I am thrilled to share another PBF reader volunteer story with you guys today!
Lizzie reached out to me to share a little bit about her incredible experience with The Anti-Cruelty Society, an organization dedicated to providing compassionate care for any animal in need. The organization also attempts to to find a home for every healthy or rehabilitatable dog and cat that comes to the shelter, intervenes to prevent cruelty to animals and provides low or no cost spaying or neutering.
To learn more about The Anti-Cruelty Society, please visit their website by clicking the link below:
Lizzie’s Story: The Anti-Cruelty Society
When I moved to Chicago almost two years ago, I only knew two people that lived in the city. I jumped into my job in public relations, started meeting new friends left and right and immediately fell in love with what I still consider, “my big adventure.” But I knew something was missing.
I stumbled past The Anti-Cruelty Society (ACS) – a no-kill animal shelter – one evening when I was leaving work. I was immediately impressed with the facility, the volunteers and the organization in general. My heart has always belonged with “homeless” pets, so I knew it was the place for me.
I volunteer in the cat adopts room, meaning that a few times per month (sometimes weeknights, sometimes weekends), I assist people who come into the shelter looking to adopt a cat. This includes talking to them about the type of cat they’re seeking, if they have pets/kids at home, taking selected kitties out of their cages to "meet" their prospective new families, and facilitating the paperwork process if they do decide to adopt. Often on weeknights, the shelter is pretty empty, so I can just socialize (one-on-one attention) with some of the cats that might need extra love. Most people aren’t cat ladies like me, so there are many other avenues for volunteers to explore including volunteer guides, dog adopts, fostering and so much more.
One unique factor that drew me to ACS is that they are an open-admission shelter. This means they don’t turn any animal away, no matter their condition. Since inception in 1999, ACS has found homes for over 40,000 animals!
The most rewarding aspect of volunteering is seeing older (10+ years) cats eventually get adopted after being there for 4-5 months. Volunteers can track recent adoptions online, and I’m always checking to see who’s “found their forever home,” as we say at ACS. I actually adopted this little guy after he beckoned me from his cage one evening (and basically forced me to take him home)!
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Additional reader volunteer stories:
- Girls On the Run
- Back On My Feet
- Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Cooking Matters
- National Sports Center for the Disabled
- Coalition for Refugee Resettlement
- Orlando Science Center
- Special Olympics
- The Humane Society
- Relay for Life
- UnSend
- Athena’s Warehouse
- Tampa Bay Watch
- Cheti
- Everybody Wins!
- New York Cares
- Team Rubicon
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Great post! I used to volunteer at ACS when I lived in the Chicago area. 🙂
Awww, I love that story & can really relate to how Lizzie feels! Such a good person. I really would love to do something like that & I used to do it w/my mom when I was young… I worry that if I did it now I’d want to take every single one home w/me & I’d feel so bad! Sharing her story is making me think about it & how I can help though, so thank you!! 🙂
Thsnks fir sharing your story!! It is awesome what you are doing! 🙂
Love it, Lizzie! Good for you for devoting your free time to animals in need.
Such a great cause/organization! Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
oh my goodness, I ride past that building all the time on my bus to school! I’ll have to check this out!
Aw I would love to volunteer at an animal shelter. My dad is on the board for ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation) and one of our dogs is from there. I have such a soft spot for animals, especially ones who have been previously abandoned or abused. I am going to be one of those ladies with a million animals running around someday!
This is my kind of volunteering!! I have always loved animals, and love to help out in anyway I can. Including, running through traffic to catch an injured stray puppy. I know, not the safest thing, but I can’t walk away when an animal is in harm’s way. My husband shares my love for animals, and our house is often a safe haven for cats or dogs until we can get them to a shelter or find their owners. There is not a nearby shelter where I am located now, but I would love to continue fostering or volunteering if we move some time.
I have 5 pets – 1 stray dog that is the best running buddy, 3 rescued/adopted cats, and 1 horse that has come from a neglectful home. It’s feels go good giving a home to an animal in need!! Thanks for sharing this post, Lizzie and Julie!
This is great, thanks for sharing!
Love that, and love her and her organization! 🙂 I am a huge animal advocate! Which is why we must spay and neuter our pets, that way we can love them longer (less likely to run off or get cancer) and won’t ever have to find homes for our grandchildren (their babies)! 🙂
I love animals. I used to Work at an animal hospital! I got my dog from a no kill shelter!
Love the features on others who volunteer with animal rescues and other animal welfare organizations.
Great story thanks for sharing.
Your Granma’s Sugar Cookies look so yummy would you like to share the recipe?
Also your cranberry sauce from previous day blog looked yummy …recipe?
Thanks
Good job Lizzie! I am a big time animal lover and animal rights advocate.
What a great organization and good for you for helping out. Animals need some love!
I’ve been thinking about volunteering for a Siberian Husky rescue. It’s such a worthy cause, and since I can’t have a dog of my own, at least I’d get to play with my favorite breed. 🙂
Loved this post! Absolutely adore helping homeless animals and it’s amazing that you do as well. Chicago is my hometown, born and raised, and I hope it has become home to you as well.
I think it’s great that you highlight these volunteer stories!
Thanks for sharing your story! I love that it gives ideas on ways we can volunteer too.
What a great story and cause! I love volunteering at animal shelters.
This is a great story. Thank you for the work you do with these animals!
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