A Helping Hand Keeps Us Open

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Created on Monday, 14 October 2013 19:53
Written by Diana Cogger

catST.JOHNSBURY- Helen Morrison gave an inside look to the Kingdom Animal Shelter in St. Johnsbury. KAS is a no-kill shleter that is entirely volunteer run. As a member of the Board of Directors for the shelter, as well as a volunteer, Morrison shared her unique view on lending a helping hand.

Morrison got involved in the shelter a little over a year ago. “I was looking for something to keep me busy after I retired from Cabot High school, and I love cats, a Danville friend told me about the shelter and I fell in love immediately.”

Morrison loves her time at the shelter; she highlighted how unpredictable it can be with a laugh. “You just never know when the right person will walk through the door and find the cat that fits them perfectly- some cats you can look at and think ‘ that one will never get adopted’ and then someone walks right through the door and is a great fit for that cat.”

Until the cats find more permanent placements, KAS is their home. All of the cats have needs that have to be met like clean kennels, food, grooming and socializing with other cats and humans. Volunteers do it all. “It’s what make the place work, for us, our shelter its 100% volunteer without them, we wouldn’t be able to take care of all of the animals that need us. We are all very dedicated; it’s a part of our life.”

Volunteering is the act of donating ones time, energy, and resources for the betterment of others.  Those ‘others’ don’t always have to be human. Donating your time to a local animal shelter is a fulfilling experience with long lasting effects. Morrison sums up that sentiment best:

“We always need people to help out- from socializing the animals to cleaning and feeding them. You feel so good because you are doing something that really matters- this is one way to feel like you are really making a difference.”

Morrison thoroughly enjoys her time at the shelter, and sees herself doing it for years to come. “I just am so perked about it all the time, I’m never bored, I’m passionate about it, it lets me meet a lot of people that love animals like I do, and it gives me a chance to problem solve. I hope to do this for a long time”