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by Rachel Paxton

Last week our family adopted a dog from our local humane society. It had been a long time since I’d been there to visit. It is quite an experience if you have never been there.

We already have a dog that is part Great Pyrenees and part Border Collie. She is a beautiful, friendly dog, but she has a lot of energy and had recently been sneaking out of our yard to go visit the neighbor dogs. We decided that maybe what she needed was another dog to play with.

Now you should never get a dog without putting a lot of thought into it first, and not act on your first impulse. Not me and my husband, we have had to learn from our past mistakes, especially not doing research on different dog breeds. This is so important before you bring a new dog into your home.

You are always taking your chances when you bring a dog home from the humane society, but often people who work there will be able to tell you some history on the dogs you are considering taking home to your family. Our humane society has a three-day trial period where you can take a dog and then bring it back if it doesn’t do well in your home.

We chose another cattle dog. Her name is Misty and she is part Australian Shepherd and part Blue Heeler. Looking at dogs at the humane society is quite an experience. I don’t recommend you take babies or very small children in there. I had forgotten how loud it is in there. The large dogs are often in a relatively small enclosed area, and very close to each other, and close to you. When they start barking it is very loud and overwhelming to small children.

Misty was the first dog I saw when I walked through the door. She was smaller than most of the large dogs and immediately caught my attention. I wouldn’t consider myself a real dog person, but Misty made sure to let me know that I was the one who was supposed to take her home with me. I asked about her history and found out that she had been hit by a car and her owner decided to leave her at the humane society instead of taking her to a vet. Fortunately it was only a leg that was hit, and she received care by a vet and then was nursed back to health in a “foster” home before being returned to the humane society. Her leg healed very quickly.

We took Misty for a walk around the building and our boys fell in love with her. It costs about $80 to adopt a dog at our humane society, however it does depend on whether or not the dog is spayed or neutered. The dog is also microchipped. They ask that you get a free exam at a local veternarian (free only if you adopt from humane society). If something is wrong with the dog you have about two weeks to bring the dog back. If you bring it back after that time, you have to pay a relinquish fee of $50. Our humane society is so pressed for space that you have to be on a waiting list in order to relinquish a dog there.

The adoption fee for our dog was actually already paid for. Sometimes people pay a dog’s adoption fee ahead of time to make sure they go to a good home. We decided to give them a donation any way, because the organization is not for profit.

The humane society is a great place for your children to volunteer if you want to get them interested in becoming involved in their community. Our humane society is the first place our daughter ever volunteered, and as she grew older she also volunteered at other local organizations. They always need people to walk dogs and play with the kittens. They also need people to donate things like kitten food, cat litter, and dog food. Kids love to help shop for these items and then deliver them, and the humane society really deserves your help. It is a fun activity that your family can do together.

Even though we’ve made some hasty dog decisions in the past, we definitely hit the jackpot with Misty. She and our other dog play great together. She completely ignores our cats and loves our children. She is even great with our 1 year old. She loves to ride in the car, follows me everywhere I go, and at night sleeps on the floor between our boys’ beds, watching over them while they sleep. We are very blessed to have found her.

by Steve Volman

Many people have a passion for working with young folks and they have a desire to pass on the things that they have learned. This is a natural human phenomenon and it is something that adds a lot of value to society. For some people, this strong desire to perform youth work leads them into their profession, whether it is something like coaching or perhaps teaching. Other people go into different careers, but they also have a passion for working with youth. So how do these people get involved with young people in a way that can produce meaningful results? There are many avenues for youth work that are available to interested parties today.

Volunteering as a Tutor

Whether at a youth centre or on an individual basis, people who have the patience and the know how to do some tutoring can get involved in this way. There are lots of after school centres where kids go to complete their school work and have fun under the supervision of professionals. These places are looking for qualified people to help children and young adults with their work. You might contact these youth centres and find out if they are looking for help. Most of them will be happy to accept volunteers and this will give you a chance to work directly with young folks.

Additionally, schools will sometimes hire people to tutor children, especially if they are in areas where school staffing is short. The best way to find out about these particular youth work opportunities is to call the local centres where you live.

Working as a Coach

Some of the best youth work volunteer opportunities are in coaching. For those people who have a knack for sports and the desire to teach life lessons, this is a good place to start. Local recreation centres are always looking for people to direct teams in all different sports. If you have the time to commit to a venture like this, the rewards can be pronounced. Youth work as a coach will enable you to work on a day to day basis with young people, watching them grow in their various sports. Additionally, you will get the chance to instil ideas of hard work and team play into kids of all ages.

Even for those people who cannot dedicate the amount of time that it takes to be a head coach, there are youth work opportunities as an assistant coach. Just getting out there and helping kids learn the games can make you feel better and it will certainly benefit those kids a great deal. Helping out in any way that you can is a big step and it’s something that is highly appreciated.

Getting Involved in Mentoring

Whether with a centre for orphans or a place where kids go for various programs, you might be able to find opportunities in mentoring. This will allow you to have a relationship with a child that is very personal. For those people who have a strong desire to just help and pas along some of their wisdom, this can be a very rewarding process. Many kids need mentors now more than ever, and they will appreciate your efforts immensely.

Steve Volman: writer, thinker, general muser and avid community volunteer. Interests include youth work, volunteer work, football and the odd spot of golf. Any feedback on my articles in more than welcome.

For more information on volunteering click here http://www.vinspired.com

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