For everyone in this community who is an animal lover, who has complained about the Anderson Animal Shelter, now Animal Care and Control, and who has time to volunteer, the animals need you. Desperately. I don’t know how else to put it. Actually, they’ve always needed us. The difference is that now there is actually an opportunity to help and for change. I think we need to act on it.

Last weekend was the first weekend that volunteers I organized since taking the position of program director came into Animal Care and Control. Eleven came on Saturday and nine on Sunday. To be blunt, we worked our rear-ends off. It made such a huge difference for the animals and the morale of Dr. Claudia, Kathy and myself. Thank you, and I can only pray you will continue to volunteer even though it is emotionally difficult.

The good news is that on Saturday we moved out five dogs, three to foster homes, two to permanent homes, two ferrets to a foster home, six cats to permanent homes plus two nursing feline moms and their litters to permanent homes. These animals went to the volunteers and their friends who came to help. And no, don’t worry, it’s not required to take an animal if you volunteer — only if you’re willing and able.

For years I’ve stood on my lofty soapbox preaching change for the shelter to anyone who would listen. I’ve used this column for that very purpose. My 501 c organization, the Animal Protection League, has rescued and fostered a countless number of animals from the shelter over the years. I always felt like I was doing my part even though I wasn’t actually going INTO the shelter to help with the animals. I’d drop in periodically to pick up animals, but I didn’t spend any more time actually back in the kennels than was required. The first time I spent any “quality” time was when we did vaccinations back in January and that about did me in — and look what happened as a result. M’s Cat Room was created. It was created because I could and because those cats’ eyes haunted me. If I’d had the capability I’d done the same thing for some of the dogs.

I’m sorry to admit that I didn’t volunteer in the shelter because I couldn’t deal with it emotionally. It was too hard and I told myself I helped in other ways and that was enough. That there were other people who were volunteering inside the shelter; they were doing what they were good at and I was doing my part — we were working as a team. People like Dr. Claudia, Terri Kelley and Michele McKinley to name a few. I somehow thought it was easier for them. That was a copout on my part; it’s not easier for them — they just went in there because there was no one else and they did and do what needs to be done. I have to say I’m ashamed of myself. While trying to drum up volunteers in the last few weeks I’ve heard, “Oh, I’ll do whatever I can to help but I can’t come into the shelter it’s too hard for me.” One of the volunteers who is coming to help said she’d tried to get friends to volunteer and they had the same response. And she said, “I understand it’s hard, but that’s what’s needed and that’s what we’re doing.”

All I know for sure is that because of inadequate staffing and the budget cut at Animal Care and Control volunteers are needed more than ever. It’s going to take the passionate, dedicated animal lovers in this community to turn this shelter around and make it something compassionate and humane. There are many volunteer opportunities available to make a difference even if you believe you can’t volunteer inside the facility. So please, help us make a difference for these animals. They need you so very much.

I’m sure many of you have heard this rescue story. A little boy is on the beach. The tide is washing up jellyfish where if left in the sun they will die a horrible death. The little boy is running from creature to creature and pitching them back into the ocean as quickly as he can. It is an endless job because the tide never stops. An adult who is watching the boy shakes his head. He asks the boy why he bothers since he can’t save them all. As the young boy throws one more jellyfish back into life he says “Yeah, but I saved this one.” Think of all the suffering in the world that would continue if we all believed as the adult. Be a child — help us save one at a time.

Call (765) 278-9435 or e-mail maleahstringer@aol.com to find out how to be part of the solution.

Maleah Stringer, president of the Animal Protection League, is an animal massage therapist specializing in esoteric healing. She can be reached at maleahstringer@aol.com.