It didn’t take me long to discover that retirement is the best invention ever!  Sleeping in is the best benefit 😊  I also moved as I retired so I’m still a little busy with that.  Moving is one adventure I’d like to skip for a while, but in the last few months I’m pretty settled in with most everything sorted, decorated, stashed or given away.  My latest book is all done, just waiting for my dream publisher to snatch it up, so one of the things on my “after I’m all caught up” list was dog walking.

The Bitterroot Humane Society is just down the street from me.  There are always folks out walking dogs, but I notice people walking big dogs, somehow differently than an owner?  I’ve chatted with a few and, yep, they’re out walking shelter dogs.  The humane society here is a no-kill shelter, and they take in orphaned dogs and cats from all over the country.  The most recent influx was flown in by Dog is My Copilot from Texas, so there are 25 dogs here now, all looking for love and attention. My first dog was Banjo 🙂

I went out a couple times with another shelter volunteer, and learned some of the ins and outs of how dogs are “graded”, depending on overall temperament, how they do on a leash, how they get along with other dogs and, of course, with people.  Luckily, I know the neighborhood and know what side streets to avoid or fences to pass by from the other side of the street because of resident dogs that are not very friendly.  There’s a sweet man who leaves a water dish out for our walks so I try to go by there at some point on our walks. 

There’s a lot to consider when deciding to volunteer at a shelter.  There are a couple dozen desperate faces watching me as I go through the hallway running along the kennel area.  There is a lot of barking and frustrated noises. 

The pretty girl in the above picture has 3 legs. She does fine but it breaks your heart.

From the list of dogs to be walked by newbies like me, I’ve met some great dogs.   Each one has a story, an adorable face and their own personality.  Though staff may know, I have to wonder how and why they ended up there.  How soon someone will take them to their forever homes?   The average turnaround is 7 days, which is awesome, but there are exceptions that break my heart. 

So far I’ve walked King (in a forever home now), Dozer, Rosie and Banjo (also in a forever home) and a couple others.  Puppies get played with in a small yard.  It’s a joy to have a big doggie recognize me, anxious to poke his head through the proffered leash so we can go exploring together.  It’s also a joy to go into the kennels and find out that one of my buddies has gone to a good home – yay!

The time and energy spent by other volunteers is amazing and inspiring.  Some spend 30 hours a week helping with all the aspects of caring for animals (managing food, cleaning, walking, etc.).  I’ve started “training” to participate in play groups and it’s a special group of volunteers that manage these.  The goal is to get as many doggies exercised, socialized and worn out as possible. 

My own dog doesn’t get to run and play like this!  Certainly, there can be issues.  There are dominance issues, not-yet-fixed issues, and just plain nastiness, as dogs will be dogs.  There are a number of commands and the monitors have spray bottles that seem to break up any concerning encounters. 

From what I’ve seen so far, I can’t imagine anything better for these dogs.  I’m anxious to do all I can for all the deserving 4-legged kids.  It’s mutually beneficial, for sure.  Another benefit of retirement!!!