Second Chance: Volunteering

20 Aug Second Chance: Volunteering

Why volunteer? Let me recount the reasons.

Help save an animal’s life!  Your efforts will help an animal get ready for a new home. The needs of animals coming into the shelter vary. A cat may need to be socialized or a dog may need extra exercise. Animals that appear happy and healthy have a higher chance of being adopted and shelters need helping to make this happen.

Neville

Boost your mood and your health. Volunteering gives us a sense of satisfaction, can lower stress, make you feel needed and appreciated, increase happiness, and so much more. A study reported on in Natural Health magazine in 2007 showed that 95 percent of volunteers surveyed said they gained a “helper’s high” — a feeling of euphoria and energy. Volunteering truly is a feel-good activity and what better way to spend the day than with cuddly and furry friends?

Gain experience. Young adults can become better acquainted with animal needs, experience a set schedule of responsibilities, and gain a reference for an employment or college application.  Working adults may include volunteering on their resumes or incorporate animal shelters into their work-related events and charitable causes. Someone who is unemployed can get a boost of self-esteem and confidence by being part of a vital team while looking for work.

Meet new friends. You will be surrounded by people who love animals as much as you do, and they might even become your lifelong friends.

Become part of a very important team. Animal shelters need money and people to stay open. Some face constant uncertainty, and you could be that one extra hand that helps another pet get adopted, collects another donation or encourages a new person to volunteer. The animals keep coming and more volunteers are needed every day.

SECOND CHANCE NEEDS MORE VOLUNTEERS! Come be a part of a wonderful team and help save lives!

For details about our volunteer program and how you can help, contact our Volunteer Coordinator at Karen@adoptmountainpets.org.

Saturday, September 6, 10a.m. to 6p.m. is the Grand Opening & Adoption Event for the new Second Chance Thrift Shop location in Telluride! (Previously Telluride Thrift Shop)  Pet adoptions from 11 a.m.– 3 p.m.  We need volunteers to help make it an awesome day for the shelter and our animals!

Our pets of the week are Neville and The Queen of Sheba.

The handsome devil you see here would love to help you get some exercise while enjoying the beautiful acreage at the Second Chance Ranch, or he could be your pal at an adoption event coming up soon. Neville is one of our new dog breeds, a Retrieving Golden Shepherd. He is not even a year old.

At just two years old, Sheba is young for a queen. She comes from a royal Seal Point Siamese heritage and is a regal gal who loves to be scratched behind the ears and stroked on command.  Because as all queens do, she often tires of her staff at the Shelter, Sheba would love a volunteer to do her bidding now and then (or really just sit and give her some nice petting) .

Queen of Sheba

Both Queen of Sheba and Neville are, of course, also available for adoption.

Editor’s note: It’s no secret. The Telluride region is dog heaven. Well, pet heaven. Unless you are one of our furry friends who gets caught in the maw of neglect and abuse. Then heaven is on hold until Second Chance Humane Society comes to the rescue. Second Chance is the region’s nonprofit dedicated to saving animals’ lives and promoting responsible pet parenting and human-animal bond. In her weekly blog, executive director Kelly Goodin profiles at least one, generally two of the many animals now living at the no-kill shelter, Angel Ridge Shelter, a dog and a cat, hoping to find them loving permanent homes. The column is sponsored by Ted Hoff of Cottonwood Ranch & Kennel, who from time to time exercises his skills as a dog whisperer, partnering with Kelly and her staff to help train a particularly challenging animal.

By the by, there is no better place to park your pup than Cottonwood whenever you head out of town (for locals) or are heading to town and staying somewhere that does not allow pets. Consider joining Ted’s Very Important Dog (VID) Club for added benies. (Details on Ted’s website.)