HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

Are you looking to make new friends?

Looking for a way to fill your spare time?

Looking for likeminded people who you can make a difference with?

Try out VolunteerMatch.org.

Organizations small and large, in your own backyard, and 1,000 of miles away have hundreds of unique volunteer opportunities.   Whether you can drive, you are good with your hands, or you are looking for something you can do from home - you will not be disappointed.  You can let the organization know you are available right on the site.   Organizations range from orphanages to animal sanctuaries to anything else you can imagine.  Try it out!

This message recently came into my box:

I was just wondering, is some kind of permission from the various AC shelters needed to go in and take pictures and post? Is it only licensed rescues for example, or if I just take a camera in will they let me see dogs and take pictures for posting…? I might consider doing it for XXXX County shelter, but I never see any postings for XXX on cl so wondered if it’s because they won’t allow it or if just nobody ever does it. Thanks for any advice.

Many local animal control centers and lowkill shelters do not use petfinder or pet harbor. Some folks like to paint an image of animal control officers of being evil and not wanting anyone to see the dogs for adoption there, but I remind you that it is not their doing that people refuse to spay, refuse to microchip, and refuse to train/spend time with their dogs to prevent them from wandering, to make sure they can be id’ed if the un thinkable happens, or to prevent them from being “too much to handle.” More often than not, there are no photos on petfinder, etc, because there is just no one both willing to do it and willing to stick with it.

If you are thinking the same thing as the letter writer, I urge you to first put your feelers out and see if you can connect with like minded people. Are there already a couple people who are volunteering that you can join up with? Maybe there is a “friends of” the shelter group. Or maybe there is a lone person that goes periodically to see what dogs are there and contacts rescues, but doesn’t know enough about computers or have access to keep photos updated online or hasn’t thought about it. Search your newspaper’s archives and the internet, and also contact your local shelter.

Some animal control officers/directors will jump at the opportunity for your help. Some may be a little reticent because they are used to people either attacking them for a problem that is the public’s fault or are used to people volunteering for a short time and then losing interest or being too horrified of what goes on at animal control to try to help the dogs and cats that they can. When people realize they will not be able to stop all dogs and cats from being euthanized overnight, sometimes they leave. But if someone can celebrate in the fact that they can make a difference for a few, you’ll find that it snowballs and you can save more and more, especially if you can hook up with other likeminded people.

Be ready at first to listen to what is being asked of you instead of pushing to do it “your way” at least at first. You need to gain trust, and to be even allowed to help at first. Learn from others. Find out what is working well, and help pick up slack for those that are burned out, to continue things in a positive direction and to increase saved lives.

If you have time and the desire to help your local shelter in this way, do an honest assessment of the time you can commit, and then make a proposal to the director of your local pound, the animal control officer, or the volunteer coordinator. Let me know how it works out!

Do you live in the Chicago area?  If not, can you get there?   Does helping animals and getting into the Pitchfork Music Festival for Free sound good to you?   If it does, have I got an opportunity for you!   Saving Shelter Pets, Inc.  is looking for a few good volunteers to work a 6 hour shift at the festival.

Volunteer shifts include responsibilities such as collecting tickets at the gate, checking wrist bands at the beer tent, backstage security, etc. 

SSP currently has 32 volunteers, and if we
can just get 3 more, then the Pitchfork folks
will also donate $1,500 to Saving Shelter Pets!

Please spread the word to all of your Chicago-land friends

Just a few of the bands at the festival:
• Animal Collective
• Spoon
• Public Enemy
• Dinosaur, Jr.
• Les Savy Fav
• Ghostface and Raekwon
• Mission of Burma
• Sebadoh
• The Hold Steady
…… and more!!!

Comment on this post and I will put you in touch.  Or, you can email  info @  savingshelterpets.com

Because I have a volunteer oriented blog, I get requests to post about various causes on a daily basis. Sometimes the worry seems a little iffy or more like propaganda. However, there are occasionally things that are worth investigating for yourself.

There is a proposal and plans to build a subterranean biohazard testing lab as a part of Columbia University’s expansion program for its East Harlem campus. There is no doubt such things should be tested. Where the issue arises is that this biohazard lab is being built on a fault line, and there is concern that the geography (flood zone and fault line proximity) could cause a potential problem for the public down the road. Opposition to the project do not trust that local building codes will be enough to derail the project.

As always, as the tone of my blog always urges, I am encouraging you to investigate both sides of the matter for yourself before deciding. Visit Stop Columbia’s Expansion Project to learn more about the opposition to this project.

What can you do with a pair of orange handled scissors? Some things that come to mind may be related to clipping coupons, cutting a dangling thread off your cuff, or pruning your kitchen plant. Did you know that those scissors also symbolize hope in a community?

Fiskars, known in homes, schools, and institutions far and wide for their famous orange handled scissors, has announced their Project Green Thumb contest. Since 2003, they have been awarding groups. They want to recognize groups that create and maintain garden spaces that promote community involvement, and creativity. The grant allows the projects to sustain and grow.

Whenever I watch shows about city gardens, I realize how much that I take my yard for granted. I am always amazed about the yield that can be created from a postage stamp sized area, with concrete surrounding it. What is there secret, when I can’t seem to raise one single tomato plant? I don’t think county fair will see entries from me in the foreseeable future.

Heritage Garden in Atlanta, one of the grant recipients, is just that. It is a garden in an urban setting. The philosophy of the garden is twofold. Firstly, there are just not enough opportunities to see flowers bloom and greenery in the city. Also, observing the flowers and foliage, and smelling the herbs is good for the soul. Many artists and poets have been inspired by flora throughout the ages. It is the hope of the garden’s chief caretakers and the community alike that it will serve as inspiration to the youth of the area. Perhaps it will be a place to learn how to care for plants, and to enjoy them. Also, it has the potential to change lives and inspire.

Every time you get out those orange handled scissors to clip coupons, you can feel good that your purchase may have contributed to touching many lives.

Saving Shelter Pets, Inc., has successfully raised all funds to be able to pull an additional 4 adult dogs from kill shelters.  It is AMAZING what can be done on the internet!  They have also had several sign ups for their Puppy Promises program. Five mother dogs will be spayed by SSP, never to have an accidental litter again. Five litters of puppies have been diverted from the original plan of being surrendered to the shelter, have been vaccinated, and are now being quarantined at their owner’s home for two weeks to make sure they are healthy enough to continue their journey to rescue. Twenty eight puppies in all this time!!

I just *LOVE* this picture!

This baby looks so sweet and curious and that flying ear reminds me of a dog sticking his/her head out the window. Superdog!

For more information about Puppy Promises, please visit: THIS PAGE

By the way, SSP is looking for an additional Volunteer for the Puppy Promises program. You need to live in the area of Chatsworth, Georgia, or would be able to travel there frequently. This is not a “virtual position.” For more details, go to the Volunteer Match listing.

In the wake of the London Subway bombing, I heard that individuals in the United Kingdom had started adding an entry into their cell phone contacts that just might save a life. Others were encouraged to put an entry in the address book in their cell phone that said “ICE,” or to place this acronym in front of a person’s name. “ICE” means “In Case of Emergency,” I thought this was an excellent idea, but only excellent if enough people knew what it meant.

Now, there is a PR campaign started in the United States to spread the word. Aglobal Campaign has created ICE icon stickers for you to place on your phone to command attention. It spreads awareness to others, but more importantly, commands the attention for those coming to your aid to look for the number. There have been many cases, in fact 1.6 million in the United States alone, where an individual is in a hospital and is unable to speak. They are unable to provide contact information for a spouse or friend who can aid them. Even more critical, they cannot alert emergency workers to allergies and conditions. Widespread awareness of ICE might prevent this going forward.

Get your stickers now at icesticker.com. Choose a responsible person and ask them if they would be your emergency contact. Inform them of the names of your doctors, your allergies, and medications. Then, place their contact info in your phone and adhere the sticker.

Why do you want this sticker? You may ask why it is not enough to just put the info in your phone. People will understand. The ICE sticker is HIPAA compliant. HIPAA protects the privacy of individuals in regards to medical information because the sticker is considered an “invitation,” to emergency workers to use the emergency protocol you have in place.

Many dog walks, bike runs, and other charity fundraisers that may take us off the beaten path or involve physical activity. Get the ICE sticker for you, your team mates, or your group before you hit the road.