The Next Steps

So, on Tuesday I went to the orientation for the Humane Society volunteers. It was fun, interesting, and sad. The fun came from meeting these people who live for animals and those who were volunteering. The interesting parts came from learning just how much the Humane Society does (who knew?). The sad came from learning just how much the Humane Society has to do. Dear god, they have to rescue animals? And they have how many people dumping how many animals for what stupid reasons?
I'd gotten a hint of this before, since Kathy and I are now semi-addicted to the animal adoption stories on local cable, but it's still…yeah. A beautiful and loving dog, surrendered because…it grew up and isn't a puppy anymore? Are you freakin' kidding me?

No, apparently they aren't.
In any case, there were roughly 20 volunteers there: about 16 women and 4 guys. That ratio is apparently standard; the organizers were overjoyed to see any men, and especially to see those with facial hair. See, some of the dogs have been abused by men, and they need male volunteers to show them that not all guys are abusers. To be nice to them.
Good lord. I suspect I'm going to be crying a lot from my time there.

My next training is on Saturday. They're going to show me how they want the dogs walked. Greg