Sunday 29 January 2012

Finally Volunteering Again

For those who don't remember, I've been trying to get back into volunteering since my other option got disbanded to do bureaucratic reasons. As luck would have it our local Humane Society was having another set of orientation and mentoring sessions so the entire Wei family (as well as our cousins and their Mother, the Liu's) decided to sign up.

A little backstory on this before we start. This isn't our first time we've volunteered with the Humane Society. Several years ago we started, did the old orientation session, did our time and so on.

Back then, things weren't as good. Back then, our city's Humane Society was still using the building that was established over half a century ago.

Ok, it wasn't this bad but it wasn't too far off.

It was cramped, crumbling, smelly and not the greatest environment for people let alone animals. The cats were pretty much confined to metal crates almost all the time, stacked on top of each other. There was only one room for the cats to run around in and only 1 cat was allowed at a time.

The dogs weren't much better. Stuck into kennels maybe 1 by 2 meters at most they at least were let out more frequently because they could be walked. You can't really walk a cat. At least, not as well. But the area outside was kind of grungy, there was a highway nearby and I think an oil refinery too? Some kind of industrial complex.

This street is actually way too clean but it's the best example I could find.

Finally, the Humane Society got around to building a brand new facility just for them. The cats now live together in large rooms filled with toys, cat trees and hiding places. The dogs haven't benefited much in terms of living quarters, well, the ground isn't concrete anymore at least but where the facility really shines is the grounds.

A massive fenced field is available for them to run around in as well as a large designated walking path. Gone are the crumbling buildings and streets, they've been replaced by grass, trees and a pond.

Except we live in Canada so in the winter it's replaced by ice and snow.

Unfortunately due to scheduling problems neither the Wei or Liu family were able help out for a number of years but we're finally back. Things have changed though. For example, after the basic orientation you still need to take the individual dog and cat orientations. And after volunteering for a set amount of hours you can be promoted, and for example have access to more of the dogs or spend time with the kittens.

This is a picture I took of one of the calmer dogs. He was pretty nice and I hope he gets adopted soon. Actually, around the time this picture was taken the facility was having fewer than normal animals. We had to leave early simply because all the dogs had been walked already. Also, we still haven't taken the cat orientation yet.

Say hello!

I know Mom wants a dog but unless Dad likes one we'll probably won't be getting any more pets in the future. But we'll see.

71 comments:

  1. The cat approves of such a feat, helping the dogs walk their beat. Sounds like a great facility too, compared to the old crappy one, ours is no where near the size of what yours sounds to be.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love that you're trying to get back into volunteering. I also love that the cats got an upgraded living quarters. I hope that all the pooches get a better upgrade than the elimination of concrete floors soon! Poor babies. My heart goes out to homeless animals. :(

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cat orientation? I must say I've never heard of such a thing. Interesting.

    Work on your dad young one. As you know I think every pup needs a good home.:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I wish I could get my family to something like that too but we are too scattered and not like minded. I might end up killing my brother instead.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kennels are always so depressing... I'm proud of you for taking action and making them a better place.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cat and dog orientation. I mean.. can't really be bad.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cats just eat and sleep all day. Dogs are better since they play with you. Get the dog! If your dad disagrees then keep the dog secretly from him.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That's really nice of you! I want to have a dog. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice. Pets are cool, just might not survive in my house since no one would be able to take care of them!

    ReplyDelete
  10. A very admirable thing to do, working at the Humane Society. Good thing they have so little animals right now, probably means a lot of them got nice homes already.

    ReplyDelete
  11. That dog is adorable, I don't see how your dad can say no to it. But as an animal lover I'll say thank you for volunteering with them :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. nice to see you have found a place to volunteer, walking a dog is good for the soul. even when it is -3c outside!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm so happy that place got better quarters for all the animals. I hate seeing cats and dogs confined in tiny places.

    Also, congrats for volunteering. When I get back to Canada I'm gonna have to figure out something myself.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Damn good volunteering work my friend, you should be proud of yourself and family....

    ReplyDelete
  15. Awww cute doggie!

    Kudos to you for volunteering. Our Humane Society Shelter is pretty sad too... :/ it's been shut down twice in the past year due to it's unsanitary practices :(

    ReplyDelete
  16. good on you man , feels good to volunteer

    ReplyDelete
  17. Can I ask, what are the perks of volunteering? I really wanted to volunteer at a local vet's when I was in primary school but never got around to it. Would volunteering count for job experience as well?

    ReplyDelete
  18. It's great that you do this mate, I have the utmost respect for people who volunteer if that means anything. Awesome post man.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Amazing that you're volunteering! That pup is too cute and sweet. I don't think I could volunteer for the humane society, solely because I would want to take them all home...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow, that dog is beautiful! I don't know why I never thought of volunteering at the animal shelter by my house. And me and my girlfriend have been meaning to get into some kind of volunteer thing. Thanks for the idea! And so nice of you to help out.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Aww. I'd really like to adopt an animal.

    ReplyDelete
  22. great news to hear you helping out like this. Wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  23. its good to volunteer...its a shame more people aren't as altruistic

    ReplyDelete
  24. rather than a dog, maybe you can start with an easier pet.

    ReplyDelete
  25. My human society is a joke. They got busted violating state law, and have a serious budget issue. Because of that, they refused to let in new strays

    ReplyDelete
  26. It's good to hear that the animals have better facilities. What a cute dog!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Geez, when I volunteered for YMCA camp assistant, we had whatever the kids have. So usually it's great fun, while you sing rather cheesy songs and play games.

    You should try it I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Volunteering is very rewarding, I'm glad you're doing something positive that you enjoy. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Basorexia... ok.... how about apodyopsis? But maybe you don't have to be as subtle as apodyopsis when you're with your gf ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  30. You could always get yourself a dog and blame Santa. Of course you'd have to wait until it's X-mas again, so a bit of patience? :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Aww good for you guys! That is a BEAUTIFUL dog!

    ReplyDelete
  32. it is beautiful that you are doing something nice for the society!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Glad to hear they have better facilities now.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Good on you for volunteering. I find it funny that the first Humane society wasn't that humane. ;) I hope that dog gets adopted soon. I love animals!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Kudos to you all for keeping it up! I'm glad they were able to get better facilities.

    ReplyDelete
  36. My daughter has volunteered at our Humane Society...and she loved it. What a great family activity :)

    PS...The ice cream is still very soft coming out of the ice cream maker...but after sitting in the freezer overnight, it was nice a firm.

    ReplyDelete
  37. only slaves volunteer :P and i dont even think the girl had a dust thing

    ReplyDelete
  38. He's such a beautiful dog! and it's great that you're volunteering again. When I'm ready for a dog or cat, I'd definitely look into adoption first.

    ReplyDelete
  39. i love dogs and cats
    but maybe you should think of another kind of pets

    ReplyDelete
  40. Dammit, now I want to adopt a second dog. The one in your picture is absolutely beautiful. And volunteering is awesome if you find a good place, especially with animals.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I volunteer at our local youth sports league. My brother insists I do it because I can get a porta-potty named after me. But, I do it because it seems like the right thing to do.
    Plus, there's always that porta-potty thing, as well.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Also DWei, check my blog. I tagged you!

    ReplyDelete
  43. They're better than people.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Glad they got better facilities. I'm grateful for folks like you that can volunteer for the humane society. I'd be taking every cat and dog home...

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hello! Very interesting blog! I am following Your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Good for you on the volunteering!

    Cute dog. :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. You may have just inspired me to do some volunteering....

    ReplyDelete
  48. Good luck with volunteering!
    I volunteer for the second harvest food bank from time to time and around holiday season, it gets hectic and rewarding. Also I get to throw turkeys.

    ReplyDelete
  49. What a great effort! I am glad you decided to continue your volunteer efforts and my parents didn't allow pets! Typical asian!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Thats very good for you and society thank you for all your Volunteering.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I'm horrified that the cats were in stacked cages, and the dogs in kennels! Seriously, well done! You've done an absolutely amazing thing..!!

    GM x

    ReplyDelete
  52. Volunteering is amazing. I try to help when I can. Glad to see you are doing it again.

    The dog is adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Good doggie!!! This world needs more volunteers. And thanks for stopping by M Pax's blog and saying hello.

    ReplyDelete
  54. that dog just looks so badass!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I should probably try some volunteering to. Get something to put on my resume...

    ReplyDelete
  56. Awwww, give all the animals our love. :)

    ReplyDelete
  57. Wish it snowed here more often, we had the first snow in like 27 years recently. Good on you for continuing the charity work too bro.

    ReplyDelete
  58. That's great you're volunteering there!

    That dog is a muffin. <3 What if you just brought him home and kept him? Your dad might grow to like him...

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  59. awesome, keep it up! I love animals

    ReplyDelete
  60. Volunterring is so noble! thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  61. I donate my computers cpu power to science for volunteering! But the manual labor has to be done also!

    ReplyDelete
  62. I thought there wasn't any ice and snow this year, something about glow-ball warming giving off strange gasses.
    Good luck with the volunteering though, that's importants!!

    ReplyDelete
  63. sounds like it was a tough life in the humane society. glad they built a new facility! thanks for your volunteering.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Thank God there are people out there who do charity work, it makes me feel slightly less bad about not doing any myself.

    ReplyDelete