The Benefits of Volunteering at an Animal Shelter
Animal shelters aren’t run exclusively by employees. Many of them rely on volunteers to perform essential tasks. As a volunteer, you won’t get paid for your time and labor. However, there are still plenty of reasons to consider volunteering at a local animal shelter.
Reunite Lost Pets With Their Owners
When volunteering at an animal shelter, you’ll play an essential role in reuniting lost pets with their owners. Pets can run away from their homes. According to the American Humane Society, approximately 10 million pets in the United States are lost each year. When lost pets are picked up by animal control, they are often sent to an animal shelter. As a volunteer, you’ll help locate the rightful owners of lost pets so that they can be safely reunited.
Meet New People
Volunteering allows you to meet new people. Animal shelters are operated by teams of employees and volunteers, most of whom are passionate about animals. You won’t be working in an isolated space. Rather, you’ll be working alongside other volunteers, as well as employees, who share the same passion for animals. As a result, you’ll probably foster new friendships that last well beyond your tenure at the animal shelter.
Gain Experience Working With Animals
You’ll gain experience working with animals when volunteering at an animal shelter. Volunteers perform many essential tasks, some of which include walking animals, playing with animals, feeding and watering animals and even training them so that they are ready for adoption. Experience such as this is invaluable if you aspire for a job in the veterinary medicine industry. Whether you want to become a licensed veterinarian or a veterinary assistant, volunteering at an animal shelter allows you to gain firsthand experience.
Lower Stress Levels
Many people find that volunteering at animal shelters is relaxing. Research has shown that working with animals — as well as simply being around animals — reduces stress levels. It promotes the release of chemicals and hormones that lift your spirits and lower your stress levels. If you’re tired of feeling constantly stressed, perhaps volunteer work is the answer. When you work with animals, you’ll feel an innate sense of relaxation that curbs chronic stress. This is just one of many reasons to consider volunteering at an animal shelter.
Touch Up Your Résumé
You can touch up your résumé by volunteering at an animal shelter. Many jobs require applicants to submit a résumé. Along with your education and previous places of employment, you can include volunteer work on this essential document. When an employer sees that you’ve volunteered at an animal shelter, he or she will recognize you as being a hardworking and compassionate individual. As a result, you’ll have a better shot at landing the job.
Keep in mind, volunteering at an animal shelter will make you a more attractive candidate for all job positions. Even if you’re applying for a job outside of the veterinary medicine industry, employers are more likely to hire you when they see your volunteer work included on your résumé. It will distinguish you from other candidates applying for the same position.
Plenty of Volunteering Opportunities Available
Regardless of where you live, there’s probably an animal shelter in need of volunteers. According to the Humane Society, the United States has approximately 3,500 animal shelters. Animal shelters need volunteers to stay open. When one of their volunteers leaves, they must a fine new volunteer with which to replace him or her. Therefore, it’s easy to find volunteering opportunities. Just make a list of all the animal shelters — you can also volunteer at animal sanctuaries — and start calling them.
No Full-Time Commitment
You don’t have to make a full-time commitment when volunteering at an animal shelter. While some volunteers work five days a week, others work just one or two days a week. Furthermore, shifts for volunteers are usually shorter than those of employees. Employees at animal shelters may work six to eight hours a day. In comparison, volunteers may work for just three to three hours a day. Regardless, volunteering at an animal shelter won’t consume all your free time. You’ll still be able to explore other professional or recreational activities.
Find a Loyal New Companion
Volunteering at an animal shelter may connect you with a loyal new companion that becomes your very own pet. Many volunteers end up adopting pets from the animal shelters at which they work. You’ll inevitably gain an attachment to some of the sheltered animals when playing and working with them. If you’re looking to adopt a new pet, you’ll probably choose one of these animals at the animal shelter.
As you can see, volunteering at an animal shelter offers many benefits. You’ll reunite lost pets with their owners, meet new people, gain experience working with animals, improve your résumé and more.
