Volunteering. Community service. When people hear these words they automatically think of either a chore they need to complete in order to have enough hours to attend a greek life event or something you have to do as punishment to get out of some crime you committed. To me, these words mean so, so much more. I have been volunteering at various animal shelters around my hometown for years and nothing brings me quite as much joy as seeing the happiness on an animals face put there by just merely throwing a ball for them to fetch. I volunteer to help these animals get the love they deserve, but I get so much more out of it than they do. I have learned so many valuable life lessons from animals that aren't even able to communicate with me through words.
At the shelter I have been volunteering at this summer, there is a dog named Abby and she can teach anyone a thing or two about strength. The shelter found Abby left tied to a pole after a horrible blizzard. She was probably half the size a dog her size should be, had a broken tail, and a scar on her face from being badly beaten. She was scared, alone, and in terrible conditions, but she fought hard to stay alive. I'm thankful that she did because if not she wouldn't be here today and I wouldn't be able to roll around on the floor with her as she licks my face. She is such a happy and healthy girl now and ever time things get tough for me I think: if Abby could make it through that then I can defineitly make it through this.
When I first started going to the shelter, there was a black cat named Sky. He was a big guy with a very unique personality. I don't get to go to the shelter as often as I would like to during the school year because I go to school across the country, but when I make it back home on breaks I always go and see how all the animals are doing. For a while, every time I came back Sky would always be there. He stayed in the shelter for up to a year. Adopters probably thought his size was intimidating and his personality was peculiar, but they didn't give him the chance he deserved. He had a lot of great characteristics. Whenever there were tiny kittens in the shelter, he acted like their dad and protected them from the other older cats who would hiss at them when they were just trying to play. It got to the point where other volunteers were saying "oh he's never going to get adopted," but Sky never gave up. He kept being himself and stuck it out and eventually he found the perfect forever home.
Jolene is the puppy I have grown the closest to during my time at the shelter. Jolene is only about 10 months old, but when she was young she had her paws broken and they never healed properly. She has deformed paws and has trouble walking and running on them. You can tell she just wants to play tug of war with her chew toy and keep up with the other dogs, but she had a disability that physically kept her from doing so. Jolene eventually found a way to do all the things she wanted to do and didn't let her shortcomings get in the way. Can't walk? No problem. The shelter bought her a doggie stroller and I would push her around. Pretty soon you could see all the other dogs looking at her with envy as she sat in her stroller chewing her bone and admiring the scenery. She would play tug of war with me, but would just plop her butt down when her little legs couldn't handle it anymore. I have realized through watching her that you can't let a problem stop you from doing what you want to do or living a life you want to live.
Volunteering at this animal shelter has not just been picking up poop and cleaning up litter boxes. It has been a learning process that has made me a better person. I have learned the importance of strength through Abby and how perseverance and patience get you what you want through Sky. Jolene taught me that you can break all the limitations you are dealt and live life to the fullest extent. But most importantly, the experience taught me to genuinely love and care for someone when they need it most and that's a lesson that I wouldn't give back for a million things.
