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Helping furry family members

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica McConnell
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Anyone who owns a pet usually feels and treats their furry one like a family member. Just as a family wouldn't leave their child behind, a family with a pet normally feels the exact same way.

So when record flooding forced families from their homes in June, many didn't know what to do with their animals. Fortunately, the Souris Valley Animal Shelter opened another facility at the North Dakota State University extension center, specifically for evacuees needing a place for their furry family members.

"We opened the extension center June 1 when we first received word that severe flooding was possible," said Susan Wagers, Souris Valley Animal Shelter director. "We didn't get very many pets until June 21 when the actual flooding started."

She said the shelter housed more than 500 pets during the peak of the flood. The pets range from dogs, cats, birds and even a rabbit. Currently, their capacity is at an average of 300. With this many animals to take care of, the shelter is in desperate need of volunteers.

"We need people to help with everything," said Wagers. "We need people to help with cleaning kennels and walking dogs. It really doesn't take very long. We need people everyday at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m."

She said they get a lot of volunteers, but most are senior citizens and retirees who are often incapable of handling some of the stronger dogs.

"I am very grateful for their help, but some of these bigger dogs are just too much to handle for our retirees," she continued. "If I could just get a group of younger Airmen, it would help so much, just because I know they have to be physically fit."

"We also have a very small staff, which makes it a lot more difficult to keep up with everything," she continued. "This makes the volunteer process even more important."

Volunteering is part of the Air Force culture. Airmen volunteer for many reasons. But essentially, it allows them to give back to the community, feel more part of the community, and to be a better-rounded individual.

"I volunteer because it feels good knowing my actions are helping someone out," said Senior Airmen Jesse Lopez, 5th Bomb Wing public affairs photographer. "Knowing how many people have been affected by the flood, myself included, volunteering my time is the least I can do."

"Volunteering here [animal shelter] is great, not just for the animals, but for the person as well," said Wagers. "Getting outside and getting exercise is always beneficial - but the animals get love and attention too, so everyone involved is benefited."

Wagers said all a volunteer needs to do is simply show up at the NDSU extension center and be ready to walk the animals and clean if possible. Due to liability concerns, Wagers said all volunteers handling dogs must be at least 18 years of age. Strollers should not be taken out to the shelter. Younger children may help if an adult is present, but cannot volunteer on their own.

If interested in donating funds to the animal shelter, checks or money orders can be sent to SVAS Flood Relief, First Western Bank, P.O. Box 1090, Minot, N.D., 58702.

If interested in donating funds to overall Minot relief efforts, send your check or money order to Operation Warm Heart - Minot Flood Fight, 22 Peacekeeper Place, Minot AFB, N.D., 58705.