St. Clair County Animal Control looking for dog walkers, other volunteers

Zeke, a three-year-old German Shepherd mix, trotted through the grass at St. Clair County Animal Control in Port Huron. Certified dog trainer Lisa Rabine held his leash as he sniffed at the ground. 

Time outside his kennel is vital to the shy dog. That's why animal control is looking for people to walk dogs and do other tasks at the shelter as it welcomes back volunteers after the COVID-19 pandemic restricted visitors to the building. 

Rabine said she noticed behavioral issues during the pandemic among the shelter's dogs because they couldn't get out of their kennel as often. She said some dogs exhibited stress, jumping, biting and guarding food and water. With the proper enrichment, these behaviors can improve. 

She said the staff provides as much enrichment as they can, such as walks with other dogs and outdoor playtime, but without volunteers, the dogs only get out about a half-hour a day.

Ideally, the dogs should get out about two to three times a day, she said while watching two shelter dogs, Brimley and Coconut, play in the dirt of an enclosure outside animal control Thursday afternoon.

Going for walks allows dogs to get out of their kennels and experience new scents and textures, said St. Clair County Animal Control Director Melissa Miller. 

"It's really good for their brain, it's really good to keep them active and thinking," Miller said. "As you can imagine, spending about 22 hours a day in the same room would be pretty boring, so this is kind of like going on a field trip for them." 

Miller said the greatest need for volunteers and dog walkers are during the week, but people also can volunteer on weekends.

There are other jobs for volunteers who don't want to walk dogs, Miller said. They can also spend time socializing with cats or doing chores  such as laundry, dishwashing, sorting donations, or grooming and bathing the animals. 

"It is just as good for (volunteers) as it is for the pets," Miller said. "Animals bring so much joy to our lives with their silly antics."

Volunteer Clarice Menner said there are tasks for anyone of any ability level. She has rheumatoid disease and autoimmune disorders, but she said there are always jobs she can do.                       

Volunteers can also foster animals for a short period of time in their own homes. Cats needing time to recuperate from medical conditions and high-energy dogs who would be negatively affected by being kenneled especially thrive in a foster home, Miller said.

Menner said she enjoys working with the cats and kittens. She said she especially enjoys "kitten kindergarten," when her and another staff member play with them to promote healthy brain development. 

"It was a blast," she said. 

To learn how to become a dog walker or to volunteer in other aspects of the shelter, email animalcontrol@stclaircounty.org.

Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com.