Centre County PAWS is pleased to introduce you to Russ Souchak, another longtime volunteer who has recently surpassed 2,000 hours of volunteer service to the PAWS Adoption Center. Volunteers like Russ are the heart and soul of our organization who make it possible for us to care for and find homes for hundreds of cats and dogs every year. Here, Russ tells us about his experiences as a PAWS volunteer:
When did you start volunteering at PAWS?
I started in 2007 - shortly after attending an Open House for Volunteers at PAWS.
What jobs/roles have you performed at PAWS?
I started out as a cat volunteer, then got involved on the dog side because I heard that the dog side was in need of more volunteers. I gradually started spending more time with the dogs, mostly because it's good exercise for me, particularly in the "early days" when volunteers were responsible for the stuff that the part-time staff now does.
What do you currently do as a volunteer?
I'm currently a dog care volunteer, Sunday P.M. co-shift leader, and I monitor the dog care schedule to send out the "Weekly Beg" and other scheduling-needs e-mails.
Why do you volunteer at PAWS?
I don't spend enough time at my apartment to actually have a dog, so working with the kennel dogs is a way for me to interact with all sorts of dogs. I've learned a lot about kennel dog behavior - and enjoy the fact that each new dog presents a new dog behavior learning experience. It's interesting to me to see how a dog's behavior can change [for better or worse] because of their kennel experience and I like following conversations about how to care for the more challenging dogs.
What has made you continue volunteering for so long?
I think mostly because of all the improvements that have been made to the training and "continuing education" offered to volunteers. There's a lot of conversation about how to handle particular dogs or about particular situations that occur in the shelter environment - I like feeling up-to-date on information about the kennel dogs and what we need to do to properly care for them, particularly the dogs who are not reacting well to being in the shelter.
When you're not at PAWS, what do you like to do with your time?
Most of my non-PAWS time is spent at work, though I get together weekly with friends for dinner and cards. I'm originally from Pottsville in Schuylkill County - most of my family is still there so I'm there fairly often for visits. The usual music, reading, movies - and spending quality time with my cat Emma [PAWS alias: Gummy Bear], a former feral, now house cat, who's slowly coming out of her shell and becoming more social.
What do you like best about being a PAWS volunteer? What do you find to be the most rewarding?
I enjoy being around and interacting with the kennel dogs and what's most rewarding is seeing a long-term kennel dog find his/her home. I think PAWS does an incredible job caring for its cats and dogs - it's great to be a part of that.
If someone asked you why they should volunteer at PAWS, what answer would you give?
You'll get good training about how to care for kennel dogs/cattery cats. You'll get regular updates on caring for long-term animals and those not reacting well to the shelter environment. It's work - but you'll have fun doing it. And you'll meet lots of great people who share your enthusiasm for helping care for the shelter animals while they wait for their forever homes.