32
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2004
Shelter animals need human support
The humane society depends on volunteers for shelter operation.
By Erik Johnson
ejohnson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Courtney Kublen/Kansan
As JoAnna Traxler walks slowly between the kennels of about 40 sad-eyed dogs patiently waiting adoption, the sight of a leash in her left hand sparks an eruption of desperate barks and cries from the usually sullen canines.
"They know what's happening," said Traxler, a volunteer animal caretaker at the Lawrence Humane Society. "One of them is going outside and they're all excited."
But right now, Milo, a 6-month-old mixed breed whose brother was adopted last week, is the lucky pooch. Milo is probably a bit lonely, and going outside if even for a short while would make his day. Traxler said.
The Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St., houses more than 5,500 dogs, cats, rabbits and other homeless or unwanted animals each year.
With a small,paid staff of only 9 people,director Midge Grinstead depends
Kim Luce, Lawrence resident, pets Hershey, a chocolate labrador, while playing with him outside at the Lawrence Humane Society. Luce has been volunteering about six years and takes pictures of each animal up for adoption to add to the national Web site, www.petfinder.com.
immensely on the "lifeblood" of more than 300 volunteers, ranging in age from 6 to 82, who donate their time — sometimes as little as one hour a week.
The Lawrence Humane Society has a
"The dogs don't care what you look like. They don't care if you're rich or poor. They don't care if you're wearing the newest shoes."
Midge Grinstead
Director of the Lawrence Humaine Society
variety of different volunteering opportunities, but none more fun or more crucial than animal caretaker.
Dogs awaiting adoption spend long hours in small cages, often paired up to save space. And anyone who has ever owned a dog knows they demand constant attention, which Grinstead's small staff can't handle alone.
"We're working so hard ourselves," Grinstead said. "We don't have the time to bathe them, to socialize with them all the time, to take them outside each day, and it's crucial that the animals get that."
Traxler has volunteered at the Lawrence Humane Society for more than four years. She usually spends about 30 minutes each day after her work as an accountant at Watson Library, taking a dog or two out to the enclosed areas to
give them much needed exercise.
Some dogs will spend months in the shelter. Traxler said getting the dogs outside was important in making them more appealing to potential adopters.
As of a year ago, the Lawrence Humane Society no longer euthanizes animals to save space — the result of increased community awareness and a huge jump in volunteer support. Volunteers at the shelter enjoy an easy, relaxed environment.
"They get bored inside," she said. "They need someone to pay attention to them, to love them. It calms them down so they don't seem so hyper when other people are looking to take them home."
Most positions only require a few hours each week with a six-month commitment.
And although most animals caretakers did it for the dogs, Grinstead said the volunteers might actually receive the biggest reward.
"The dogs don't care what you look like. They don't care if you're rich or poor. They don't care if you're wearing the newest shoes," Grinstead said. "They just want to be your friend and lick your face for a while. There's nothing else that can offer you that satisfaction."
- Edited by Julie Jones