Spring time not only brings flowers, but an abundance of cats and dogs.   At this time of year, we have a lot of cats that are new moms and they need a quiet environment while they nurse their new babies.   Dogs sometimes need a home environment to relax in or to recover from surgery or an illness.  The shelter can be a noisy and scary place to be.  We are expanding our foster care program and are in need of people with a little extra time and room.  The humane society will provide the veterinary care, food, crates, blankets - whatever is needed.  You provide the love.   If you are interested, please fill out a foster application or give the shelter a call. 

We couldn't do what we do without volunteers.   If you have some spare time and are looking for something to do, stop out and visit us at the shelter.  There are a few things you should know about volunteering at the shelter:

• Volunteers who are 15 years old and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Volunteers age 16 and over can volunteer on their own.

All volunteers must complete a volunteer application, read our volunteer handbook, and attend a volunteer orientation session.  Additionally, those wishing to handle animals must meet with a manager.

While many volunteers help care for the animals, there are other ways to help out:  

• Do you like to file, do paperwork, answer telephones, and talk to people?  Judy does a wonderful job, but we could use another person to cover the front desk the days she isn't here.
• Need to exercise your green thumb?  The lawn will need to be mowed, weeds pulled, flowers planted, trees trimmed, etc.
• Are you good with a hammer, saw, and like to build things?  Shelves need to be put up, a wall needs to be built, and there are always repairs to be made.
• We rely heavily on volunteers at fund raising events, such as our fish and chicken dinner.   It takes a host of people to pull off such an event and we always need more help.  Contact Jean Dahl or Shelter Director Patrice Vossekuil if interested in helping at special events. 

Sponsorships are a great way for people to help a particular animal.  Sponsorships offset the adoption fee (in other words, the animal can be adopted a no charge) and help defray the medical expenses of special needs animals.  It's a great way to help a particular animal.  Adopters will be notified who sponsored the pet, unless the sponsor wants to remain anonymous. 

Puppies and kittens seldom need help getting adopted, so our sponsorships focus on older pets and pets with medical needs.