We continue our Q&A series on the amazing volunteers at Dallas Animal Services (DAS) with Melissa, who also manages the @puppiesofdas account on Instagram.
What initially inspired you to start volunteering/fostering with DAS?
I used to volunteer at animal rescues in college and when I lived in New York. After moving here, I noticed how crowded the shelters were when adopting my second dog. Although it took me a few years to start volunteering again, seeing the online posts about the dog population motivated me to help. Being from Long Island, where there's no dog population issue, this was eye-opening. I began fostering after seeing the number of dogs in need and haven't looked back since.
Can you share a memorable experience or achievement from your time as a volunteer/foster?
Since I started volunteering, I've spent a lot of time on Facebook groups, commenting, sharing, and suggesting dogs to people. I try to learn about as many dogs as possible so I can match them with the right families, and I've been successful so far. One memorable experience was when a family saw a reel I posted of my foster dog, who was already adopted. I suggested another dog, Reese, who turned out to be a perfect match and found an amazing home. This is just one of several successful matches I've made.
What motivates you to continue volunteering/fostering and giving back to the community?
Dogs are my passion. I've loved animals since I was young and will always try to improve their lives. While we can't save or spend time with every dog in the shelter, we do our best.
How has volunteering/fostering impacted your life personally or professionally?
I spend most of my free time at the shelter or helping dogs find homes, and I'm happy with that. I've met amazing people, both volunteers and staff, who share my love for dogs, and I would be friends with them even if we met outside the shelter.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering volunteering/fostering but hasn’t taken the leap yet?
As an animal lover, volunteering at DAS can be tough because of the many dogs, some in poor condition, and the need for a new shelter. However, seeing the joy on the dogs' faces when you greet them makes it worthwhile. The time you spend with them is the highlight of their week. Because there are so many dogs, they need help—sometimes a new picture or some notes can help a dog get adopted. For first-time fosters, I recommend choosing a dog that fits your home. I made the mistake of taking home a dog I loved at the shelter but didn't match my home's energy level. It's important to go slow and understand that these dogs need time and might face challenges, but you'll see amazing transformations in a few days.
Can you tell us about a project or initiative you’re currently working on as a volunteer?
One of my goals is to get more volunteers and understand why many don’t return. We see new volunteers listed each month, but some never come back. I want to know why, what we can do to help, and what can be improved. Another initiative of mine is to ensure every dog at the shelter for over a week gets new photos and notes, as many currently don’t have any. I submit a lot of these myself, but I’m not sure if new volunteers know about submitting pictures and notes or the rescue report, which is very important. Finally, I want to feature more puppies and get them out of the shelter. Puppies over five months old tend to stay too long, and I'm trying to showcase them through my Instagram, @puppiesofdas.
What do you enjoy most about being a part of DAS volunteer/foster community?
DAS volunteers care deeply about the shelter and animals and want to make a difference. It's great to be around people who share the same passion and can relate to the highs of placing a dog and the lows when a dog doesn't find a home.
How do you balance your volunteer/foster commitments with other aspects of your life?
Since this is my passion and feels like my life's mission, most of my free time involves DAS. I still make time for other activities, though! Planning my week helps me be a hands-on volunteer. I work Monday to Friday and have a part-time job, so I fit in visits to the shelter 2-3 times a week around my schedule.
What are your future goals or aspirations related to volunteering/fostering?
Here are some goals, a few I have mentioned before:
- Increase the number of volunteers and the percentage who return.
- Ensure every dog at the shelter for over a week has notes and pictures.
- Find a way to have a whiteboard or something similar on each dog's kennel for notes.
- Create a system to track when dogs go out. We'd like every dog to get out daily, but it's not feasible. If volunteers note the day, time, A#, and kennel # of each dog they take out, we can ensure all dogs get time outside.
- Figure out how volunteers can help monitor inquiries about shelter dogs through the adopt pets site.