times, finally gets adopted to a perfect family and you couldn't be happier.  Then, there are days when it seems it couldn't get any worse and then some one else comes and surrenders there two senior pitties.  It is constant good and bad days and it can not only be physically exhausting walking the dogs, but emotionally and mentally.  I have come home many days and cried wishing I could have stayed longer and got a few more out.  I share my stories with my friends, family, co-workers and it is ALWAYS, "I don't know how you do it."  

Honestly there are some days when I don't know how I do it.  It has been a long week at work, I haven't cleaned my house, I haven't spent time with my friends, family or my own dog.  None of that seems to matter on Sundays.  That is the one day that I can devote to those precious faces and not think about real life.  I can be in the moment with each dog I spend time with.  Give them my 100% focus and attention. How will the dogs get to stretch their legs and get some fresh air if I don't go?  I get to be around other volunteers who take pride in being able to help the homeless dogs of KC.  It's not only the dogs, but other volunteers who depend on me to be there.  It is a team effort and I so wish more people wanted to be a part of it.

Each week I get to meet new faces and personalities.  It is amazing what you can learn from just a 10 minute walk.  Are they scared, housetrained, have so much energy they don't know what to do with it?  I try as often as I can to take a video of them and then write a bio about them.  My hope is that it might help them get a second chance in a new home.  These dogs are so appreciative and it is awesome to get those hugs and licks on the face.  

There are also those dogs that you continue to see each week, who have been trying to be patient and wait for that perfect family to pick them.  Those are the ones I truly go back for every week.  It has been months now and these dogs are stressed and not showing well in their cages.  They need the extra love and attention.  They need someone to speak for them and spread the word to potential adopters on why they are so fantastic and deserve a home like all the rest of them.  

Olivia is Fantastic!

Beautiful Norma Jean!

After being a volunteer for so long, you unfortunately see how cruel and ignorant people really are.  Dogs are living, breathing animals and it is amazing what kind of shape some of our KCMO dogs are in when they arrive at the shelter.  It is heartbreaking and sad, but that makes me want to volunteer that much more.  To show these animals that all people aren't bad.  That is why and how I do it every week.  To be an advocate for the animals and make sure they know how special they each are.  

If you want to get involved, please take some time to watch this video and learn more about how you can help KC Pet Project...

 

Help Hoya find a Home

I have been volunteering at the KCMO shelter for almost 4 years and I have seen MANY dogs; all shapes, sizes, breeds and personalities.  There have been so many that have taken a piece of my heart and special ones I won't ever forget.  I recently met another one that I can't stop thinking about - my boy Hoya!

Hoya's story starts on Oct 17th when he first arrived at the shelter. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet Hoya back then, but someone from the public found him running around and dropped him off at the shelter as a stray.  No one ever came for him so he became available for adoption.  The trainer described him as an active young male who is both friendly and social.  He seemed to ignore cats and did ok with some dogs and needed to learn a few manners.  Hoya stayed at the shelter until he was adopted in the beginning of December.  His time was short with his new family and he was brought back maybe 2 weeks later =(

 

I CANNOT say enough fabulous things about this Boxer mix.  Hoya is so stinkin handsome.  He is totally housetrained, he knows the commands "sit", "shake" and "down".  When harnessed on a leash he is a breeze to walk.  He will sit pretty and enjoy the world with you.  He does fantastic in the car.  He can be picky with his dog friends, but I am sure out of the stressful environment Hoya will know no strangers.  He is a total lovebug and will melt your heart.


Right now Hoya is really struggling with being stuck in a kennel all day.  He is stressing himself out, pacing and barking.  He seems to barely eat and is on alert all day long.  He can't seem to relax at all.  Today I took him from the Zona Rosa location to the shelter for a little bit of a break.  He had a nice peaceful car ride and enjoyed the one on one time.  We were able to let him play with a couple of dogs to try and wear him out.  I really tried to show him off to potential adopters, but today wasn't his day.  He finally took a little nap on the way back to Zona, I was happy to see him tired.  I tried hard not to cry when I left him today, but I just want the best for him.  I will be back at Zona tomorrow to spend more time with his precious face! 

Hoya is absolutely wonderful and I know there is the perfect family for him, they just don't know that he is at Zona waiting for them.  If anyone is looking for AWESOMENESS, please tell them about Hoya.  He deserves lots of love and attention!!!  

One Dog at a Time

OVERWHELMING, the one word most used to describe the KCMO shelter.  The number of dogs is overwhelming, the barking dogs is overwhelming, the smell of 150+ dogs in one big room is overwhelming.  It is the feeling I get as I am driving to the shelter, wondering, how many volunteers will be there to help me.  After almost 4 years it is a feeling that is still there and probably won't ever go away.  

It was just this past Sunday that I became overwhelmed before I even left the house.  I only knew of one other volunteer who had confirmed she would be at the shelter to help (I can always count on Natalie).  That was two volunteers to try and walk at least 80 dogs, two volunteers to help the photographer get pictures of all the newest dogs up for adoption.  We would both be helping potential adopters and I knew at that point all the dogs weren't going to get out for a walk that day.  I felt overwhelmed having to choose which dogs I was going to pick and which ones I would pass up while they look at me with those eyes, telling me to pick them.  I hate that feeling and unfortunately it happens more than I want it to. 

I arrive at the shelter and Natalie has already started, it is always so nice to see people who have the same passion you do.  I grab my leash and despite my overwhelming feeling, I am happy I am there to help and give attention to the dogs.  The multiple dogs in the stacked cages all turn when they see the door open and my five hour volunteer shift has begun - One Dog at a Time...   

I constantly remind myself to focus on the one dog I am spending time with.  Learn his/her name, get to know their personality, give them the attention they have never had or are missing since arriving at the shelter.  Then I come across the first dog I picked; a potential adopter is interested in Nicole, a young Boxer/Lab mix.  She is shaking in her kennel, tail tucked as far under as she can get it and is hesitant to let me get her out.  Here comes that feeling again, not only for me, but for Nicole.  She is overwhelmed by all the other dogs and is nervous to trust me.  Once we get her outside, Nicole's personality completely changes.  The woman looking at her seems to instantly bond, taking her on a walk and cuddling her.  Fingers crossed, Nicole might just be getting a home...            

                           

It didn't happen on Sunday for Nicole unfortunately, but just this past Tuesday, Nicole was on the adopted list.  She had found her people and she wasn't going to have to feel overwhelmed in the shelter any longer.

The day continued, one dog at a time.  I met so many fantastic dogs, all worthy of a wonderful home.  More volunteers showed up and we were able to help each other out, sharing stories of the dogs we were walking, working together one dog at a time.  We were able to get all 30+ dogs a fantastic professional photograph.  More dogs got outside to play than I expected and I was able to get 7 new videos of dogs that are available for adoption.

It was nice to see that despite the overwhelming feeling that most of us had, we all STILL came out to volunteer.  I understand it is hard and stressful and sad, but if we don't come out to volunteer, who will?  These dogs deserve the smallest amount of time we can give to show them love and attention.  If we all work together, support each other, it doesn't always have to be so sad and overwhelming.  How do we get more volunteers to stay involved and help each other out, so the same volunteers aren't always there feeling those feelings?

Please just remember this - it is one dog at a time!  

I can't share this quote enough - "The kindness one does for an animal may not change the world...but IT WILL change the world for that one animal!"        

Let's all continue to work together and help support our homeless animals and each other.  Please consider volunteering at the KCMO animal shelter!

http://kcpetproject.org/volunteer/