First Visit to Wake County Animal Center

     Today, Wednesday, May 9th was my first visit to the Wake County Animal Center.  I thought I would begin today's post by stating a few words that came to mind during my first visit.

Words:                          Words:                                Words:

What I heard:         What I saw:                 What I smelled:

-Loud                              -Kittens                            -Food

-Barking                         -Cats                                 -Cleaning supplies
-Howling                        -Puppies                         -Freshly bathed animals

-Talking                          -Dogs

                                          -Rabbit

                                          -Hamsters

                                          -Cages
                                          -Food
                                          -Water

                                          -Staff

                                          -Public

     Based upon these words, I can only try to imagine what the animals feel like.  I heard barking and howling and the sounds could be loud.  For example, when our professor was talking to us, I had to lean in to hear her.  I can imagine the loud barking and howling from some animals can make other animals feel nervous, scared, and anxious.  I saw food and water and observed many animals eating.  I can imagine that the animals are thinking, "They feed me here."  I saw the staff interacting with the animals and holding some of them.  I can imagine that the animals are thinking, "These people are nice to me.  They are holding me and giving me attention."  I saw several members of the public walking past the cages and often the dogs would wag their tails and bark.  The cats and kittens would roll over or stretch their paws out as if they were saying, "Look at me.  Give me your attention, please!"  I smelled the animals food and this may make the animals think, "These people are going to feed me yummy food."  I also could smell that some of the animals had just been bathed and perhaps the animals would say, "Baths can make me nervous but they make me feel very good after!"

     I was quite nervous about my first visit to the Wake County Animal Center because I am quite an animal lover and would take every animal home with me if that was humanly possible.  Amanda began our orientation to the center by explaining more about the center and the volunteer expectations and guidelines.  When it was time for the tour, I was feeling much more confident about seeing the animals.  I now know more about what I will be doing and have one more training session to complete with the center.  I was surprised at how seeing the animals and talking to them made my heart smile.  It also made my heart happy to see the many signs that read, "I'm being adopted" or "Deposit made."  I am looking forward to visiting the center many more times and hope to continue my volunteer work with the shelter beyond my summer class!  I was not able to take a picture today as we had our orientation and then took a tour of the center.  Our group left the cameras in the conference room during our tour.  I hope to snap my first photograph during my next visit to the center!  My professor took photographs as my classmates and I toured the center.  I wanted to share a few:

Photo Courtesy of Mary Shannon Johnstone ©2012
Photo Taken: May 9th, 2012
Photo Accessed: May 11th, 2012

This is Amanda from the Wake County Animal Center explaining the volunteer expectations and guidelines.  She gave us a great deal of information and answered our questions.  Amanda will continue working with our class as we visit the center!

Photo Courtesy of Mary Shannon Johnstone
Photo Taken: May 9th, 2012
Photo Accessed: May 11th, 2012

Our professor asked us to get inside of one of the animal cages.  This experience showed us what life was like for the animals.  It was an experience I will never forget.  Our professor was taking photographs of us and talking to us and I could imagine how the animals felt daily.  

Photo Courtesy of Mary Shannon Johnstone ©2012
Photo Taken: May 9th, 2012
Photo Accessed: May 11th, 2012

This is a photo of my classmates and myself looking at cats.  As you can see, I have a smile on my face as I was getting acquainted with the cats at the center.  I was very excited to meet the animals!

Photo Courtesy of Mary Shannon Johnstone ©2012
Photo Taken: May 9th, 2012
Photo Accessed: May 11th, 2012

My excitement continued as I looked at the cats.  I was smiling as I walked through the tour and met the animals.  I am looking forward to begin taking pictures of the animals and getting to interact with them!  

Photo Courtesy of Mary Shannon Johnstone ©2012
Photo Taken: May 9th, 2012
Photo Accessed: May 11th, 2012

This is a photograph of my classmates and I meeting some of the dogs!  I wanted to stop at each cage and speak to every animal.  I can remember walking past the cages and seeing the dogs wag their tails as we passed by!  

     I hope from the pictures you can see the genuine smiles on our faces.  Visiting the center was a great experience for me and I strongly urge anyone who wants to volunteer to contact the Wake County Animal Center or your local animal center.  Volunteering your time means a great deal to the staff and to the animals as well.  I learned that our time that we spend with the animals has a huge impact on their lives and that makes me feel good to know that a photograph and attention from me can change the life of these animals.  When I left, my heart was smiling.  I cannot wait to return to the center on Monday!

Photo Courtesy of Brittany Murray
Photo Taken: May 14th, 2012

   

















This is the first photograph I attempted to correct myself!  This photo took me about an hour and I struggled during this process.  I watched our class videos many times and was not confident.  I hope my confidence grows as I continue using this program.