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Volunteers make all the difference for happy healthy furry friends

"Volunteers impact everything we do at the Humane Society, from assisting with animal transfers and transportation to cleaning the shelter and bathing its inhabitants."
debbey bentley
Debbey Bentley enjoys helping the Humane Society. She not only serves as a volunteer board member but also works the front lines helping with tasks like cleaning food bowls.

You may have heard the phrase "it all comes out is the wash".

At the North Bay and District Humane Society, "the wash" is just one way the volunteers make a difference, according to Brette Greene, the Society's Manager of Fundraising and Fund Development.

"We've had great success with our Laundry Squad - a team of volunteers who help us launder bedding, sheets, towels and toys - and always need more hands to make the work light! But since doing laundry isn't for everybody, there are a tonne of ways to help volunteer and still make a big impact. Volunteers can help foster kittens, puppies and animals with special needs, take part in an animal transfer or run a third-party fundraiser," explains Greene.

If people think a few volunteers help out by walking dogs, they are mistaken. There's a lot more happening at the Humane Society than most people know.

"The North Bay and District Humane Society is a bigger, busier and more complex organization than most people know. Our organization runs a spay-neuter clinic, offers pet adoptions, adoption events and animal transfers and is contracted to provide Animal Control Services to outlying areas - so volunteers help ensure that we can fulfill our mission in a way that's sustainable," says Greene.

In fact, Greene believes volunteers are absolutely vital. "Volunteers impact everything we do at the Humane Society, from assisting with animal transfers and transportation to cleaning the shelter and bathing its inhabitants. Volunteers help ensure our organization can run smoothly, especially when we have a full house."

Some people even find ways to volunteer in more than one rea. For example, Debbey Bentley volunteers as a board member, and follows it up on the front lines doing things like working bingos, or scrubbing out food dishes.

Greene says they are always ready to have more volunteers help out, explaining that, "Most of our registered volunteers began walking dogs - the single most popular activity at the Humane Society and one that helps socialize our pups. There's always a need for more bingo volunteers. Then there's our Monaghan and Furry Friends Scramble in July; for our eleventh annual golf tournament. in February, we celebrate National Cupcake Day and for that, we always need volunteer bakers and even a few adventurous folks to help us frost cupcakes," he adds.

Greene says if you want to see if you're a fit for the Humane Society, the best way is usually to start with a call at 705-474-1251.