I have been fortunate enough to be a volunteer with Colony Cats for almost two years now. Colony Cats is a volunteer-run organization that provides homeless cats with proper medical care and works around the clock to send them to their forever homes. I spend the majority of my time each week in the intake/sick area, where I clean cages, give the cats food and water, and provide them with some extra love and cuddles to help them feel better and get back to being healthy. It is such a rewarding experience and I love every minute that I am at the shelter (even when cats sneeze directly into my hair). I hope to continue volunteering at Colony Cats for the rest of my time at Ohio State, and even once I graduate if I end up staying in Columbus.

One of the clubs that I am a part of at Ohio State is 4 Paws for Ability. 4 Paws for Ability enriches the lives of children with disabilities by training and placing quality, task-trained service dogs. This provides increased independence for the children, and assistance to their families. 4 Paws also works with veterans from recent conflicts who’ve lost the use of their limbs or their hearing while in active combat. My job as an alternate handler is to take care of the dog that I am responsible for, taking him on playdates, making sure he gets his food and water, and working on commands and socialization. Being a member of 4 Paws at Ohio State is a fun and rewarding experience, and seeing the difference that a service dog can make in a child’s life makes the frustrating days worth it.

During the summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school, I volunteered at the Peoria Zoo as an interpreter. This experience was the first stepping stone toward my goal of working in an animal-related career. It was also my first professional interview and a chance to be independent. Volunteering itself was a lot of fun and I learned a lot during my time at the zoo. One thing that sticks out in my memory was learning that it takes a lot of work and dedication to make a zoo successful and comfortable for the animals. I also realized that promotion to a position such as director or keeper takes a lot of time and hard work. All in all, volunteering at the Peoria Zoo was a great experience, and I would recommend this experience to anyone hoping to grow in knowledge and understanding of animals and their habitats.