Community Service 2020-2022

 This month I continued my volunteer work at the local animal shelter, where one of our cats, Niñita, had a whole litter of kittens! It was certainly a sight to see.  All of the volunteers came together to ensure Niñita had a safe space all to herself. I made sure the vet was called and that all the other animals were tended to.  The next time I went, I bottle fed some of the kittens that were malnourished and made sure their eyes were free of debris when they opened them for the first time. It was a very nurturing moment, and opened my own eyes to see the beauty in the world around me for seemingly the first time. I looked around and realized how different the place seemed from the first time I had walked in. This entire experience has changed my perception on human behavior and the significance of every interaction. I realized that you don’t have to be loud to be heard; you don’t even have to talk sometimes. Our actions help us communicate with our loved ones just fine, ask Tucker! I

 Tucker and I continued our journey together through the month of October, and we were even blessed with our very first Halloween snow storm! Due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the area, volunteer work was limited and we were assigned to one animal per volunteer. We worked with a nearby hospital to provide emotional support to patients who seek it. Tucker happens to still be a top favorite among GI patients, as he can sense when a person has stomach pain. He curls right up to them and, often, they can’t help but relax. Tucker has made huge changes in just two months. He has gone from being a very anxious and scattered cat, to a confident and witty cat. I was able to show him true kindness to the point where he couldn’t ignore me anymore. I was able to show him that it was, and would be, okay to trust again. Over time, he has grown to trust me. I am able to bring him to others who would really benefit from his now calm nature. Humans and animals really aren’t much different. One of the many