Pasco Animal Services Needs Volunteers, Competes for $100K

Pasco County Animal Services wants to save more animals, and it is reaching out to county residents to help them do it.

The organization needs volunteers ages 15 and older to assist with socializing animals, walking dogs, cleaning, photographing, grant writing, administrative assistance and other duties,  Education and Volunteer Coordinator Judy Tate Gregory said.

To save the lives of more animals and move toward animal services' "Save 90 Percent" goal, more community involvement is needed, Tate said in a media release. 

"Our volunteers are the best," Gregory said. "They take pictures of our animals, help us at adoption events, clean, play with cats, walk dogs, whatever you ask.  If it means helping the animals, they will assist."

Volunteers set their own schedules and hours at the shelter.   

In addition, Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri recently established Lucy’s Bucket Brigade in memory of Lucy, beloved therapy dog of Dobies Funeral Home and Crematory owner Tom Dobies, Tate said.

The Bucket Brigade volunteers at the shelter from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of each month.

"Please feel free to join us," Tate said.

The support of additional volunteers also will help the agency with another goal: $100,000 in grant money from the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge.

Beginning in June, Animal Services will be a contestant in the nationwide competition for animal shelters and their communities that aim to get more animals adopted or returned to their owners than ever before, according to a media release.

"The ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge is a great motivator for our team and for the residents and businesses of Pasco County. This challenge can help connect hundreds of beautiful dogs and cats in our shelter with just the right families," Pasco County Animal Services manager John Malley said in a press release.

"This is a great opportunity for us. We are excited about competing in the challenge as it will help to engage our community as we strive toward our new ‘Save 90 Percent’ goal," Malley said.

As a contestant, Animal Services is competing for more than $600,000 in grant funding, including a grand prize of $100,000, according to the release. Grant monies would benefit the nonprofit Friends of Animal Services.

Volunteers are required to  fill out an application online at www.pascocountyfl.net.  For more information, email call 813-929-1212 or email educationoffice@pascocountyfl.net.

The Pasco County Animal Shelter is located at 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O' Lakes.