Furry friends are the best friends. You can cuddle together, they don’t judge you, your attention means the world to them, they’re excited when you come home, they never argue – it’s quite literally the happiest and most loving relationship ever! Yet, there are thousands of animals that need to find their best friend(s) (perhaps you). Maybe you can’t exactly welcome a loving fur baby into your family at this moment, but you can still help them on their journey. Many cities/regions have their own or a nearby animal shelter. I’m going to chat about my local humane association, but this information could be similar to yours as well!
The Eau Claire County Humane Association (ECCHA) accepts animals of all ages, health, breed and temperament. You’ll find more than just your typical cat or dog here. Chirpy birds, bouncing bunnies, even loving rats can be found in search of their fur-ever home. (Which rats are very smart and cuddly critters!) In 2016 over 900 pets were adopted from this organization. Yet there were still some that were in need of a home. Volunteering and/or being a foster parent, can help those that may get overlooked.
Volunteer opportunities with ECCHA are a ton of fun! The shelter is always in need of helping hands to clean kennels, litter boxes, wash food bowls and more. Besides the dirty work (literally), there are a range of volunteer opportunities that involves interacting with the animals. You can cuddle kittens, walk dogs, take photos of them for the website, handle small critters. They even have events and special fundraisers so you can put your organization and people skills to work. Or you could even bring a dog or cat into your home as a foster parent. This is a wonderful way for them to learn, grow and be loved while they await their future family to adopt them.
I was able to volunteer with this caring organization as an AmeriCorps member. We went to the shelter as a group, walked the dogs and did some cleaning. My favorite is cuddling with the cats. There is an open room full of cat toys, towers, and beds galore. You could be playing with a handful of loving kitties all at one time. It’s a cat lovers paradise that’s for sure!
If you don’t have much time to commit as a volunteer, that’s okay too! They appreciate all the help they can get. There are opportunities in outreach programs that work well for those with limited availability. Looking to volunteer, foster, or donate to ECCHA? You can check out their site and learn more about how to sign up and what you can do.
Share the Love.
-Espy Girl