Great Escape: Snuggle Time!

There is no question about the benefits of pet ownership. If you have one (or more), you already know that having a pet can increase your physical health and emotional well-being. Add to that the impact you can make in your community and to a special person or animal by volunteering your time, and that sounds like the perfect Great Escape.

Lara Pittman is the cat volunteer coordinator for . She lived in Oregon for a while and volunteered her time at the Oregon Humane Society. When she moved back to this area in July 2008, she was driving along Fenton Road and noticed a sign. Pittman thought, "picnic and animals?"

"That was enough to pull me in. I haven't left since," she said.

Dogs and cats arrive at the shelter in a variety of ways, from callers saying they found a lost animal to people just not being able to care for their pets anymore due to health reasons or a move. Sadly, a lot of animals are abandoned and brought to the shelter by people who have found them. Dropping animals off at the shelter and leaving them unattended is illegal. As shocking as this may sound, it does happen. 

This is one opportunity of many where you can help. Pittman said what Adopt-A-Pet is in "desperate need of right now is foster homes for kittens." This requires a loving home, a clean litter box, fresh food and water.  

Volunteers may be any age; however, children younger than 18 need to be with an adult. You can access the volunteer applications online at adoptapetfenton.com. Print the application, fill it out and bring it to the volunteer meeting at 5:45 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. The meetings usually last about 1½ to 2 hours, depending on the number of people attending.

You'll need this training before you participate in Adopt-A-Pet Fenton events or help in the building. You will learn all about the organization and its safety procedures. Then, you'll break off into groups to focus on the area you are interested in: cats, dogs or office work. 

Other opportunities to help can come in just about any form you wish. Duties may include walking the dogs, doing laundry, cleaning litter boxes, even working in the gardens. 

One of the most important services a volunteer can provide is "snuggle time," as Pittman likes to call it. It's especially important for the animals that come in from a neglect situation. 

Adopt-A-Pet Fenton also has educational programs. You'll learn about SNAP, the spay/neuter assistance program, and the TNR program, which stands for trap, neuter, return. Applications for these programs may be found online as well.

"We want our volunteers to be educated on that so they can educate the public," says Pittman.

Adopt-A-Pet Fenton is preparing for the popular Meet your Best Friend at the Zoo, hosted by the Michigan Humane Society and the Detroit Zoo from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 14-15 in the zoo's front parking lot, near the water tower, at 8450 W. 10 Mile Rd. in Royal Oak. There are no admission or parking fees to attend the event.

Adopt-A-Pet is looking for volunteers to help out with this large event.  Organizers need help with walking the dogs and loading supplies, crates and, of course, animals. 

Pittman said the group plans to bring at least 15 dogs and eight cats to the event May 14.  

Sign-up sheets for this and all other adoption events are available at the Adopt-A-Pet building. 

If you're interested in adopting a pet of your own, you can feel confident that you'll be matched with the right one.

"I like that it's a smaller organization," Pittman said of Adopt-A-Pet. "I can pretty much tell you what cat needs to go home with you." 

We're guessing that her counterpart, Angela Renwick, dog volunteer coordinator, feels the same way.

Adopt-A-Pet is located at 13575 N. Fenton Rd. in Fenton. Hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Most dogs are kept offsite in foster homes, so it is recommended that you call first. For more information, visit adoptapetfenton.com or call 810-629-0723. You may reach Pittman at 503-680-5914 for specific questions on volunteering with the cats and kittens. Visit petfinder.com for more information on the animals available at Adopt-A-Pet Fenton.