Shelby Brock Volunteer Spotlight
I began volunteering with Furry Friends in December 2022. I wanted to do something more with my life, so I posted on the NextDoor app asking about local volunteer opportunities.
Furry Friends was suggested with overwhelmingly positive reviews! Because I hadn’t been able to get a cat of my own since moving out of my parents’ house, I was desperate to get some “cat love,” so I went for it. (I’m a young adult still finding her footing in life after graduating from WSU). I applied online and the rest is history.
I volunteer at the Halfway House for two hours every other week since I also work the weekend shift. We volunteers provide the basics of day-to-day care for dozens of cats. Feeding, litter cleaning, sweeping and LOTS of socialization are the mainstays there.
When I was asked what my biggest challenges were, I myself asked, “Does the frustration of not being able to reasonably adopt more cats count?” In all honesty, seeing some of these awesomely beautiful creatures waiting patiently to get adopted for weeks or months can be really sad. I want everyone to see all of the residents shine the way they shine for us every day. But oh, it is so rewarding to see their names on the “Adopted” white board list!
My proudest moment as a volunteer is watching some of our longer or more complex residents finally find forever homes. I realized there is a fit for everyone — including when I got my lovely blind tuxedo cat, Toph (formerly Daphne) from FF. I didn’t think I’d be able to get a cat with a free-range green cheek conure in my home, but they co-exist perfectly. (I also have a 13-year-old Lhasa-poo).
My absolute favorite part of volunteering is, of course, the cats. Second to that is the wonderful team with whom I volunteer. This is what makes every shift so enjoyable. We have a lot of good laughs and love to bond over the many quirks of our residents.
I don’t currently volunteer anywhere else, but I volunteered for the Boys and Girls Club as a reading buddy before the COVID pandemic. It was a wonderful program. I helped several kids with their reading every week and then spent the rest of the time helping the other kids with arts and crafts until their parents arrived.
I give back because I felt I wasn’t doing anything productive with my life. Every time I come home from a shift, I KNOW I’m making a difference, not just for the kitties, but for the hearts they will eventually touch. I truly wouldn’t be the person I am without animals, so being able to give back to the animals and my community only seems right.
Though animals are the limelight of my life, I strongly support finding and implementing viable solutions for unhoused or otherwise impoverished populations, including but not limited to affordable/free housing, free food, afterschool programs, employment programs and readily available resources for mental health and addiction. Humans deserve just as much compassion as the animals we serve. (If we loved each other as much as we loved our cats, I really think the world would be a better place).
Outside of Furry Friends, I work from home as a medical scribe. I take notes for doctors in primary care and urgent care. I love my job, but I definitely love animals more. I also love “Dungeons and Dragons.” It’s my only other weekend commitment aside from FF.
From her shift lead at Furry Friends
"The individual I would like to spotlight is Shelby Brock. She is no doubt one of the most reliable volunteers that I’ve come across. She is so kind and always willing to lend an extra hand when needed. I never have to worry about her doing her job at the Halfway House, she always does everything correctly and efficiently. She comes to every shift with a positive attitude and big smile. We love her!"
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Furry Friends Volunteer Spotlights are compiled and written by Nomi Berger who is the bestselling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry, and hundreds of articles. She is a volunteer writer for Furry Friends in Vancouver, WA and also volunteers her writing skills to animal rescue groups in Canada and the USA.
