Shelter Saturdays

You're welcome.

As some of you might know, I volunteer at a pet shelter on Saturday mornings - the Helmetta Regional Animal Shelter, to be precise.  They recently opened up (not too long before I moved to the area), and already, they're pretty busy.  A "low-kill" shelter (only putting down injured/very ill animals, for those of you who care), they house about 20-30+ dogs and maybe 40+ cats.

I've always wanted a pet, but I haven't had much luck with it.  Now that I live on my own, I'm still concerned about keeping a dog while I'm still in an apartment.  Before I started work, Dillon convinced me to start volunteering at a shelter, with some hope of learning training tips, etc.  Realistically, I do dishes/laundry and help feed the dogs, but in lieu of owning my own dog, this is second best.

Anywho, since I'm surrounded by all this cuteness every weekend, I thought I'd share the wealth a little.

Dudley says, "Helllloooo!"

Dudley is a really big sweetheart.  He's been at the shelter nearly as long as I have, and I've never heard him bark.  He's 2 years old.  I can't imagine why no one has taken him home yet!

This week, there were two beautiful pugs.  I couldn't get them in a shot together, but you'll have to take my word that when they scampered together over to the door for head scratches, it melted my heart. 

Ah, and then there's Lucky (above) and Suzie (below).  These two must have come from the same place, because they've been together as long as I've been at the shelter.  Lucky's a terrier mix, and Suzie is a Chihuahua-Pomeranian.  If I could, I'd take the two of them home in a heart beat.  They're a bit old (9 and 8, respectively), but they've still got plenty of energy (despite looking a little lazy in these pictures!)

Suzie is my little one-eyed princess. You cannot tell me that this would not be the best thing in the world to come home to every day:

A-HAAARRR ME HEARTIES!

On a more serious note, if you do ever plan to get a dog, consider adopting.  As much as I love being around these guys, it does tear at my heart strings a little bit, every time I see this:

Take me home! <3

That's Lottie.  She's a 1-2 year old pit bull.  When you're in front of the cage door, she wags her tail, but otherwise quietly sits and just tilts her head at you, watching in wait.  When you're behind the cage door, she's all cuddles and licks.

Somewhat related, but the other week, I met the mayor of Helmetta while at the shelter.  Allow me to set the scene for you:  whilst in the back room, I'm washing dishes and she (yes, she) is filling up bowls with kibble and wet food.  Very nonchalant, very informal, and both of us looking like we just rolled out of bed.  I had just learned her name, nothing more, and then this fun conversation followed:

-Her:  So, are you in high school?
-Me:  Oh, no.  I actually just graduated from college.

...Mindless chit-chat about the economy and being able to find work...Pause... silence... awkwardness...

-Me:  So... what do you do?
-Her:  Oh... Well... I'm the mayor.
-Me:  ...Oh!

Always the smooth operator.  *Face palm*

To be honest, though, it was really refreshing to see someone in politics humble herself by scooping poop from dog cages.  Granted, Helmetta is a blip on the map of New Jersey, but one still gives credit where credit is due. 

'Til the next.