April is National Volunteer Month, and more precisely, April 16 to 20 is National Volunteer Week. If you’re an animal lover, there are plenty of opportunities in the Montgomery County and D.C. area. Here's some volunteer opportunities nearby.
As a Montgomery County Humane Society volunteer you can help socialize, feed and play with animals awaiting adoption. The main volunteer position is an adoption advisor, who assists people in choosing the perfect pet. Volunteers who have more than 40 volunteer hours working with dogs at the Humane Society can work towards becoming a dog trainer. If you’re willing to make an even bigger commitment you can foster a dog or cat looking for its “forever home”. To foster an animal you must commit to the program for at least six months, have a flexible schedule, and provide food, toys and other supplies. The Humane Society pays for the animal’s basic shots and spay/neuter procedure. If you love animals but are allergic to them, the Montgomery County Humane Society has volunteer opportunities for you! You can volunteer at their Wagging Tails thrift store, help out in the office or volunteer as a greeter. The Humane Society also has several volunteer opportunities for teens (ages 15 through 17), including a summer program (for teens 14 and up).
Washington Animal Rescue League volunteers help socialize cats and walk dogs. WARL volunteers work in the League’s on-site medical center by assisting the veterinarians and techs with their daily duties. Additionally, WARL participants help with the Pit Bull spay/neuter clinic and Feral Cat Day. The League is looking individuals who can help out with their Development Program and especially needs those with database and web maintenance skills. Children (ages 12 and up) are welcome to volunteer at the League with a guardian.
Mid-Atlantic D.O.G.S. Search and Rescue trains individuals and their dogs in search and rescue techniques. Their search and rescue teams provide assistance to official agencies in missing persons emergencies. This opportunity is not for the faint-hearted or out-of-shape.
The training process is both physically and psychologically challenging. Volunteers and theirs dogs train with other participants as a unit one Saturday night and three Sundays a month in training sessions lasting from six to eight hours. The training takes place over rough terrain and through all types of weather. Volunteers must have their own dog and provide all equipment. Mid-Atlantic D.O.G.S. invites those interested to attend one of their training sessions.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind Puppy Raisers Program is an organization that raises and trains puppies for future work as guide dogs for the blind. To volunteer as a puppy raiser you must be at least 17 years old, attend Pre-Placement classes and do some puppy sitting before GEB will assign a puppy to you. The puppy raiser is responsible for costs such as food, toys and travel to and from class. The young pup stays with the raiser for about 14 to 16 months during which they attend training classes and undergo quarterly evaluations. The goal of GEB is to raise confident, well-mannered and adaptable guide dogs.
Pets on Wheels is a program run by the Montgomery County Mental Health Association that brings pets and their owners into hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes and hospices. Volunteers bring their family pet to visit with elderly residents and patients. The animals must go through a screening process and the program requires that they be well-behaved and gentle. The program asks participants to commit to at least two visits per month over a year, but the times are flexible. For more information call Doris Greene at 301-424-0656 x540 or email dgreene@mhamc.org.
These are just a few examples of the amazing volunteer opportunities in our community. A few other great organizations to check out are People.Animals.Love (PAL), the Washington Humane Society
Find out what's happening in Wheatonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Linda O’Neal draws from the experiences and adventures she shares with her two cats Jose and Beau and dog Molly. She is also the asst. manager of Fetch! Pet Care of Silver Spring a local dog walking and pet sitting company.