A Guide to Being an Animal Shelter Volunteer for Teens
As a teen in high school, one of the best ways for colleges to consider a student for a scholarship or admission is the work that a student does outside the classroom. Many students play sports, join clubs, or even tutor other students.
But what about the students that volunteer in other places like senior citizens and animal shelters?
Teens that contribute these types of work are helpful and are really are trying to help their cause. The animal shelters that teens will volunteer at want students with a love for animals, a caring heart, and an understanding of the needs on how to take care of an animal. When volunteering at an animal shelter, it’s just not about the hours that are put, in but the love, time, and personal attention a volunteer has to have for animals.
Dogs, cats, snakes, horses, pigs even hamsters often end up in an adoption situation, even though most except dogs and cats don’t end up in a typical shelter situation. However, people will adopt animals for many different reasons, and knowing these could help convince an on-the-fence adopter to commit and bring home a new friend and companion. Some of the most persuasive reasons include: protection of the household, having a reliable cuddle buddy, or to give a child a companion to grow up with.
The work that animal shelter teen volunteers may have to do at an animal shelter will vary on what the manager decide, and the hours you’re able to work between school and other extracurricular activies. Don’t overlook that this may involve cleaning (very, very smelly) rooms, grooming the animals, separating those that don’t get along well, playing with the animals, feeding the animals, etc.
You have to be a animal lover and that means the love has to spread widely, but also worldly. A team player is a must as well because taking care of animals takes multiple hands. The most important thing to remember though is that a volunteer, or anyone working with animals at a animal shelter, has to care for all of the animals. Not just your favorite. Not just the ones that are easiest to handle.
Animals are like toddlers; they require a lot of attention and whether it’s playing, feeding, or even just being around, these are critical aspects of the gig. A volunteer doesn’t need a degree to show love and a volunteer doesn’t need money to make them care for loving creatures. We talk to animals because we know they love us and they will always be there no matter what happens.
Contributed by Tyler Dickerson
