VOLUNTEERS : Volunteers Are Lifeline of City Animal Shelter

The San Clemente Animal Shelter has many projects in which volunteers play a vital role. “We currently have about 100 volunteers,” said Roberta Gorny, shelter manager. “The majority of the volunteers work with fund-raising projects, and the others staff the shelter. They help us remain pro-life.

“Without the volunteer help, we would not be able to keep up the shelter as we do now.”

Some of the volunteers’ duties include walking and bathing the dogs and taking animals to the veterinarian. Volunteers are also trained to issue animal licenses and check up on adoptions.

“We currently have a program in which we take pets to schools and educate students to care for pets, the importance of licensing and keeping a dog on a leash,” Gorny said. “We have another program in which volunteers will bring a pet to a day-care center or nursing homes for an hour or so.”

The main objective for volunteers is to keep the animals happy and adoptable, which at the same time fulfills the interest of many volunteers.

“We still have most of our original volunteers since the program started in January, 1983,” Gorny said. “Our volunteers seem to be satisfied by just seeing the animals’ tails wag.”

For details on volunteering your time for the San Clemente Animal Shelter, call Michael Ewart, volunteer coordinator, at (714) 492-1617. Volunteers must be at least 16 (14- and 15- year-olds may work with a parent).