Volunteering at pet shelter in the area

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of volunteering at a pet shelter.  Looking for recommendations.  Basically I'm just interested in being around cats.

Normally my strong bias is to stick geographically to Somerville or Cambridge or other close towns.  However there don't seem to be very many shelters, and all of them seem to be no-kill, which might be a little too much intensity for me to take on right now for a volunteer activity.  At one point I volunteered at MSPCA in Jamaica Plain, I was impressed with their organization, but at least at that time, the commute there was a bit too much.  I'm thinking maybe the Animal Rescue League of Boston might be more reasonable in that regard.

Comments

[808.livejournal.com]

I believe the ARL is also no-kill, at least the south end branch used to be. I do like the group, though. I was a member for 10 years before grad school. And now that I'm done with grad school plan to renew membership.

[sungold123.livejournal.com]

http://www.arlboston.org/site/PageServer?pagename=OurPositiononNoKill

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

I am confused as to why volunteering at a non-kill shelter is more intense?

Maybe you looked into these already

[mamabunny72.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about the following places, but they come up in a Petfinder search:
Charles River Allecycats, St Meows (Cambridge), Kitty Connection (Medford), Pets In Need (Somerville), Whiskers of Hope (Arlington); and there's in Alliance for Animals in Boston.

Re: Maybe you looked into these already

[wren13.livejournal.com]

Avoid Alliance for Animals like the plague, the administration will give you fits. I've worked for them. I really highly recommend the ARL, they are excellent.
Dr. Karen

Re: Maybe you looked into these already

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Kitty Connection is a woman who has turned her house into a cat-crate haven, and tries to get volunteers to adopt or foster the too-many critters she has. Often they're previously neglected cats that have to be in isolation because they're ill or can't interact with other cats. She's got her whole basement chicken-wired into about 3 large segments where cats can roam about safely. I looked into her place when I was looking for a kitten, she often has older cats and not kittens so I ended up getting my kittie in Wakefield. I don't know how she lives there. While she said she was redecorating, the floor of the main living area was large sheets of plywood, I would guess for ease of cleaning. Picture "crazy but good hearted cat lady" and that's her.

She's located in one of the houses nearish 93 between Medford Square and the Meadow Glen Mall.

Re: Maybe you looked into these already

[belladonna.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, I think this is my old coworker. I think my old coworker was associated with a larger foster organization, but I could be wrong. Otherwise, this is her setup to a T.

Re: Maybe you looked into these already

[klukidoe.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of the involved kitty fosters (at least the ones I knew in DC) have set-ups similar to that. Many of these people are a god-send for the endlessly burgeoning cat population and the groups with which they work.

Re: Maybe you looked into these already

[belladonna.livejournal.com]

Yes, but my old coworker also lives in Medford in the area mentioned.

Re: Maybe you looked into these already

[belladonna.livejournal.com]

I just did some more digging and it looks like Kitty Connection (http://www.kittyconnection.net/) is actually more than one person. They don't seem to have a central location, more of a network of foster homes, but it isn't just one woman.

However, I still think you visited my old coworker's house based on the description and location, heh.

Re: Maybe you looked into these already

[wheeiminvisible.livejournal.com]

Yes, Kitty Connection is definitely not quite as described in the original reply about it! I've been a volunteer for it for a couple of years.

It's a network of foster homes (no-kill, basically a shelter alternative based on the idea that cats, particular those rescued from feral colonies, abuse/neglect or hoarding situations, are going to have a much better job adjusting to their forever home if they're fostered in people's homes, versus kept in little cages in a shelter).

The house in Medford is the "headquarters". Yes, several cats are living in the basement at any given time -- generally this are not the cats' "permanent" foster home, but a place where the newest cats start out, or where the cats who came in with medical issues stay until they've been healed. Most of the cats we take in live in foster homes. At any given time I'm fostering two cats in my home. We bring them to adoption events at various pet stores in the area, and also allow potential adopters to visit the cats in our homes.

Most volunteers foster animals in their home. Others assist at adoption events, or put up flyers. I too am a bit mystified as to how no-kill shelters are "more intense" -- I will say that I don't find the experience intense at all. It's like having pet cats of my own, except without any financial responsibility, and of course I have to be prepared for them to leave me one day for their forever homes. We aren't obligated to take them to adoption events, just encouraged.

[tater1112.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to hearing what other people have to say, as I looked into this a little a few months ago and got really frustrated.

I wouldn't bother with CARE Initiative (Community Animal Rescue and Education). They have cats for adoption at the Alewife PetSmart, and I tried 4 times to get information from them so I could volunteer, including talking to someone from their organization in person, and didn't hear anything back. I'd think you could muster a 2 sentence "no thanks" email when someone is actively trying to work for you for free.

Not that I'm bitter or anything...

New PetSmart Tenants!

[dianamp04.livejournal.com]

They've actually moved out of that PetSmart, and Broken Tail Rescue is moving into that PetSmart if you are interested in volunteering still! We're still working out the last of the details with PetSmart, but we should hopefully be up and running in the next few weeks!

[42itous.livejournal.com]

I volunteered at PawSafe Cats, which is a small no-kill cat shelter in a building full of artists' studios -- the address is 2 Bradley St, Somerville. I volunteered there for two years and quite enjoyed it; the only reason I stopped was that I moved far enough away that it was no longer practical to get there by bike.

[sungold123.livejournal.com]

PawSafe is now Pets In Need, and we can always use more volunteers in any capacity - shelter shifts, fostering, fundraisers, adoption events, really anything you want to help with. You can find our webpage here:
http://animal-adoptions.org/index.html
And email Cindy (Cindy@animal-adoptions.org) for more details on what positions are currently available.

We ARE a no-kill shelter, but I'm not sure I understand why you think that's more intense. I find it to be quite the opposite, we're not stressing about getting cats adopted in fear of their being euthanized; instead we make sure all our animals are going to good, forever homes. All our volunteers are welcome to take on as much or as little as they wish.

I'm happy to answer any other specific questions you have about Pets In Need if you PM me!

[dianamp04.livejournal.com]

If you are interested in helping with cats, Broken Tail Rescue is moving into the PetSmart in Cambridge! We're working out the last of the details, but we should hopefully be up and running in the next few weeks!