New Mexico's animal organizations offer countless opportunities for those who want to help animals. Volunteering is a win for all involved. The organizations gain countless hours of assistance (1,130 per month at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society, according to volunteer coordinator Tiffany Mercado). The animals benefit from all the extra effort, and many volunteers find the work tremendously satisfying.

"Volunteering is far and away the most concretely fulfilling part of my life," said Leslie Smith, a contributor to dogtime.com cattime.com and an Española Valley Humane Society volunteer. "Nothing compares to the satisfaction of being in the shelter. Whether it's the excitement from the dog who knows he's going out for a walk or a newcomer who is simply comforted by someone sitting in the kennel and alleviating the loneliness, it feels like the most important work that I do."

Smith is not alone. A study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, concluded that there is a strong connection between good health and volunteering. The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research found that volunteers have greater longevity, higher functional ability, lower rates of depression and less incidence of heart disease.

Volunteers can choose from many types of animal organizations and tasks and can give as little or as much time as they have. Volunteering at animal shelters can include socializing puppies, walking dogs, playing with cats and participating in humane-education programs. Rescue organizations are almost exclusively run by volunteers, whose work includes fostering animals, attending adoption events and checking on animals at permanent adoption venues. Advocacy organizations always need people to write letters to elected officials and government agencies.

Often the volunteers are the only ones who make it possible for the organizations to do what they do. Katherine Eagleson, executive director of The Wildlife Center in Española, says that with only seven staff, three of whom work part-time, the organization's
70 volunteers are "indispensable to our work," which includes wildlife rehabilitation (receiving up to 1,000 wild animals per year) and providing education programs to thousands of New Mexico residents. Eagleson said that volunteers at the center do everything from handling and feeding the 37 education animals to presenting programs for cleaning cages.

Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right fit. Organizations have different styles and personalities. Some provide formal orientation or training and others take the informal approach. Most have information available on their websites about volunteering. Asking to speak to current volunteers may be helpful in making a decision about where to volunteer as well as discussing the expectations of the organization with the staff or other person in charge.

Helga C. Schimkat is an activist, writer and lawyer. You can contact Helga at helga4animals@gmail.com.

MORE INFORMATION

• PETroglyps, a publication focused on community education for animal welfare, provides links to many of the state's animal organizations at www.petroglyphsnm.org/links.html.

• Animal Protection of New Mexico publishes a directory of all animal organizations and government agencies that deal with animals. The directory is available for downloading at www.apnm.org/publications/nmarg/index.php.