Teens Volunteering to Save Lives

There is a grizzly but very approachable quality about him. His eyes are soulful, the color of a deep amber honey. His short hair, which matches his eyes, is offset by a black snout and black ears, one standing straight up while the other bounces around flop-sided. His demeanor is kind and goofy but subdued. He goes by Pablo.

Pablo is a 3-year-old Chow/Shepherd mix who became a resident of the Athens-Clarke County pound in late summer. Unlike many pound puppies whose stories end tragically, Pablo will have the chance to make some lucky family happy, thanks to the efforts of a local rescue group.

“We work with over 50 rescue organizations, some as far as Nova Scotia, and that has allowed us to create so many more happy endings, it allows us to save more dogs,” said Christy Champagne, supervisor of Athens Clarke County Animal Control Supervisor.

When Champagne started working at the Athens Clarke County animal shelter the euthanization rate was much worse. “The rate has greatly improved since I started here 11 years ago,” said Champagne. “When I first came here, we were putting down about 20 to 30 dogs a month. Much of our success is due to the networking we do.” That success is reflected by last year’s euthanization figures, 168 euthanized out of 2,096, the lowest rate on record.

This is mainly due to an increase in volunteers. “If I have more fosters, then I can save more dogs,” said Bonnie Stewart, a veteran member of Oconee Regional Humane Society. In Athens alone there are several rescue organizations. Athens Area Humane Society, True Love Canine Rescue, Circle of Friends, and Athens Canine Rescue are always looking for more volunteers.

Most rescue groups as well as the Athens Clarke County animal shelter do not have a limit on the age of their volunteers, which makes volunteering an easy way for local teenagers to give back to the community. “I think teens definitely have fun using our organization to give back,” said Bly Blain, director of the Athens Canine Rescue. “We certainly feel it is a great way to help the community.”

At the Athens Clarke County pound, the ages of those who donate their time ranges from five to 90, many of them teens. Those under 18 will need a parent or adult with them. After attending a short orientation, volunteers can do jobs like bathing the dogs, leash training, and walking the dogs. “Volunteers help make the dogs more adoptable and really just help keep them from going kennel crazy,” said Champagne.

For teenagers who would like to have the chance to form a closer relationship with the rescue animals, fostering is the perfect way to do that. “We are always looking for more volunteers and especially foster homes,” said Bain. “We would like to have about 25 steady foster homes, but we usually only have about 10 to 15.” Teens will need a parent to sign on as the official foster, but they shouldn’t let that be a deterrent to fostering. Here’s just a few reasons why fostering is a great option:
1. When teenagers foster through groups like Circle of Friends, Athens Canine Rescue, or Oconee Regional Human Society, all food, medical care, and many other supplies will be provided by the rescue group. So, as a foster, all one has to contribute is one’s time and love.
2. Fostering is a great way for teens who want to get a pet of their own to show their parents that they can be responsible caregivers while also saving an animal’s life.
3. As a foster, one is not responsible for the rescue animal in any monetary way, which is great for teens and their parents who would like to have a pet but may not otherwise be able afford it.

As a potential foster, rescue groups will evaluate your schedule, and some will perform a home visit to ascertain if the home is suitable for the dog or cat. This time is also used for the rescue director to meet everyone in the foster home, answer questions, explain things in greater detail, and have the foster(s) sign any paperwork. “Our goal is always to rescue as many dogs as we can, but we are also selective in the homes they go to, hoping that we are choosing the right family for that dog so it will be a permanent (foster) match,” said Bain.

For those who cannot dedicate as much time, volunteering on adoption days is a helpful alternative. “Volunteering is very easy; our volunteer coordinator will send out an email a few days/weeks before an event,” said Stewart. “If someone is interested in helping, they simply reply to that email and will be added to our list for that event.”Teens will need a parent or guardian to sign a waiver form. On adoption days, which are Saturdays for most rescue groups, volunteers do very basic things, such as taking the dogs for potty walks, answering questions, and monitoring the pups.

Helping save the lives of innocent animals can be done in all sorts of ways. 10-year-old Pamela Affolter serves as an apt testimony to such truth. After hearing about the heart worm treatment that Chunky, from Oconee Regional Humane Society needed to have done, she and two of her peers began raising money for Chunky by selling cookies, brownies, and lemonade at home and on adoption days. “I thought it was so sad about what happened to Chunky,” said Affolter. “I wanted to help so badly and we did!” After only three weeks of fund raising, Affolter and her comrades have raised over $1,000 for Chunky and ORHS. “It makes me feel that I can help the world be a better place,” said Affolter. “I was so excited to see Chunky and I thought, ‘This, this is who we are saving.’ I also feel like lots of other dogs that are sick or wounded will have a promising future!”


Sources: Bly Blain, Athens Canine Rescue: rescue@athenscaninerescue.com
Bonnie Stewart, Oconee Regional Humane Society: ORHSpets@gmail.com; 706-454-1508
Christy Champagne, Athens-Clarke County pound: 706-613-3540