Volunteering @ a shelter?

[Haley0489]

I've been thinking about volunteering at my local humane society. The woman who runs it also works in my uncle's vet clinic and has little to no help. I'd really like to give back, and since I'm young and my schedule is nearly always empty, I thought this would be a great thing for me to do. I've always loved animals and I really want to do something to help.

Does anyone else here volunteer? How do you like it?
The only thing I'm worried about is becoming attached to the animals, which I know I will, but I have absolutely no room for any more pets.

[paula.m.moore]

It's great that you're considering volunteering!

Before I was working so many hours, I volunteered at a shelter here. You do get attached to the animals, but harder than that for me was seeing what people are capable of doing to them - either intentionally or by neglect.

It's always a great feeling, though, when an animal *finally* gets a good home, and it's so rewarding when you see an animal come in that's been neglected or abandoned get the vet care and simple human kindness s/he may not have had for the entire span of his/her life. By volunteering, you may be the first person from whom the animal(s) learn kindness and love. To me, that alone outweighed the negatives of doing it.

Overall it's a very rewarding experience and if you've got the time to do it, I think you should try it and see how you like it.