Letters to the editor

Letter to the Editor: Finding love and joy in volunteering

I was touched by the recent letter to the editor asking our community to submit some "kindness and joy" to the editor. How refreshing in the face of so many political and gloom/doom predictions in your column. Here's my "kindness and joy" reflection!

The Humane Society of Parkersburg and the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley in Marietta (and I'm not forgetting the other area shelters) are continually facing an overflow of dogs (and cats).

The dedicated board, staff, and volunteers are constantly trying to find ways to either get these wonderful pets into great homes through adoption or into foster homes (which gets them out of the shelter and frees up a kennel or cage).

One of the ways is in running adoption fee specials (reduced adoption fee -- which still requires the same careful screening process through the adoption application). Another wonderful way is in the absolutely beautiful pictures taken by the volunteers (which takes so much care and creativity) as well as through the heartfelt pet descriptions.

You can almost "feel" just how much the volunteers and staff want the very best for the precious animals in their care. If you have ever been at any of our area shelters when a potential adopter has made the decision to adopt a pet with whom they have spent time and seen them day after day just waiting ... The joy on their faces is something to see! It's the most beautiful experience.

While the root cause of so many animals in our shelters today can be (but not always) a lack of lifelong commitment and neglecting to spay/neuter (puppies and kittens are cute but there are not enough homes for the dogs already here!), it's truly heartwarming to realize that there are staff and volunteers at our wonderful area shelters who give their ALL to make a difference in lives.

Have you joined or liked the Facebook pages of these shelters? Humane Society of Parkersburg's page is: "HSOP Community Page;" and the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley's pages are: "Humane Society of the Ohio Valley aka Marietta Humane Society" and "Humane Society of the Ohio Valley -- HSOV." Also, please be sure to do the same for: "Ritchie County Humane Society," "Humane Society of Pleasants County," "Pleasants County Cat Shelter," "Roane County Humane Society," "Nelson Animal Retreat," "Morgan County, Ohio Dog Warden and Dog Pound," "The Athens County Dog Shelter," "Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association," "Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Shelter," "Ohio All-County Dog Pounds," and more!

All of these shelters' staff, boards, and volunteers are the true meaning of love and joy.

Linda Perry

Washington, W.Va.