contributed by April Peiffer, WCRAS
While you might be thinking about vacations and backyard barbecues, there are opportunities to give back to your community (and help a furry friend) this summer with the WCRAS.
YOUR TIME AND TALENT
Volunteering at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter (WCRAS) comes in many forms and fashions. There are the obvious things one might think of as volunteer efforts in a shelter; e.g., walking dogs, petting cats, scooping poop, which are very much welcome—but there are also many out-of-the-box opportunities.
Have a gift for gab? WCRAS is invited to attend many events in the community, especially in the summer. These events are a great place to share your outgoing nature and help spread the word to those in attendance about great things the shelter does. You could also bring an adoptable dog along, help get him adopted, and educate someone there on the importance of microchipping.
Or maybe you enjoy helping behind the scenes. The shelter has volunteers who write biographies for adoptable dogs and cats, some who help out with special projects—data entry or translations or, if you have graphic design skills, WCRAS would love to put that talent to work designing fliers for the dogs and cats.
Speaking of fliers, the Advocate Program is a great way to do it all. Volunteers in the Advocate Program select their favorite adoptable pet and go to work teaching new tricks or skills. Then, market him or her in any and every way you can think of. Want to post an ad on Craigslist? You can do that! Want to see your favorite dog or cat showcased in one of the display cases? Create a flier! The shelter encourages Advocates to be creative and think outside the box in finding new ways to show off their favorite adoptable pet.
VOLUNTEER AT HOME
Did you know that fostering is also a form of volunteering? Fostering is a great way to get involved, right from the comfort of your own home.
Fostering means providing a temporary, loving home for an animal in need. WCRAS will provide supplies if you need them—the shelter has them to share—and cover the cost of any required medical care. Fosters can live anywhere, as long as you can make it to the shelter for meet and greets, etc. If you have kids or other pets, WCRAS will help find the perfect match for your home. The time period for fostering varies by need, but can be as short as a single weekend. Plus, fostering is a great way to get the kids involved.
If any of this sounds like an excellent way to spend some of your summer downtime, scan the code to get started. WCRAS loves their volunteers, and they hope to see you soon!