Animal Shelter Experience Fun, Fulfilling for Volunteers

When most people think of volunteering, the word “fun” doesn’t follow. But for volunteers at the Arizona Animal Welfare League, fun is in the job description.

AAWL was founded in 1971 by Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty in the television show Gunsmoke. The shelter, located on 40th and Washington streets, was created to help save and care for animals and to eventually find them forever homes. They provide temporary care for about 2,000 cats and dogs each year.

But, unlike other shelters in the state, the organization has something very unique about it.

AAWL is Arizona’s largest and oldest no-kill shelter, which means the shelter takes in dogs and cats and keeps them until they find a loving home.

“I really think that we are the best organization as far as animal welfare is concerned in the Valley,” says Tina Eacret, director of volunteer services and special events. ”We have the upper hand because we are no-kill.”

AAWL operates differently than most shelters. Rather than picking up stray animals, AAWL rescues other shelter animals that are often on euthanasia lists. The reason for this is many animals on the euthanasia lists are put on there for unnecessary reasons, according to AAWL. Some may have behavior problems that, with some time, can be fixed, but due to limited space in shelters they are put down. Others may have certain illnesses that can be cleared up in time with proper treatment.

AAWL provides that time and treatment to help homeless animals recover and find a loving home.

“It’s about being in the business of saving lives,” Eacret says.

“We have a lot of really compassionate people, and people that are willing to speak up and have a voice and are articulate and can be a leader in the animal welfare movement to say, ‘You know we don’t have to be euthanizing this many animals. Let’s try to think outside the box.‘”

The shelter made a goal for 2009 to get 2,009 animals adopted by the year’s end. They passed that goal and found more than 2,400 animals new homes.

“It is very rewarding to see [the animals] go into their new homes and to form a bond with them and to know you made a difference in their lives while they were here,” Eacret says.

For the animal lover, this is the business to dive into. There are opportunities to volunteer, foster or adopt animals and donate money.

Riva Litz, a volunteer, got involved with the shelter six years ago working with the dogs.

“My favorite part is watching great dogs get great homes,” Litz says.

One of Litz’s favorite memories was when a mother and her son came in, each wanting to adopt a dog. They saw Litz and another volunteer in a yard with two dogs and immediately fell in love with the animals. Litz says she remembers seeing the two dogs driving away together to their forever homes.

Other than working with the dogs and cats, volunteers can also do adoption counseling and fundraising.

As part of a class, ASU junior Cody Roth had an assignment to work with a non-profit organization. Roth says he chose AAWL because he liked what they stand for and how they operate.

“It wasn’t what I expected when going to an animal shelter,” Roth says. “It was a really happy, colorful place.”

Roth and several other ASU students worked with AAWL to raise money and donations for the shelter’s Thanksgiving fundraising drive. From on-campus donations alone, the group raised more than $800 in cash. About $8,000 worth of supplies for the shelter were donated as well.

“It was really enlightening to just see people all coming together for the cause of helping the animals,” Roth says. “The best part about volunteering at the AAWL is that everyday you are there you really feel like you are making a difference.”

Contact the reporter at smlloyd@asu.edu

Tagged as: AAWL, animal, Arizona Animal Welfare League, cat, dog, job, shelter, volunteer