The Virtue of Volunteering for Pets – a report from the field

Submitted by our correspondent,
Bob Berger

Like many residents, Margie and I arrived at RVM “between pets”, so we explored how to remedy this lack of a close relationship with an animal friend.  In the end, we decided not to adopt or foster, though these seemed to be our only options.  Instead, we discovered a third option – becoming a volunteer in an animal support organization,

I chose FOTAS (Friends of the Animals), a group of volunteers supporting the Jackson County Animal Shelter in nearby Talent because of its stated purpose “to improve the quality of life for animals in Southern Oregon by facilitating adoptions, medical care, education, and resources to our community.”

I’m a dog walker for FOTAS.

On any day I interact with 6-8  pets with a wide variety of breeds, personality traits, and socialization needs. Think of it as “speed dating” with furry friends. The objective is to find a forever home for deserving dogs. And while I don’t wake up with any of them, I get immense satisfaction from contributing to the adoption of animals that may not have had the easiest of lives, and appreciating their progress in becoming adoptable during their stays at the Shelter.

Yes, felines can also become your voluntary pets if you prefer. There are also many other positions that are less physically demanding, including helping with spay/neutering clinics, vaccination/chip clinics and public adoption events.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, give me a call or talk to other RVM residents that volunteer, including Paul Schettler and Kiki Nowak , or call FOTAS at  (541) 613-6099 .