Volunteering at the pet resource center (pics) in 2023 is almost over

9:38 am
8/29/2023

I had an entry up day ago, but it turned into a novel. I’d like to keep things short, simple, and to the point. A few months ago we got a new coworker (transfer worker) who told me about this place called Best Friends. I had never heard of it, but I mentioned that I helped stray cats and fostered until I lost one.

He said that I should give it another go and apply as a volunteer if I can’t foster. Honestly I’m still torn up over that. It’s part of the process, but I could go on without feeling that pain again. So I applied as a cat care host and occasionally I’ll help with cat and dog intakes.

That’s when we get new cats and dogs and they need to be walked, washed, fed, shots, the works.

But then I have to turn around and roll into work on 3 to 4 hours of sleep. After a few nights of 3 to 4 hours of sleep I decided that I just can’t. If it lines up with a day that I have off I’ll do it. So for now I just volunteer one day of the week for 2 hours.

As a cat care host I get to clean up the litter boxes, feed them, clean, sweep, and make notes. Yesterday I had an adult cat vomit. Clear vomit with wet food. The staff was informed so they can keep an eye on that cat. Once I’m done ill hang out with the cats and go home to sleep.

So overtime is about to kick in or has, and that’s an extra $1,400 dollars on top of my $1,100 dollar paycheck.

I asked the volunteer that stopped me if we had any care packages to give to people who adopt a cat or dog. They get one but it’s food and other things.

So I’m going to do 100 to 140 hours so I can spend $500 on care packages made by me. I had to ask if I could and got the okay to do so.

I saw that we had some cute little cat TV boxes that they can sleep in and scratch on. Five of those, some cat trees, a litter box and scoop should do the trick. Some treats and cat toys.

For the dogs I can get some toys, a harness, and wet cans of dog food. They love their wet food.

I got a stack of pamphlets to hand out but as soon as I say it’s volunteer work, people get turned off. Free work? You don’t get paid? It isn’t about the money! It’s about doing something bigger than yourself.

I’ve rambled enough so enjoy these pictures.

This little baby I helped get adopted last week.

My lap is where all the cool kids like to hang out. Call me, cat lord.

This little black kitty kept chasing the broom as I swept up the spilled cat food and litter. It’s like a tiny dragon. And it would climb up me like a tree. This batch of kittens would use me as a tree.

I think this is Waffles. This baby climbed up me and sat on my shoulder for 20 minutes. So I sat there for 20 minutes until I asked another volunteer to help. Those are the rules. Once a cat sits on you, you can’t move.

The coworker and friend that told me to volunteer here adopted this baby.

I am truly a cat lord. Sometimes. Some of them run away and some just climb up me.

I told this little ham that it was beautiful and it gave me this I know I am look.

The kittens are so playful. They also like to run through what I’ve swept up. Or fight for the wet food.

I don’t get to work with the dogs as much but I do when I can. Here are some puppies. They pooped in their cage thing and I helped clean it up. It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it. I wanted to take all of them home. I also don’t get a lot of photos since I’m working and don’t want to look like I’m slacking.

This is Cha-Cha also know as Chi-Chi. She was super shy when we got her but after a few minutes with me she was out of her shell. She ran around and played with another dog and always looked back to see if I was there. Her and the puppies were going to to a sanctuary in Montana or something. So they stopped at our place as a hotel type stop. 29 dogs. It was such a fun day and my friend Gabriel (coworker that told me about this place) was there. We rolled into work tired as fuck that day. I fell asleep outside of the front doors on my break and woke up to a coworker kicking me. Good stuff.

These are from yesterday. As I cleaned up the vomit from one cat I felt like I was being watched. I looked to my left and this little ham was just chilling on a shelf next to the sink.

By the time I was done I was about to pass out. I’ll leave work, shower, and then head over to do my shift. So I got some coffee from the coffee shop and chilled with the kittens. That’s when this little ham wanted a sip of my iced coffee. She also had a bad eye like me. We bonded pretty quickly. I wanted to take her home. I wanted to take all of them home.

And that concludes my entry… That totally turned out longer than the first time.

What can I say? It heals my soul. If I can sit at home and play Fallout 76 for 12 on my day off, I can do a few hours helping the cats and dogs.

Last updated August 29, 2023