AAHS Features Exceptional Volunteers for Volunteer Appreciation Week

This week is National Volunteer Appreciation Week, so we are featuring an exceptional volunteer from each of our locations every day this week! We value and appreciate ALL of our wonderful volunteers and thank each and every one of them for their dedication to help the animals at the Athens Area Humane Society!

Today, we’re recognizing Lisa M., one of our Spay & Neuter Center volunteers.

Lisa began volunteer at AAHS in December 2011 because “cats are her favorite thing,” and she appreciates the important work AAHS does for animal welfare. “Not only do they neuter people’s pets, but they are also the mainstay of the Trap/Neuter/Release efforts in our area.” She began by volunteering to socialize with the cats at our Zeus House Shelter, but she found herself getting too attached to the cats when she knew she couldn’t adopt another one. So she began volunteering at the Spay & Neuter Center where she could still help the animals and be around them without getting attached. “I get to see the animals awake, briefly, so I do get a little dose of ‘Oh, look how cute she is!’”

Lisa helps the Spay & Neuter Center staff by cleaning surgical instruments, preparing wrap packs, cutting and folding drape, doing laundry, and any other daily tasks that our staff needs help with when she’s here. She says that being a regular volunteer at AAHS ”is just the right niche for me. The people that work there are great, and it’s a very pleasant atmosphere. My part of the job is low-stress, with enough variety that I don’t get bored. It’s nice to know I’m doing a little bit to help the professionals get the job done.” (We know Lisa does a whole lot more than “a little bit!”)

The AAHS staff enjoy having Lisa help because she is willing to help with the most pressing tasks and even stays after hours at times to help finish up on busy days. She will also intentionally choose to sign up for volunteer shifts on days that don’t have many people scheduled so that she can be more helpful to our staff. And, of course, Lisa’s cheerful nature makes a huge impact on our staff. Erin, our Clinic Receptionist, says that Lisa “always has a positive attitude, and it never fails… she sings every day!” This along with the fact that Lisa always has the animals’ interest as a first priority makes her such a valued volunteer.

When asked what she would tell those thinking of becoming a volunteer at the Spay & Neuter Center, Lisa says, ”Everybody has been so nice, respectful and appreciative of my contribution. It makes me feel great. I never would have thought I’d like this job—I’d imagined it would be gory or upsetting, and I was afraid I might be asked to take some responsibility for the animals. But the veterinarian and vet techs do all of that. You don’t even have to look over at the surgeries if you don’t want to. I think the Spay & Neuter Center is just as important to animal welfare as the rescue and adoption side because reducing births helps adult animals to get adopted, and all animals who are adopted must be neutered.”

Our staff really appreciate volunteers like Lisa who realize the importance of volunteering both hands-on and hands-off with the animals. Erin says that “not many people think that they would make a difference because there’s not a great deal of playing with the animals, so it’s nice to see that our Spay & Neuter Center volunteers know that they are helping to prevent litters and therefore the number of unwanted animals entering shelters who need to be adopted through our other programs.”

Thank you, Lisa, for your continued support for the animals and the Athens Area Humane Society!

 If you would like to become a volunteer at AAHS, please visit us online at www.AthensHumaneSociety.org/Volunteer.