I can't tell you how important it is to a shelter animal to have someone that visits them and shows them love and attention. Just for a few moments, someone to make them feel like they aren't bored, sad and alone in a cage. Being a volunteer that socializes the animals, you really get to know all of their different personalities and see the light in their eyes when they recognize you and realize you are coming to see them. Some volunteers clean and help out the shelter in other ways, and that's needed too, but its the volunteers that socialize the animals that truly make an impact on that animal's life.
Socializing can mean lots of things; petting an animal that craves attention, playing ball with an energetic dog outdoors, trying to help an untrusting animal to give people another chance, talking softly to a scared animal or playing a simple game of string-pull with a cat. Basically it means interacting with shelter animals that are waiting for their forever homes and showing them that although they have been abandoned, they have not been forgotten. Socializing also helps tremendously with adoption rates, since animals that are socialized have much better chances of getting adopted because they are used to human contact and are more friendly to visitors.
It's a very unnatural and restrictive environment for animals to be in a shelter cage, and some are there for a very long time and can suffer emotional distress just like people can when they are confined. Some of them have been there since birth and have never known anything but a shelter cage, and for them they appreciate any interaction. For those that came from homes and were abandoned, they are usually confused, depressed and scared, and need attention to show them that their world hasn't completely collapsed in this strange place and that someone still cares.
A perfect example of an abandoned pet is Smokey (in the photo), he was an adult cat dumped suddenly at the shelter just because his owners got a divorce and suddenly he was unwanted too. He was used to freedom and a normal life, and then his world suddenly changed and now he is alone in a small cage all day. Smokey doesn't like being in his cage at all, he never adjusted well to shelter life, so for him its a bit harder than most of the other cats. Because he understood freedom well, he also understands what no freedom is like now too, and he just can't get used to it. Being out of his cage even for just 5 minutes makes him so happy, and then he acts out when its time to go back in. And I don't blame him, his life as he knew it is gone and he's waiting here for an extremely long time facing incredible odds of adoption since he is an adult cat competing with kittens. I imagine it must feel like being in jail for no good reason...
It may seem like a small gesture, but it means the world to a shelter animal that someone just spends a moment with them. Shelter workers try to give attention to the animals, but there are usually so many and they are very busy with the maintenance of the shelter and the urgent tasks at hand, so they rely on volunteers to help with devoting their time to giving individual attention to each animal.
And these volunteers are extremely hard to find, especially those that can devote consistent time to visit the animals, whether it be once a week, once a month, whatever, as long as they know you are coming, they will wait and look forward to your visit much more than you realize. And if you don't have a lot of time to volunteer, that's OK too, think about if there were others like you that could only devote the same small amount of time, if we got enough people together, the animals would be getting consistent attention from many people.
Please know that it makes such a difference to these animals to be interacted with and visited. It may not seem like you are making a difference, but believe me, you are. If you go to the shelter consistently, you see your progress with these animals. It may take months for some, but soon enough they jump for joy and purr persistently when they see you arrive, letting you know that they simply appreciate your presence. And the cat that started out untouchable months ago, has finally started to come around and trust again, and all because of you and your efforts they now have a chance at getting adopted.
If you have any time to spare, once a week, once a month, or whenever, please consider volunteering for your local animal shelter as a "socializer" for the animals. It's so moving to see what a simple gesture from you can do for these sweet animals that wait so long in their cage for someone, anyone, to show them love.
The Wayne Township Animal Shelter can always use volunteers (must be over 18 years old) that care enough to help socialize the animals. If you are interested, please contact the shelter to find out about being a volunteer.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP ANIMAL SHELTER
201 Pompton Plains Crossroads
Wayne, NJ 07470 (Located off Route 23 North; take the Jackson Avenue exit)
Website: www.petfinder.com/shelters/NJ516.html
Phone: 973-694-0767
Fax: 973-616-1270
Email: animalshelter@waynetownship.com
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ONE OF MANY: STOP BY TO MEET YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND TODAY!There are lots of loveable furry friends awaiting adoption at the Wayne Township Animal Shelter! Many of these animals have very sad stories of abandonment but have now been given a second chance at our shelter. If you’re searching for a best friend who will provide unconditional love and affection, we’ve got plenty of furry faces just waiting to meet you! At the Wayne Township Animal Shelter we are committed to finding our dogs and cats loving forever homes which means matching them with the right owner.
BE A HERO AND ADOPT! CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR ADOPTABLE ANIMALS HERE: www.petfinder.com/shelters/NJ516.html
