I just signed up to start volunteering at a local animal sanctuary. I go next Saturday to meet with the farm manager and have a tour and discuss positions open, etc. . . It has pigs, horses, sheep, cats, dogs, etc...mainly farm animals. I guess I was just wondering if anyone else volunteers or has volunteered at a sancturary before. I'm nervous because I have no experience with animals. Is this okay? I guess I can always work in office, do landscaping, too, but I'd like to be comfortable around the animals, too. Can anyone give me some insight on their experiences??

:help:

I use to volunteer at animal shelters quite a bit. I now do home-based fostering for harder cases. It can be very rewarding work, it can also be very emotional at times, and a lot of hard work. Don't worry about not having experience with animals, they won't throw you in the deep end. :) Good luck with it, let us know how it goes.

Thanks. Here is a link to the sanctuary's homepage. Most of the animals here are unadoptable as they have have been abused or otherwise mistreated. That is what worries me b/c I have no special skills, I guess.

"Typically, animals residing at the Sanctuary have complicated medical and/or emotional needs, a history of abuse and/or neglect, diseases or ailments related to factory farming or genetic engineering and are often considered unadoptable. The Sanctuary serves as a home of last resort for these animals and has played a crucial role in the placement of countless others."


They mainly have pigs, so if anyone has advice about pigs, that'd be great, too!

http://www.pigs.org/

Awww... I'd love to work with pigs. Pigs are cool. They are so damn smart. I have no room for that sort of rescue were I live. My two permanent cats were both "unadoptables", they were both hard work, particularly Melly, but they were worth it.

A lot of the grunt work that needs doing, cleaning out the stalls and cages, washing stuff, etc, will need no special training, and will be very much appreciated.

I don't mind doing that. As long as I can just be around the animals and pet 'em before I leave, I'll be happy! :smitten:

They mainly have pigs, so if anyone has advice about pigs, that'd be great, too!

http://www.pigs.org/
"Dogs look up to you, cats look down on you. The pig sees you as his equal," said by some famous person I can't remember, maybe Churchill. Listen closely to what each pig has to say. They will teach you virtually everything you need to know about them as a species and an individual. It's all in the oinks, snorts, squeals and chuffs. And in the tummy rub. :up:

lol...thanks, I will try my best. :hamster: