1. Ashley Schroeder

3. Starting off at the shelter  Before I could began volunteering I had to attend an orientation in which a behavioral specialist and the volunteer supervisor, Stephanie Gordon, explained the shelter, volunteer rules, and gave a tour.  My next step was to shadow one of the present volunteers on two separate occasions, and then I was able to start volunteering on my own!  Since I have been doing well interacting with the animals on Saturday the 6 th Stephanie, the volunteer coordinator, wants someone to shadow me, even though I’m still new to volunteering.

4. Feline Friend  I am currently a Feline Friend at the animal shelter, which means I interact with the cats and play with them and make sure they get some love and human interaction. Next week I am shadowing one of the other volunteers to become a Canine Companion, which interacts with the dogs and soon I’ll be able to volunteer as both!

5. Alex and Elvis Alex getting licks from Elvis Both Alex and Elvis have since been adopted by the same loving family, so they are still together!

6. Alex being silly!

7. Ernest Ernest is a 5 year old male, he is very friendly and affectionate. Since volunteering I have gotten attached to him and hope he finds a good home soon!

8. Beatrix Beatrix is an 8 year old female, who’s shy at first but very sweet and friendly, and likes selfies! She has not yet been adopted.

9. James Video of Jame’s playing James is a nine month old male who loves to play and is very friendly, he has surprisingly not yet been adopted even though he’s young, but I’m sure he’ll find a good home in no time!

10. Maribell Maribell is a Siamese cat who was very shy at first and she wouldn’t come out of her box but then opened up to me and within the next few days was out of her box and loved all the attention. She has been adopted!

11. Kittens!

12. Kittens The kittens are very playful and cute and always get adopted so fast!

13. Oliver, Rusty, and Sophie Sophie, very sweet but not yet adopted! Rusty, very affectionate and has been adopted! Oliver, very sweet but hasn’t been feeling well lately  hasn’t been adopted yet.

14. Nina Very sweet with humans but does not like other cats! She has not been adopted yet.

15. Harriet and Sunbeam Harriet is very sweet and loves to roll around in her bed while you pet and brush her. She has not been yet adopted. Sunbeam is very friendly and small for her age! She has not yet been adopted either.

16. LCAS Staff  When you walk in the volunteer room there is a list of name tags that you wear when volunteering, and pictures of staff members so you know who they are.

17. Log Book  In the book each volunteer writes his or her experience with each cat and the cats characteristics for that day such as friendly, shy, etc.

18. Kennel Card  Each cage has a card on it which states the animals name, age, color, male or female, neutered or spayed and other information.

19. Cages This is what the back of the cage looks like. Each cat has a blanket, litter box, toys, and food and water. This is the front of the cage, the side that the public sees when looking to adopt!

20. Meow Town Meow town is a big room where cats live that get along with each other, and they're not In cages they are out in the open and have freedom to explore!

21. Making Cat and dog Beds

22. Beds and Toys!

23. Conclusion  Overall, I really enjoyed volunteering and I am excited to continue doing so! Soon I will be volunteering as a Feline Friend, and Canine Companion and maybe becoming a photographer to take picture of the animals to put online to help them get adopted. Interacting with the animals and being at the shelter has helped me realize I want to pursue a career involving animals when I'm older. I am very happy to say that I volunteered at the Loudoun County Animal Shelter, and I made a difference.

24. And…  Ernest finally got adopted!!