Best of Akron: Best Place to Volunteer

Animals have certainly won the hearts of our readers, as well as the community as a whole. According to Kristine Shock, director of community relations for the Humane Society of Greater Akron, the organization has 600 volunteers on record. Of those, about 200 volunteer actively, which means giving at least 20 hours of time per year. What’s more impressive are the top volunteers, who donate 600 hours of their time a year. That averages out to almost 20 hours per week!

Volunteer duties run the gamut. They can include everything from hands-on interaction with the animals to less emotionally taxing tasks such as organizing events like the group’s rummage sales or other fundraisers. “I really believe we’ve got something for everyone, as long as you’re an animal lover,” Shock says.

Pictured are volunteer Heather Kinaitis and Dudley, a 4-year-old bulldog, American Staffordshire terrier, boxer mix. Kinaitis, a student at Univeristy of Akron, has volunteered with the Humane Society for a little over a year. Dudley has been at the shelter for two years. If you’re interested in giving this little fella a loving home, call the Humane Society at 330-487-0333 or click the Adoptable Animals link at summithumane.org.  The website also lists volunteer guidelines along with a volunteer application.

* Note: Any time you’re looking for a specific type of pet, Shock recommends using the website petfinder.com. You can search for rescue animals by type, within a set radius from your home.—Kristin Lindsey