Caleb Deason of Texas is a frequent contributor to animal shelters in his community. Recently, Caleb Deason donated various items to a Henderson, Texas animal shelter on December 12th during a fundraiser event. In the following article, Mr. Deason discusses more on the benefits of giving back to the community, how one person can truly make a difference, and the various ways people can volunteer through giving time, money, or supplies.
There’s nothing like the feeling of helping others. Not only is it an incredible act of selflessness, but on top of the euphoric feelings, volunteers can also witness the joy they’re spreading to those who need it most. Some may say thanks with a smile and a handshake, while others may express their gratitude by…wagging their tails.
Volunteering at animal shelters and/or donating money or supplies to these organizations is a fulfilling way to give back to the community, and an especially effective way to show advocacy for those who don’t have a voice – dogs, cats, and all little creatures in between.
Caleb Deason Says One Person Truly Can Make a Difference
Many people look at animal shelters and believe that the care and work given is simply in the hands of the employees there. In reality, there is a ton of work going on behind the scenes to ensure that these animals are getting the love and care they need to thrive. Caleb Deason says that this is true for animals being temporarily sheltered, needing nursing back to health, strays, and the like.
The reality is that when a town or area is dealing with animal overpopulation, or when their shelters are filling up, the dispersion of responsibility doesn’t just fall on animal officials, but rather the community as a whole. Paid staff can deal with the physical needs of animals (veterinarian appointments, health concerns), while volunteers can handle other matters.
These responsibilities can range from upkeep tasks like taking care of kennel chores and cleaning up the shelter grounds to anything more closely relate to animals, such as dog walking, socializing pets, and even fostering animals to prep them for their forever homes.
In towns like Henderson, Texas, animal shelters rely on the help and time of volunteers to ensure that all of their animals are given the individual attention and care they need in order to flourish and be at their best.
Animal Shelter Volunteerism
Caleb Deason notes that a multitude of benefits come with volunteering at an animal shelter. If spending time with cute animals all day isn’t enticing enough, Caleb provides a few more reasons why people should consider giving their time to such wonderful organizations:
- Community Building. The likelihood of one volunteer being scheduled at any given time is slim. By volunteering, community members can bond over like matters and strengthen their relationships within the area. It’s an extremely rewarding way to make new friends.
- It’s Good for The Body. Crazily enough, hanging out with cute animals all day can significantly alleviate stress, lower heart rate, and leave people in a better mood overall!
- Dedicated to a Cause. Taking care of animals may sound fun, but truthfully, there will be harder days at the shelter that volunteers will need to be prepared to handle. However, the emotional reward that comes with taking a scared animal and making them adoption-ready is indescribable.
- An Unlikely Friend. There have been countless instances of volunteers coming in to fulfill their responsibilities and leaving with a brand-new best friend in tow, reports Caleb Deason of Texas. Though not everyone may end up adopting a furry friend, it’s still a fantastic experience for those who may want a pet of their own in the future.
- Provides Insight into What’s Involved in Being a Pet Owner. Volunteering at an animal shelter also provides children who have been begging for a pet an understanding of the care these animals truly need. With volunteering experience, children get an in-depth look at what’s involved; more than just playing and petting, all pets need care and maintenance to live a happy, healthy, life.
Animal Shelter Donations
For those with busy schedules, there are other ways to help animal shelters out with their missions! Caleb Deason of Texas says that donating to animal shelters is another great way to give these organizations the resources and help they need to be able to provide quality care to the animals they house.
Supplies
All shelters are in need. When donating supplies, it’s important to ensure that a donation to these organizations consists of quality items that they’ll be able to get use out of.
Here are some common supplies that shelters are typically in search of (volunteers should check with each shelter to ensure their items meet their requirements):
- Toys that are gently used or new.
- Bedding, these may not necessarily be animal beds, but can even be old bed sheets and pillows.
- Crates that a donator’s animals may have outgrown.
- Heating Pads for young puppies/kittens or animals during the winter.
- Food – Some places have restrictions on this, such as only allowing unopened bags or boxes.
Cash Donations
Of course, for those who don’t have supplies to donate, animal shelters also accept monetary donations. Aside from the essentials, these donations are especially helpful to shelters that provide health aid to animals.
These donations can go towards spaying and neutering strays, performing life-saving operations, and overall aiding these shelter animals on their journey to a better, permanent home!
