Between academics and dorm life, Hillsdale students have little opportunity to interact with animals regularly. The humane societies in Hillsdale and Quincy that have teamed up with Hillsdale College’s GOAL volunteer program, however, provide more than enough time.
The GOAL program works with local humane societies to set up a volunteer system to make it as easy as possible for students to walk dogs or cuddle with cats.
At both humane societies students sign in at the front desk, grab a leash, and pick a dog to walk or play with in the fenced in area, or interact with the cats in the cat room.
“I’ve had a really stressful week, and it’s nice to get out and play with animals especially since I’m not at home and can’t play with my own pets,” sophomore Mikaela Overton said.
The Lighthouse, campus’ mental health awareness club, has brought animals onto campus during finals week in order to relieve some of the stress that culminates throughout the week.
Senior and President of Lighthouse Jillien Baldwin explained why playing with animals provides stress relief.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done, the dogs are still going to love you,” she said.
Not only is it a healthy outlet for humans, but playing with dogs and cats increases their adoptability. When a dog is completely abandoned, it makes sense that the animal would become aggressive and desperate for attention and affection. Unsocialized dogs have less of a chance of being adopted.
Jan Negaldinger, the manager of the Branch County Humane Society, said that the students’ volunteer work is invaluable.
“People coming and spending time with the animals is absolutely huge,” she said. “When people come to adopt, the animals just look different.”
When Negaldinger first started working at the human society 4 years ago, she was the only volunteer, and there were only 70 adoptions. Now that more volunteers are involved, there were 400 adoptions last year and she predicts even more this year.
Junior Cecily Parell, leader of the Humane Society GOAL program, said the volunteer hours this year quadrupled from last year. She has been working closely with the Greater Hillsdale Humane Society on improvements to help encourage the student body to spend time there with the animals that need the attention.
The Branch County Humane Society raises money through community fundraising events and donations. They also have an Facebook page that features events as well as adoptable and adopted dogs and cats.
Because of a few hours of human interaction a week, the animals are finding homes.
Some people are afraid to go there because they fear it will be too emotional of an experience Negaldinger explained.
“It’s not a sad place,” she said.
