Aristotle stated, “The essence of life is to serve others and do good.”

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! We salute all volunteers: past, present, and future. Our impact grows because of them. Volunteers truly do make the world a better place. Second Chance volunteers include dog den volunteers, cat castle crew, foster families, medical clinic helpers, event folks, dog trainers, thrift shop workers, and even people who help with things like thank you notes, spreadsheets, and databases.

At Second Chance Animal Resource Center, the pets depend on our volunteers. They come to love them and look forward to their visits- and the staff appreciates them so much. We have been closed while we deal with illness at the shelter, and pets and staff are sorely missing our volunteers.

We are so happy for people who willingly spend time cleaning litter boxes, teaching rambunctious puppies, holding cats during medical procedures, walking dogs, scooping dog poop, bottle-feeding tiny kittens, working in our shops, taking photos of wiggly pets, updating data, and holding leashes at adoption events. Oh, and they don’t get paid (unless you count tail wags, puppy kisses, or purrs). Our volunteers come in all ages, shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and talents, but they all want to help us make a difference. Second Chance Humane Society’s success and impact depend on these selfless volunteers.

What makes a good volunteer? The best volunteers are reliable, willing, flexible, have integrity, and a good sense of humor. In our world, we can spend hours planning and organizing something just to have it unravel in a few minutes.

Our best volunteers adapt to any situation. One might show up at the shelter thinking they will stroll the ranch with a dog on a leash. Upon arrival, they could be asked to help clean a litter of puppies who were found dirty and wet on the side of the road. A cat volunteer might expect to spend their shift playing with adorable kittens, only to find when they arrive that a shy, older cat needs some extra love and attention that day. Our shop volunteers have all the challenges that come with working face-to-face with the public.

We’re always looking for new volunteers. Whether someone can commit to a weekly shift, or just a few hours a month, we can find the right fit for them. We have opportunities to volunteer at the shelter in Ridgway, our shops in Ridgway or Telluride, vaccine clinics in Nucla, and events in Montrose, Ridgway, Telluride, and Ouray. Check out our volunteer application on our website, or email Christine: outreach@secondchancehumane.org

Scout is a very sweet 9-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer. His favorite thing to do is spend time with his people (he loves our regular volunteers very much). He takes a little while to warm up but once he does he’s the sweetest dog ever! Scout is especially nervous around men, but he is great with kids, cats, and other dogs.

For thirty years, the Animal Resource Center and Shops of Second Chance Humane Society have been serving Ouray, San Miguel, and Montrose Counties. Our adoption hours are from Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You can view our shelter pets and services online at www.secondchancehumane.org. Connecting Pets, People, and Community While Saving Lives.