Taco, a 5-year-old chihuahua, was found outside of the Firehouse Pet Store in Wenatchee tied to a backpack with a note. The note read “Please help Taco. He is 5 years old, potty trained, and OK with other animals. I can no longer take care of him. I am homeless and need to go to rehab in Spokane. He has nowhere else to go. I know you will find him a loving home. I left dog food, a leash, and pads. He is used to staying in the backpack. We have lived on the street with it for the past few years. Thank you.” Taco was taken in by the mother of the owner of Firehouse Pet Store before being fostered by Okandogs, a local animal shelter. Taco is currently still up for adoption, living with his foster family in Wenatchee.
Okandogs was founded in October 2014 by Jan and Tom Short when they realized the problems facing lost or abandoned dogs in Okanogan County. The couple originally worked with the humane society, however after beginning to disagree with some of the humane society’s policies around spaying and neutering at two months. Okandogs spay at six months which they say leads to healthier dogs.
Jan and Tom seek to not only protect and care for dogs in the local counties but also educate the public on some of the wrongs committed against dogs, mainly around dog breeding and abuse. “Our goal is to establish enough structure and caring that when we stop, the dogs will continue to be cared for,” explained Tom Short. Jan added to this by saying that they wanted to establish a positive legacy by continuing to assist dogs in need. Okandogs cares for roughly sixty-five dogs currently, mostly puppies, directly at any given time and uses foster families to care for many others.
Okandogs is in desperate need of volunteers to help in a variety of ways. On any given day they need aid to walk and play with many of the dogs, while on others they may be working on events to showcase, and hopefully find an adoptive family for, available dogs. If direct contact with animals is not appealing, they also require aid in administrative roles like website management, donation monitoring, or marketing roles like videographers or photographers. Volunteers are incredibly important to Okandogs business, and they appreciate any volunteers they can get.
If you are interested in helping this organization out, the easiest way to volunteer is to fill out your volunteer information on their website at https://okandogs.com/volunteer/.
Another business in need of volunteers in the local area is the Young Men's Christian Academy (YMCA). The YMCA provides many services to youth in the Wenatchee valley. They are currently looking for volunteers for many programs, including their fitness center, aquatics programs, their Ment2b program, child watch, and their tutoring programs. Their tutoring programs run at most elementary schools in the district including Alpine Lakes Elementary, Grant Elementary, and Lee Elementary. Calling the YMCA at 509-662-2109 is an easy way to get in touch with this organization.
However, the most consistent form of volunteer hours will come from a discussion with Mrs. Rieke. Mrs. Rieke receives many requests and opportunities from local events and businesses and will often have several opportunities for any student who wants to volunteer. Currently, many places in town such as the senior center are looking for volunteers.
As time passes, more opportunities will present themselves, and volunteering can reveal passions of which you were not aware. Mrs. Rieke recommends to all that people should volunteer whenever possible. “Colleges and businesses are looking for the ways you impact the community. No matter what path you take, volunteering for local programs will assist in every path,” said Reike. The community always is looking for help, so if you keep your ears open opportunities to assist people, businesses, events, or even animals are all over the local area.
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