MARY GALLAGHER IN HER “HAPPY PLACE”
“Make My Happy Place Yours, Too!”
Gulf Coast Humane Society is dedicated to being a safe haven for pets in need by providing medical care, promoting adoptions, and nurturing the bond between pets and people in SWFL.
Verandah resident, Mary Gallagher, has been volunteering at the Humane Society for eight years. Mary’s last dog had been a rescue from a wonderful New Hampshire rescue organization and she knew when she retired she wanted to be involved with animal rescue.
When asked what the volunteers do on a usual day of volunteering, she said there are so many things that need doing and you have your choice of doing whatever you want. “I spend most of my time walking dogs, training and bathing them, doing laundry, or making adoption follow up phone calls.” For cat lovers, volunteers can do cat socialization in the cat cabanas.
Off campus volunteer activities abound. There are pet food pantries, pack walks where a group of dogs are taken to a park so they can get out of the shelter environment for a little while.
Some dogs are transported to assisted living facilities to interact with residents in assisted living facilities for “Senior to Senior Visits.”
Mary noted that the great thing about volunteering at Gulf Coast Humane Society is there is no “clock in or clock out” schedule. You go when you want, do what you want, and leave when you want.
“The organization is looking for volunteers not afraid to get dirty. There’s a lot of walking involved and physical work, but you do get loads of wet, furry kisses as a thank you,” according to Mary.
Mary added that the staff and volunteers at the shelter are some of the finest people she’s ever met! It’s just a great community of people that are all coming together for the love of animals.
In a personal note to Verandah residents, Mary said, “I’d like everyone to know how grateful I am for the donations they make to the Shelter. I’m so proud to drive up every week with my car filled to the brim with everything that everyone leaves at the Fitness Center or on my front porch. All the volunteers and staff at the Shelter constantly comment to me on what a wonderful community I live in.”
Mary ended by saying, “I’d love my happy place to become other people’s happy place as well!”
Thanks to Mary Gallagher for sharing her story with the Verandah View.
To volunteer, contact the Gulf Coast Humane Society, 2010 Arcadia Street, Fort Myers, FL 33916, call 239-332-0364 or http://www.gulfcoasthumanesociety.org.
