By Marissa Villegas
Roadblocks often breed the most creative ideas, and that was definitely true when the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) found itself in a tricky place this fall. With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Western Washington, the decision was made to forgo the annual Furevermore auction in 2021 to help protect the safety and health of the community. However, that didn’t mean that SASF board members and donors couldn’t help the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS)!
On October 16, 2021, a group of about 25 donors, SASF board members, and other SASF volunteers came together to get their hands dirty and provide support for the shelter itself through a program called Pawsitive Projects. Not only did this provide an opportunity to accomplish much needed tasks — the dog corral was weeded, the “critter closet” cleaned out and organized, the laundry room scrubbed, toys assembled, and much more — they also were able to see for themselves the critical work they support.
“The Seattle Animal Shelter has been facing a volunteer shortage over the past few months. Events like Pawsitive Projects give the shelter some much-needed help when it comes to tackling hard-to-do, time-intensive tasks their regular volunteers don’t have the chance to focus on,” says SASF Marketing Chair Katy Thweatt, who is also an avid cat foster parent for the shelter.
Many SASF volunteers and board members joined the organization in the last two years, which created an interesting situation — there were board members who had never stepped foot within the shelter’s walls due to shelter COVID protocols. Fortunately, this day of volunteer help allowed all who joined to get an inside look into how the shelter operates and where their work and funding goes.
Throughout the day, there were also plenty of fun surprises alongside the hard work. After a few hours of organization and cleaning, volunteers helped stuff Kong toys with treats for the dogs being cared for in the shelter. This was followed by the joy of giving each pet their own yummy, treat-filled toys, which was a win/win for all. Outside in the corral, some volunteers made time to play with pets and get some cuddles in.
So, what’s next for Pawsitive Projects? The success of October’s event opens the door for similar opportunities in the future. Katy, for her part, is looking forward to “seeing another group of pets we’re helping and catching up with all of the great people who also care about these animals.”
One other benefit of the event? Volunteers, donors and board members were able to meet each other in person, talk to the staff at SAS, and see for themselves what donations mean to the shelter. Donations are hugely important to keep programs running and to help bring technology and resources to areas that need it most— to learn more, take a look at these donation options.