Humane Society
Vital Stats
Hagerstown, MD
- people helped 50
- People Doing It100
The Problem
The goal of the Humane Society is to improve the quality of life for all animals. Whether it be giving the unwanted, unloved, and abandoned animals homes or saving the abused and neglected from their owners, I volunteer every week to see these animals are taken care of. I also help families find their new loving family members and the animals go to forever homes. For those who cannot afford services for their pets, the Humane Society enforces animal control, humane law enforcement, lost and found, sick and rescue, and humane education. They have many public assistance programs such as Food Donation Bank, Spay/Neuter Assistance Programs, H.E.L.P and A.I.D programs that provide money to help fund emergency veterinary surgeries, Humane Education, Lost & Found Connection, Placement Program, Breed Request Lists, Breed Placement, Foster Care, Gold Paw Foster Program, Safe Haven, connections with CASA, and most notably, a Shelter for Homeless Animals. The shelter cares for up to 5,700 unwanted, lost, homeless, abused, or neglected animals each year. Each of these animals, whether it be a cat, dog, bird, guinea pig, rat, hamster, snake, turtle, chicken, or rabbit; needs food, socialization, love and attention, exercise, and veterinary care. Because of the Humane Society’s contributions to the community, the number of spayed and neutered animals has increased, abuse decreased, and the unwanted are finding loving homes.
Plan of Action
As a volunteer, I spend several hours each week caring for the animals. I mostly take care of the cats because I have had cats my entire life and feel the most comfortable with them. Cats seem to really respond to me and we enjoy each others company. I start by greeting every cat because they become very lonely overnight with no volunteers in the building. I then systematically go cat-to-cat, checking to see if they have adequate food and give them fresh water. Each cat should have several toys to play with, have a clean litter box with enough litter, and I give them each sufficient time to run around free and play with toys like balls and catnip mice. I try to get each accustomed to being held and pet. This is called socialization and is essential in the adoption process. I have been told I am proficient in getting cats adopted. One instance happened on a Saturday morning. A young woman had just gotten her elderly cat put to sleep. She was a naval officer and was unmarried, so her cat was her only company when she was home from duty. I introduced her to a black and white cat that did not seem to like anyone else, but they surprisingly got along right away and she took him home that day. I also clean the small animals cages and care for the dogs. I walk the dogs, give them treats, teach them commands, and introduce them to potential families. I have been a volunteer for over a year now and plan to continue to volunteer as long as I possibly can.
