I just told this to Caroline, but I thought everybody should do this. Volunteer at a shelter. I, personally could only handle a no-kill shelter, but maybe you guys are tougher. Those animals really need your help. There are many things to do like clean, and do paperwork, but the most important thing is really to socialize them so they can be happy and find good homes. They are awesome animals who appreciate everything you do. And, if you are trying to deal with a death, that is a great way to find the animal perfect for you. There are so many out there who are lonely and waiting for someone to rescue them.

Our Humane Society here in Monroe keeps animals for a while but then they put them to sleep when no homes are found. They often have disease that rampages through the poor fur babies. A few times they had to destroy all the cats and no one was allowed to go in the building for a while.

This happened several times, also there are air borne diseases you can take home on your shoes to your own surviving babies. So although it is a wonderful thing to volunteer you still need to know that there is a risk to your own babies. I guess most people are pretty careful when handling a sick animal so the risk may be low.

It is a wonderful thing when someone does give of their time to help the homeless animals. We need more caring people who will help them. I for one could never work at a place that destroys them just because there are too many.
Ann

Ann,
Those are such wise words, something one would'nt probably consider. There are so many illnesses that can be carried on the bottom of your shoe, like Parvo for dogs.
One could work with the babies but would have to be careful to not bring anything home.
Margo,,,for me...I would be trying to take them all home. My heart could'nt take it. I have a dream of having a farm where all the unwanted can come...maybe...some day.
There is a lady down the road from me..kinda out in the woods, she operates a wild life refuge, she has many birds, wolves, foxes...just about every furred, feathered,scaled creature there is. Anyway, there is alot of work in feeding, I have heard she is sick, I start a new job Monday but I was going to stop by anyway and see if I can help in anyway, even if it's just a few hours on the weekend...You are right though, it is a healing....Pamela

I have a neighbour who is a dog trainer. She takes in foster kids a lot. I've been helping her socialize them. My neighoubour found me crying my eyes out a few days after Luba died. She told me about an abused dog that she had whow was terrified of women because a woman had beaten him. Over the course of a few months I helped her get little Dexter much more relaxed.

It was a very moving experience, and helped me get over my intense grief.

Yah, you have to be careful of diseases, but in my 5 years, I took home nothing. In fact, I worked in the isolation rooms too. There was just one case of Parvo, and the dog never even entered the building before he was taken to the vet. I would just wash my hands and clothes when dealing with stuff like FeLV, but the hard part was the ringworm. But, with care, your own pets are perfectly safe.
P.S. I would've just died if all the animals at my shelter had to be put down. That's terrible!