TAMPA - Dogs and cats that do temporary stints at the Hillsborough County Animal Services shelter don't always get little extras like a scratch behind the ear or walk outside. There's only so many staff members to care for the thousands of abused, neglected or abandoned pets that stay at the shelter each year.
Its operators hope caring animal lovers will help. Under a new program, volunteers are being welcomed to the shelter to help care for the animals.
Using a combination of resources from animal support organizations, recruits are trained to walk dogs, socialize with cats, clean animal cages, wash blankets and escort people interested in adopting a pet through the maze of cages.
Volunteer orientation sessions will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 and 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 16 at the Hillsborough County Animal Services Shelter, 440 Falkenburg Road, Tampa.
Volunteers can help in a number of ways, said Marti Ryan, coordinator of community relations for Animal Services. They can photograph new arrivals and post the pets' pictures on the shelter's Web site, bathe and groom them, feed them, match animals at the shelter with descriptions of lost pets, assist with veterinarian services and walk and socialize dogs and cats.
For information, call (813) 744-5660 or visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animal services.
Liz Bleau
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