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12:06am

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR MAX FUND TO WIN THE MILLION DOLLAR MAKEOVER

I am a relatively new volunteer to Max Fund, a non profit no-kill animal shelter. I had some hard events in my life in the past couple of years and I decided to put my life on hold work wise and deal with some family issues and volunteer. I had always grown up with dogs and absolutely love animals. I thought with the way I was feeling being around animals would help since I cannot have animals where I live now. I thought I would check out the animal shelters in the area. I looked at several shelters including Max Fund and kept coming back to Max Fund. The one thing that really made me feel that I wanted to volunteer at Max Fund was that each time I went in to the building the people at the staff were very friendly and there was always a volunteer around to help. But most of all I thought of all of the shelter I checked, I thought that Max Fund had a good feeling about it. I also was looking for a true no-kill shelter which Max Fund is.

I started volunteering after a day long orientation which was very well done. I learned that Max Fund spends money for its animals before spending money on the shelter itself. And since the animals always need something that is always where the money goes along with the love and caring of the volunteers and staff. It was very helpful to have an orientation before starting so that potential volunteers learn about the shelter and also how to handle the dogs and cats. The shelter thinks of ways to get donations from recycling cans to a coin jar in the lobby to blankets from ARC so that every cat and dogs has a soft spot to lie to different events, among other things. We also have nice people from the community that donates pet food, blankets, TP, sanitizers, paper towels, pet toys, pet beds, etc. Since I have volunteered there I have been very humbled by the generousity of the community towards Max Fund.

The Max Fund takes many types of dogs and cats whether it be a stray or an animal that got on the wrong end of a divorce. We have a feral cat room where volunteers go in to read to them or turn on the TV so that the ferals will socialize to human voices. This has been very successful in helping the ferals to be adoptable. It has a separate room for cats with FIV who are some of the most loving cats I have ever known. Max Fund also takes in handicapped animals, some have been blind, deaf or both. These animals have had no trouble being adopted. We have a dog with a broken pelvis that we have had checked out by vets and are helping her by strengthening her back end. I don't think she even realizes that she is handicapped because she has such a good spirit and looks like she is always smiling. We also socialize alot of animals that have been abused that in another situation and place they may not have been given the attention they need. I have been dealing with some dogs that need more socializing to be adopted...they have helped me through this difficult period of my life as I am helping them.

Max Fund also has a wellness center in the next building which helps animals from outside the shelter as well as within. The wellness center makes sure that evey animal that is brought into the shelter is spayed or neutered, get necessary shots and microchipped. We have a very knowlegeable vetinarian team that helps Max Fund.

The Max Fund certainly deserves to win, but I know there are also alot of other shelters out there that also deserve to win. I know zootoo will pick a good shelter and I will respect their decision because it is all about the animals.

I certainly hope Max Fund wins something because it would be nice for the animals. The building is getting old and it would be nice to have things updated. It would also be nice to have more room. I look forward to going to Max Fund and my time there has increased quite abit. Max Fund has the greatest spirit because of their many volunteers and staff who are there for the animals.

One thing I will never forget is that during the orientation, the volunteer coordinator said that sometimes we as volunteers may not get the thank yous from people but the animals do. And the animals do thank me just by their eyes and their smiles. But I also get many thank yous from the staff! And if Max Fund doesn't win, which I hope won't be the case, the animals will still be given the love and caring that they have always had by the staff and volunteers in a little place called the Max Fund. And if it takes a while for any of the animals to be adopted they will always have a home at the Max Fund.

We have all worked hard in this contest and I thank you, directors of Zootoo, for your consideration of the Max Fund animal shelter. We all look forward to seeing you. Thank you for caring about the animals!