Final Service Project Reflection

As I have always said, I have thoroughly enjoyed my volunteering experience with Dubuque Regional Humane Society. What has been surprising about my experience is probably this; just how much I have enjoyed my volunteering experience. I won't lie, when I first heard about how much service we had to do this semester I was slightly horrified and not looking forward to it at all. However, now that I am nearing the end of my service hours, I continue to realize just how great of an experience I have had at DRHS. Side note: I am not meaning to sound over enthusiastic or cheesy, I am being very truthful. That could come off an ingenuine, but I am not trying to have it be.

What has been rewarding about my service has been the knowledge that I am giving the animals at the shelter a better life, just by giving them the love and attention each and every one of them deserve. One of the high point is when one of the dogs that had been at the shelter for the longest and the workers were afraid would never be adopted WAS adopted. His name was slug, and he was the sweetest dog. The most difficult part of my service was finding the time, as I am quite busy with track, work, homework, etc. I believe this was the case for everyone, but in the end, it is all working out with hours, etc. 

Although I have volunteered before, the longevity and consistency of this individual service project has shown me that volunteering long-term and at the same place is a lot more rewarding than volunteering every so often. You get to meet new people and become friends as you see them a lot more often, and you notice more just how much your help is appreciated and needed. I plan on continuing my volunteering at the Humane Society next semester as well.