World Kindness Day

Today, World Kindness Day, we want to give a special shout out to our amazing volunteers and foster families. The kindness and love you show our animals each and every day means the world to them – and to us!

How Kindness Matters Here at AWS

Our volunteers and foster families are an essential part of what we do here at AWS. From volunteering in the adoption center and the clinic, helping our canine training classes, as well as fostering animals from our various programs, we wouldn’t be able to do our important work without their dedication and kindness.

Some of the many ways our adoption center volunteers support us is cleaning kennels and animal spaces, providing animal enrichment, walking dogs, doing laundry, sort through donations and so much more!

Clinic volunteers play a vital role in AWS’ onsite, full-service Community Veterinary Clinic. Regular tasks include cleaning, doing laundry, sterilizing surgical equipment and comforting animals through recovery. Their work is essential in getting animals the best care!

AWS’ Canine Training program offers a variety of exciting and progressive group classes, individualized consultations, programs and social hours. Our volunteers help students directly during class, move equipment around and are a second pair of hands for our trainers.

An AWS volunteer poses with a cat in it's open kennel.

No matter the task or where they work, our volunteers show kindness to the animals in our care and are essential to our operation and mission.

How Kindness Matters to Pets at Home

AWS’ foster volunteers play an important role in the lives of the pets in our community. Whether it’s taking a pet for a dog date, keeping a pet overnight or having a pet stay with them during recovery, the kindness our foster families show makes a huge difference in the lives of dogs, cats and small animals, when they need help the most!

Every pet’s needs are unique, and our foster volunteers help those pets get the care they need through our various programs. Our five reasons to foster: adoptable animals, temporary boarding, maternity, medical and transport arrival are valuable ways AWS’ foster volunteers support us. No matter why you foster, or what kind of animal you foster, your kindness shines through. The pets appreciate your loving presence, your warm home and your kind, generous heart.

An AWS foster volunteer looks at the camera while holding a brown puppy.

How Kindness Matters in Our Community

Furthermore, foster volunteers take dogs on dates, showing them kindness and adventure at the same time. Whether a trip through the drive through for a pup-cup or a hike up a local mountain, dog dates are an incredible way to make a difference in the short-term. And sometimes, just sometimes, fall in love with your new best friend!

And then there are our Visiting Pets Teams. Their kindness shows no bounds as they bring light and love into residence halls, nursing homes, and other local facilities. Teams of volunteers and their dogs (all CGC certified or therapy dog certified) bring joy and comfort through pets to our community. Who wouldn’t love getting a visit from an adorable dog and our wonderful volunteers!

An AWS volunteer kneels on the ground to pet a dog that has its tongue out.

Do You Have Kindness To Give?

Would you like the show kindness to animals? If you’ve been thinking of getting involved at AWS for a while now, what are you waiting for? There are so many ways to help! Be a part of our kind, dedicated, incredible group of volunteers and foster. Read about how to get involved. We hope to see you soon!