Meet our dog, who we adopted from a shelter almost two years ago.
I realize that the responsibilities of owning a dog, even if you love animals, are not for everyone. While the benefits are many, there is also a commitment of time and training, of patience and consistency, of love and providing for their care.
While I do recommend adopting a shelter animal if you’re in the market for a pet, I do not recommend taking on the responsibility of any pet without first considering the realities: the financial, emotional and time commitments involved.
So if I’m not urging you to rush out and adopt a pet, why am I writing about shelter animals today? Because something occurred to me while I was out walking our dog:
Want a workout? Forget the gym. Find a local no-kill shelter & volunteer to walk some homeless dogs.
It really is that simple. If you love animals, but cannot afford to bring a dog into your home (or make the time commitment involved in owning one), there is still a way to help out homeless animals and get some exercise in the process: consider becoming a shelter volunteer.
Animal shelters across the country are brimming with adoptable dogs and most aren’t in a position to turn down the help of responsible volunteers. If you’re wanting to add some zest to your workout, maybe find a buddy who is always willing to exercise with you, consider contacting animal shelters in your area and finding one who might appreciate your help.
Often there is an application and training process involved in becoming a shelter volunteer. If so, any shelter you contact will be able to inform you of their specific guidelines. Some shelters require volunteers to assist in other areas before committing to the exercise and care of animals, but with many shelters only requiring only two hours of volunteer time per week, you’ll quickly navigate the volunteer ladder. If your goal is to exercise the animals, becoming a volunteer dog walker, inform the shelter of your intention. Many will be more than happy to work with you if you merely inform them of your goal.
If this sounds like a volunteer opportunity you may be interested in, Animal Shelter.org is a great place to start. I also recommend reading this article from eHow.
Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s Theory of Relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“The Drum Major Instinct”
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~Aesop
A Bloggable Life 