Coming Together in the Holiday Spirit!

Wow, what a crazy couple of weeks its been here at Pet Helpers. Our renovation project has taken much longer than expected and we have now been closed for TEN days. Many of you have been fostering our animals for this period and you deserve a very big THANK YOU! It’s amazing and inspiring that we could all pull together – over the busy holidays – to ensure that our animals are being properly taken care of. We have 185 animals in 75 foster homes – crazy!!

Abbie, a volunteer, at the Folly Beach Holiday Parade

Once we reopen (hopefully by the end of the week), things will finally be getting back to normal. Our volunteer needs are still high – specifically, there are two jobs that need to be staffed as soon as possible:

Clinic Front Desk: I need volunteers to staff the front desk for patient check-in Monday through Thursday, 8-10am.

Pet Helpers Tour Guides: This is our biggest volunteer initiative to date. Imagine if every visitor who walks into Pet Helpers gets a friendly greeting, a personalized tour and one-on-one assistance finding an animal that fits their lifestyle and personality. Well, that’s the idea! I need TWO Tour Guides on staff every shift. Email me now for more info!

And another “Thank you” to those of you who came out for the Christmas Parades this year. We had a ton of fun and got some great exposure for PH!

 

In case you haven’t heard…

Pet Helpers will be closed on December 3, 4 & 5 because we are upgrading our floors and ALL ANIMALS MUST BE OUT OF THE SHELTER.

What’s the best way empty a shelter? By adopting out all of our animals, of course! From Monday 11/28 – Friday 12/2 PH will be open until 9pm. And, just as you suspected, we need volunteers to help us with this adoption event!

We need volunteers – especially adoption counselors – to be on hand all week. The most vital shifts to fill are 4-9pm all week. Please sign up today!

We also need on call foster families to take in any animals we’re not able to adopt out at the last minute for all 3 days we’re closed. Email volunteer@pethelpers.org with the following info:

1. Cell phone and email

2. Do you have a fenced in yard, porch or spare room for the animal if necessary?

3. Can you take dogs, cats or either (and how many)

4. Animals you have at home

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Join us in our Christmas Parades!

Walk in our Christmas parade and join us as we spread some serious holiday cheer! Bring your kids AND your dogs. Let’s show Charleston how many amazing, dedicated volunteers we have!

Charleston Christmas Parade: Sunday 12/4 at 1:00pm, Gaillard Auditorium parking lot

Folly Beach Christmas Parade: Saturday 12/10 at 1:00pm, last bridge into Folly

Mt. Pleasant Christmas Parade: Sunday 12/11 at 5:00pm, Houston Northcutt & Coleman blvd.

Sign up for  more info!

You know you’re busy when…

You haven’t had time to write a blog post in almost a month!

Many of you know why I just haven’t had the time, because you’ve been busy volunteering as well. Our last three weekends have consisted of the Furball and two three-day adopt-a-thons. But it was all worth it, as we’ve raised a lot of money and adopted out a lot of our animals in the last month. So, thank you to all of you who volunteered your precious time in October and November!

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Volunteer in the Spotlight

Emily Buck, one of our newest volunteers, has quickly become  indispensable to Pet Helpers. She generously spends much of her week assisting with front desk duties and bringing her positive attitude and bright smile to our staff and animals.

Says Emily, “I chose to volunteer at Pet Helpers because of my love for animals. I know for a fact that every day I come into work at Pet Helpers, I am giving each animal in our shelter hope and a promise that they will one day have a real home and a loving family.”

In addition, Emily started a program in her neighborhood called “Monday Miracles.” Each week, she appeals to her neighbors for donation items we need at the shelter as well as informs them of our upcoming events. Every Tuesday morning, Emily can be seeing lugging in bags of pet food, beds, blankets and more through the doors of Pet Helpers.

Thank you Emily!!

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Upcoming events

We are participating in a holiday artisan market this Saturday, 11/19 at the Earthfare parking lot on Folly Rd. We will be selling PH Christmas gift bags and will also be doing gift wrap for a donation. I need two volunteers for the 10-1 shift and 2 for the 1-4 shift. This will be a fun one! (and you might even get some Christmas shopping done!)

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Please remember our homeless animals need love on the holidays

Although the shelter is closed to the public on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day, our animals have no place to spend the holidays. Volunteers are invited to visit and remind the animals that even though they’re not yet in their furever home, there are still people out there who love them.

Invite your family and friends to stop in on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years Day to give our animals some holiday love!!

 

 

Event DOs and DON’Ts

Do you attend a lot of events on behalf of Pet Helpers? You volunteers are the face of Pet Helpers so you need to be ‘selling’ the shelter when you’re at events. Here are a few DOs and DON’Ts to keep in mind:

DO start conversations and go out of your way to engage the public. You know all about Pet Helpers – so spread the knowledge!

DON’T keep the animals to yourself. You might want to snuggle the puppies, but so do the visitors – and they’re the ones looking to adopt. Take the animals out from behind the table and show them off to the public.

DON’T make up answers to questions you don’t know. Politely say that you aren’t sure and get their contact info. Let me know and someone will get back to them.

DO unpack the event bin completely. We give you everything you need to sell Pet Helpers and get the public interested – so use it!

DO be on the lookout for an upcoming training session for volunteer event managers!

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So fashionable!

Looking forward to Halloween? Pick up a t-shirt for our costume contest on October 29 at Mt. Pleasant Towne Center. Just $10!

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We still need volunteers this weekend:

FollyPalooza, Saturday 10/22 – we need two volunteers to work 10:30-2 and one to work 2-5

Old Navy, Saturday 10/22 – we need two volunteers to head there from 12-4 for off-site adoptions

Coastal Carolina Fair – If you have any free time from 10/27 to 11/5 we can use you at the fair!

 

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Our Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Day last Sunday was super successful. We did 64 surgeries! Thank you to all the volunteers who helped us make a big dent in the feral cat overpopulation problem. You guys make it happen!!

A Volunteer’s Story

Not sure you’re ready to start volunteering on a regular basis? Maybe Ben’s story will convince you. He was inspired to volunteer after attending an adoption event and then went on to work here. After he stopped working for Pet Helpers, he found he couldn’t stay away and went back to volunteering. In his own words:

I remember my first encounter with Pet Helpers as if it was yesterday.  It all started at Earth Fare when they were having a dog adoption event. I asked some of the volunteers how they got involved with the shelter and they told me all about Pet Helpers’ website and how I could sign up.  I was able to find the dates online for the upcoming Volunteer Orientations.  There, I was informed of what tasks and side jobs volunteers are asked to do that unburden the staff.  I was also instructed about volunteer guidelines and procedures. 

At first, I was socializing with the cats and dogs, but then I was trained to walk the canines just so they could stretch their legs and explore the shelter’s trail outside.  I was caught off guard by how much energy these guys had once they saw me carrying a leash.  I have truly enjoyed every minute volunteering at Pet Helpers and continue to do so today.  It’s always best to end with a quote so; “Volunteers are unpaid not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.” - Ben Egelson

I especially love that quote – it’s so true!

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Okay volunteers, we have a couple more October events we need to staff:

Paws in the Park is this Saturday, 10/15 at Park Circle in N. Charleston. We need people for two shifts: 9-12 and 12-3

FollyPalooza is on Saturday 10/22 and shifts are 10:30-2 and 2-5.

Please let me know if you can help out at either event.

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You all deserve recognition! Be on the look out for Pam, who will be around to snap photos of ya’ll for our volunteer photo wall. Make sure your hair is brushed and your sunglasses are on because you never know when you’ll be bombarded by the Pam-Parazzi!

Tentative volunteer get-together date: Thursday, November 10 at 6pm. Be on the lookout for more info! And please mark your calendars…I will be very depressed if I get stood up by every volunteer.

 

 

 

Something For Everyone

Okay everyone, we STILL need volunteers for just about every October event. This weekend in particular, we need two people to head to Fall Fest on John’s Island on Saturday from 11-2 for some foliage and fun. Spend some time with Pet Helpers before the holidays hit and you’re too bogged down with the festivities!

Volunteer Discussion (just to get your juices flowing):

You love animals – but how far does it go? Are you a vegetarian or a vegan? Why or why not? I am currently doing a month of vegan because I hate the way animals are treated in the meat and dairy industries (as well as for the environmental and health benefits). But I’m just not sure I could give up bacon or cheese for the rest of my life. What are your thoughts? Can we be animal lovers and carnivores at the same time without being hypocrites? Please comment!

Lucky Black Cat Society meeting  Saturday, Oct. 8 at 1pm

The LBCS is off and running! Join us for our second meeting here at Pet Helpers as we work to debunk the superstitious myths surrounding our furry black friends. On the agenda this week is identifying a mission statement and discussing opportunities to showcase adoptable black cats and dogs. Plus, t-shirts will be available for $10.

Want to be an Adoption Counselor?

Talk to the public about our animals, help them find a good match and assist them in filling out the paperwork. You’ll feel so great knowing YOU put an animal in his furever home. There is a training session this Saturday, October 8th at 2pm. Contact me to sign up.

October: The Busiest Month

What a week! Gearing up for October has been crazy; there’s so much to prepare for. Take a deep breath, here we go:

Events

FallFest at Freshfield Villages – 10/8

Blessing of the Animals at Methodist Church on Folly – 10/8

Feral Cat Colony Day (TNR event) – 10/16

Dogtoberfest at Freshfield Village Green – 10/22

Old Navy adoptions – 10/22

Halloween Costume Contest at Mt P Towne Centre – 10/30

Fur Ball – 10/29 (Bebe, below, is ready to disco!)

PetSmart Adopt-a-Thon, Summerville – 11/4, 5 & 6

Feral Cat Colony Day (TNR event) – 11/5 & 6

Petco adoptions, Sundays 12-4

 

We still need volunteers for just about every event – especially the TNR events, which require about 40 volunteers. If you have any free time this month, please think of Pet Helpers!

Training Sessions

Want to be an adoption counselor? We have two training sessions coming up on Tuesday, 10/4 at 6pm and Saturday, 10/8 at 2pm.

Feral Cat Colony Management: Learn how to take charge of the overpopulation problem by being a part of the TNR program on Saturday, 10/8 at 12pm.

This and That

We need help addressing 1800 invitations to the Fur Ball. Please stop by if you have penmanship to lend a hand (literally!).

Be on the look out for:

• A new volunteer board in the education room listing special projects we need help with. If you have some extra time just take a look at the board for things you can do to really make a difference
• Forms available at the front desk that will enable you to jot down any observations you may have about an animal. We count on you to tell us if an animal is acting strange, lacking energy, seems injured, etc.
• Volunteer meetings at which we can all get to know each other and share concerns, ideas and comments

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes (and the cutest thing you will EVER see!)

Let’s start the day off right – with a big dose of cuteness!

Peg leg!

This is Kansas. While being fostered, a couple of older pups were roughhousing and little Kansas wanted to run with the big dogs. He hurt his leg; but thanks to a teeny-tiny cast made out of a sawed in half  syringe, he’ll be strutting again in no time!

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I want to give a big shout out to one of our favorite and most generous volunteers – Piepsi Joyce. She is turning 86 on Sunday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PIEPSI!! And thank you for all you do

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Now for those changes. In an effort to make the volunteer program more organized (which will in turn make it more rewarding for volunteers and more beneficial to the animals), positions and schedules are going to be tightened up. Next time you come in, you will see a new sign-up sheet at the volunteer station. This sheet lists the tasks that need to be accomplished by time. You will simply see what needs to be done and sign up to accomplish it. This system will allow me to see where there are holes and what we need from volunteers.

I know some of you have been coming in for a long time and already have a routine down – that’s fine! If you are regularly here doing your thing, just make a note somewhere on the sheet of the time you are in and what you’re doing. This will help us all immensely! Also, you will still need to sign in the way you normally do. Whew!

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One last thing: We are starting to gear up for the Fur Ball, Pet Helpers’ biggest event of the year. Volunteer needs are huge for the event, so please let me know if you are interested. We need volunteers to do things such as check people in, work the silent auction, run dogs down to the ‘doggie disco,’ help with the live auction and more. It’s a fun event with free food and the opportunity to dress up! But I will let you know in advance: there will be no alcohol available to volunteers this year. We need you to work hard – just remember that it’s all for the animals!

Put Your Pet Helpers Experience to Use!

You volunteer at Pet Helpers out of the goodness or your heart – but it also counts as professional experience. Employers love to see volunteering on a resume; it shows that you are a caring, motivated and enthusiastic person who wants to contribute to the community.

With this in mind, LinkedIn recently added a “volunteer experiences and causes” section that enables you to include your time spent helping others in your profile. (If you’re not familiar with LinkedIn, it’s basically an online networking portfolio that is extremely useful for making career related connections.) If you have a profile, hop on and add your volunteering experience at Pet Helpers. Not only will your compassion for the community give you an edge in the job market, but by including Pet Helpers in your profile, you’re making us more visible to the rest of the web – so thank you!!

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Teeny tiny!

Today, we had a good samaritan stop in with a box of three day-old kittens. Here’s what we told her:

1. When you find young kittens, DO NOT move them. It is very rare for a mother cat to abandon her babies. Instead, actively monitor the kittens for 48 hours to see if their mother shows up. Check in every couple of hours.

2. If you see the mother, call us about TNR (trap, neuter, release). We will come in and catch the cat, spay her and return her to the wild. Feral cats are usually safe and healthy in the wild, but the problem of overpopulation comes into play. By fixing the cat and returning it to where it came from, we’re eliminating the possibility of another litter in four weeks. Feral cats that have a tipped ear have been spayed or neutered for this reason.

3. If you’re sure the mother is gone, you will need to hand raise the orphan kittens Email volunteer@pethepers.org for a guide to raising the kittens.

**We are still looking for a volunteer to foster a very friendly dog and her six one-week old puppies. Please contact me asap if you can take them in (bonus: mom will do all the feeding and leaning!).

A Little Bit of Everything

We are busy busy today at the shelter today. The Lowcountry Pet Expo is tomorrow and we have a lot to do: pack the van, prepare the animals and resist a Friday night out so we make it here at 7:30am tomorrow!

We could still use a few volunteers. If anyone has a few hours to spare tomorrow, please email me at volunteer@pethelpers.org.

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Meet Harold!

Harold

He just arrived here from CAS – another life saved! Harold is a little eight-to-ten year old dachshund mix of some kind and is partly blind. He responds to light and hasn’t bumped into anything (yet!) so he does have some vision left. Harold is a little skittish but loves being held and snuggled.  He’s up to date on all of his shots so he’ll be ready for his furever home soon!

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Do you have a black cat?

back of shirt

 

 

Join the club…literally! Buy a Lucky Black Society t-shirt for just $10, on sale at Pet Helpers and at the Pet Expo tomorrow. Hurry – they’re going fast!

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Cool Animal News

A calico cat named Willow was recently found in Manhattan and returned to  her family who had lost her – five years ago and 1,800 miles away! Read the story.

That’s it for today, folks!