Volunteer Michelle (right) has been helping out at the Humane Society of Ventura County for about one year. Her primary love is with the big dogs. She can often be found playing with them in the HSVC Dog Agility Yard on the Shelter property in Ojai.

In addition to helping socialize and play with the animals, Michelle also has recruited two new volunteers, her daughter Laura (center), and granddaughter Delaney (left). Laura and Delaney recently went through the HSVC Volunteer Orientation training and Dog Class.

“My mom is selfless. Since I was a child, she was known as the woman you called if you found a stray dog. She has always been an animal lover. The older, the more neglected, the greater her compassion,” said Laura about her mother. “She always instilled upon us having compassion for our four-legged friends.” Laura continued, “My daughter Delaney is picking up those values. She started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for an injury on a horse at the stable where she rides.”

Volunteering at the HSVC is something Michelle has been suggesting to her daughter and granddaughter since she began. Laura and Delaney waited until the first HSVC Volunteer Orientation class after Delaney’s 10^th birthday and took the Dog Class immediately after that.

Delaney’s favorite animal was Lisa, the first dog she got to socialize with during her first visit. Lisa was adopted but that interaction made an impression. “I want to be a veterinarian and volunteering at the HSVC means you get to learn a lot about the animals,” said Delaney.

“Volunteering with my family is the most rewarding,” said Laura. “I love to have that connection with the two of them, but I also love the feeling that you are brightening the life of the animal even if it’s just for 15 minutes working with them in the dog agility yard,” she continued.

Delaney’s advice for others considering volunteering is to just go for it, “you get to play with a lot of dogs and sometimes you get to see puppies.” Anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to contact our Volunteer Coordinator Amanda Volden to learn more about the process and training dates. She can be reached by phone at (805)646-6505 x110 or by email at [email protected].