terriko

For a while now, I've been wondering about volunteering as a dog walker for the humane society.

Some thoughts:

- It's a non-trivial time commitment.
+ It can replace my fitness class, and I manage that time commitment fine.
- I don't think I can skip out as easily (not worried about weather, but deadlines and exhaustion).

- I haven't had formal obedience training, which they imply they'd want.
+ I did grow up with a dog, and have walked dogs with varying levels of training.
- I haven't got a lot of experience with larger dogs.
+ But I have managed medium-sized ones fine.

+ I've had two people offer to come with me
+ So it'd be a fun, active activity with friends where we're doing good for the community.
+ And unlike my fitness classes, this one's free!

- It may be incredibly hard to avoid falling in love with the dogs.
+ But I can't reasonably own a dog in the near future, so this could be a nice compromise.

So the question in my mind is mostly, "would they accept me as a volunteer?" Their page makes it quite clear that they prefer more experienced walkers, but I figure there's no harm in asking, and I think I'm trainable if they're willing. I'm going to wait 'till mid January when my latest paper has been submitted and I have a better sense of my schedule for this term.

But if anyone has done this or has any advice, or suggestions for other neat things I could do if they don't want me for this... I'd love to hear it.