The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that animal shelters care for between six to eight million dogs and cats every year in the United States. That’s a lot of animals to feed, bathe, walk, play with, and clean up after!
The HSUS asked shelter staff to
describe their day-to-day work caring for animals. Here’s what a staff
member at Tail Humane Society in DeKalb, Illinois wrote…
“Every day, I wake up wondering what the day will bring. It could be
full of joy and happiness, or it could be tear-filled and heart
wrenching. More often than not, it’s a little of both. Every day there
is litter to scoop, cat cages to tidy, dogs to walk, and kisses to dole
out to all of the fuzzy and feathered. I’m generally a bit frazzled
trying to get the public areas spotless and taken care of by the time we
open. It’s a race against the clock, and it seems like the clock always
wins.
“Once the animals are fed and taken care of, it’s time to teach the public about responsible pet care. The chaos increases as people pour in, asking questions, petting, touching, adopting.
“The phone rings over and over. It’s raining outside, but I didn’t realize it was raining stray cats. We don’t have space, but we make room for a litter of orphan kittens. Then we make room again for an injured cat.
“It isn’t until late, after evening
walks are done, medications are given, obedience class ends, and the
doors are locked that the building falls silent. In the next room, I
hear the clicking of the rabbit’s water bottle. The puppies snuggle in a
heap. The cats are lounging in their cages. All is well for tonight.
We’ll start over tomorrow. For now, life is good.”
Lending a Hand
There are thousands of animal shelter workers all across the country who
protect and care for our furry friends.
Every day, they also face a sad reality: millions of lovable pets and not enough homes to go around. Of the six to eight million pets shelters take in, only about half find forever homes.
This month, we honor the caring and commitment they bring to the job. November 2-8 is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. Thank shelter staff for all they do by giving them a helping hand. Click here to read more. When you deliver the goods, be sure to include a thank-you card to shelter staff!
Check out Shelters Rock!
