Amy27
Task Force
So I went to orientation last night at a local humane society. You are not suppose to volunteer until you have went through training. But at orientation, we didn't even get a tour of the place. So tonight my friend and I went back to explore.
We ended up checking out a rabbit my friend is interested in and spent a lot of time with her. Then the rabbit lady came in and was talking to us. She told me how she is the only one who really cares for the rabbits. She brought them in some veggies. We ended up putting the rabbit back we had out and she was in the rabbit/cat room. We noticed several rabbits had no water. She was cleaning cages and getting them water and I asked if I could help, even though I hadn't been through training. She showed me where stuff was and I helped out. It was so much fun. I volunteered before with cats and dogs but rabbits are so different. I loved every second of it. But it really bothers me that rabbits didn't have water. I am happy to know though that I can help by volunteering.
I noticed the rabbits had no toys. So I went to a store they have at the shelter where the money goes to the shelter and bought all the rabbit a willow ring and they all went crazy over it. Well, except the crabby bunny Alfred who tried to take off my hand off. I ended up cleaning his cage and it was not easy. I would move my hand to one side of the cage and he would come after it. He ended up calming down so I could change the paper. He has been at the shelter along time and as the lady said, "just likes his space". He is a cutie though.
The rabbit my friend is interested in is the sweetest thing I have ever seen. If my friend doesn't adopt her and she doesn't get adopted soon, I may have to get her. She was just so calm and loving. I have really never seen a rabbit like this. I can't let her stay in a shelter. I would foster her but I have to have 20 volunteer hours first. We will see what happens. Ireally should not get another rabbit. I don't have the money. But she just pulled at my heart. I can't believe anyone would get rid of such a sweet thing.
Oh forgot to mention, when I got there I asked to get a specific rabbit out. The people there told me no one knew how to pick up the rabbits that was working. I was like What?!?! They asked me if I knew how to pick up a rabbit and I said yes, I own two. They said it would be safer and better then for me to pick the rabbit up and take it to the play room.
Though I am so happy with my experience. I can't help but wonder how a shelter has animals with no water or toys. I felt so bad for the bunnies. How do the people there not know how to pick up a rabbit? I just felt like it was all about the cats and dogs and no one did anything for the rabbits. I know I will be a regular there and make sure that changes. I still can't believe some didn't have water. This is the humane society we call about animal abuse and their own animals don't have water!
But I do want to say anyone thinking about volunteering should do it. I was so scared to after my experience volunteering with cats and dogs. The dogs I would take for a walk and they wouldn't want to go into the shelter and I would stand outside and just cry. They cats, well I got my dad to adopt two of them. But working with the rabbits was so different. It wasn't as if I don't love them as much. May be it is because I felt passionate about them. I really don't know but it was different and I left feeling happy, not sad. As I was walking out to the car with my friend I said what is all over my shirt? It was rabbit urine. I guess I need to work on my skills of cleaning cages lol.
Sunday I am going for my offical training so after that I can get the rabbits out and clean cages as I please. I can't wait. I think I am going tomorrow and Sunday because I just loved it so much.
BTW, just wanted to say there are only 7 rabbits there. Most have been there along time. I thought when I got there they would have tons of rabbits but I think most go to Columbus House Rabbit Society.
We ended up checking out a rabbit my friend is interested in and spent a lot of time with her. Then the rabbit lady came in and was talking to us. She told me how she is the only one who really cares for the rabbits. She brought them in some veggies. We ended up putting the rabbit back we had out and she was in the rabbit/cat room. We noticed several rabbits had no water. She was cleaning cages and getting them water and I asked if I could help, even though I hadn't been through training. She showed me where stuff was and I helped out. It was so much fun. I volunteered before with cats and dogs but rabbits are so different. I loved every second of it. But it really bothers me that rabbits didn't have water. I am happy to know though that I can help by volunteering.
I noticed the rabbits had no toys. So I went to a store they have at the shelter where the money goes to the shelter and bought all the rabbit a willow ring and they all went crazy over it. Well, except the crabby bunny Alfred who tried to take off my hand off. I ended up cleaning his cage and it was not easy. I would move my hand to one side of the cage and he would come after it. He ended up calming down so I could change the paper. He has been at the shelter along time and as the lady said, "just likes his space". He is a cutie though.
The rabbit my friend is interested in is the sweetest thing I have ever seen. If my friend doesn't adopt her and she doesn't get adopted soon, I may have to get her. She was just so calm and loving. I have really never seen a rabbit like this. I can't let her stay in a shelter. I would foster her but I have to have 20 volunteer hours first. We will see what happens. Ireally should not get another rabbit. I don't have the money. But she just pulled at my heart. I can't believe anyone would get rid of such a sweet thing.
Oh forgot to mention, when I got there I asked to get a specific rabbit out. The people there told me no one knew how to pick up the rabbits that was working. I was like What?!?! They asked me if I knew how to pick up a rabbit and I said yes, I own two. They said it would be safer and better then for me to pick the rabbit up and take it to the play room.
Though I am so happy with my experience. I can't help but wonder how a shelter has animals with no water or toys. I felt so bad for the bunnies. How do the people there not know how to pick up a rabbit? I just felt like it was all about the cats and dogs and no one did anything for the rabbits. I know I will be a regular there and make sure that changes. I still can't believe some didn't have water. This is the humane society we call about animal abuse and their own animals don't have water!
But I do want to say anyone thinking about volunteering should do it. I was so scared to after my experience volunteering with cats and dogs. The dogs I would take for a walk and they wouldn't want to go into the shelter and I would stand outside and just cry. They cats, well I got my dad to adopt two of them. But working with the rabbits was so different. It wasn't as if I don't love them as much. May be it is because I felt passionate about them. I really don't know but it was different and I left feeling happy, not sad. As I was walking out to the car with my friend I said what is all over my shirt? It was rabbit urine. I guess I need to work on my skills of cleaning cages lol.
Sunday I am going for my offical training so after that I can get the rabbits out and clean cages as I please. I can't wait. I think I am going tomorrow and Sunday because I just loved it so much.
BTW, just wanted to say there are only 7 rabbits there. Most have been there along time. I thought when I got there they would have tons of rabbits but I think most go to Columbus House Rabbit Society.