In college, most afternoons are for meetings, the gym, or marathon library sessions. But for me, Tuesday afternoons are for something different – petting cats. I started volunteering at the Charlottesville SPCA last semester through Madison House, and my two hours at the shelter each Tuesday soon became one of the best parts of my week.
First and foremost, volunteers are important because they help support the shelter and the animals that live there. The main job of an SPCA volunteer is to spend time with the cats and dogs to help socialize them so they’re ready for adoption. (Cats are moody, man. Someone has to teach them manners.) Volunteers also help work off-site events, such as adoption fairs, to send the animals to good homes. And of course, every good volunteer pitches in to keep the animals’ areas nice and clean.
Volunteering can really help the organization that you’re working with, but it can also benefit you in ways other than just boosting your resume. For me, working at the shelter provides a refreshing way to experience Charlottesville outside of the UVA bubble. Sometimes it’s nice to talk to an adult that isn’t your professor, or the guy swiping your credit card at lunch, or even just to someone who has no connection to UVA other than living within a ten mile radius (they do exist). Involving yourself in a Charlottesville organization is a great way to gain a fresh perspective on the city and the role you play in it.
Lastly, working at the shelter can be just as therapeutic for the volunteers as it is for the animals. Animals are calming and relaxing, and taking time out of your schedule each week to pet cats or walk dogs can be an amazing way to de-stress. I really look forward to the time each week where I can forget about homework, chill out, and play with the animals. It’s really great to work with one shy cat each week and to see it’s progress until it’s finally adopted (so happy, so sad!). Finally, working at the SPCA is a good way to help deal with missing a family pet at home.
There are a ton of reasons to volunteer through Madison House or just in Charlottesville in general. Personally, I think that the SPCA does more for me than I can do for them. But maybe the kitties would say differently.