The Portage Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) desperately needs volunteers to ensure the continuation of their services in the future.
Claudia Verway, board chair and director of fundraising for the group, says the need for people isn't dire, but it could be at some point.
"PAWS has been important in the community for a long time, and we'd hate to see it not be there for those animals that need us," she says, noting that many vacant positions need to be filled. "We have people that are currently doing two jobs on the board. The more people that we can have committed to being on the board, the lessens the load for everyone. Personally, I have to take my work home with me as a teacher, right? So, my evenings, weekends, and holidays are not just free, and depending on your daytime job, it's hard because you can't be everywhere doing everything."
Verway and PAWS are looking for dog fosters and cat care volunteers. While these positions may seem like all fun and games, the positions involve hard work, such as cleaning up after the animals. Potential volunteers should be prepared for the responsibilities that come with helping out.
"The more people we have, the more that load on the rest of us will be lightened. I know it is a volunteer position. It's a volunteer board, and we're completely volunteer-based. So, the big thing with that is that compassion fatigue and burnout are real things. So, the more people we have on board to lighten that for everyone is very appreciated."
She says you can support PAWS by heading down to Pet Value on October 20 from 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. for an animal photo shoot, where you pay $10 to have your animal's picture taken, with all proceeds going to the shelter.
"If you want to throw your animal in a costume and make them suffer for a bit so that you can have a cute picture, come on down," she jokes.