April is National Volunteer Month.

As a dog photographer here in Minneapolis St Paul, I often witness the immense power volunteers make in our community, and especially in dog and cat rescues. We Minnesotans are known to love our pets.

And I am so grateful. Because I hear so many heart wrenching, baffling stories of how dogs are treated before they are rescued. I’ll never understand how humans can treat another being in such awful ways.

But. The power of loving fosters and other volunteers who work in the trenches to help these pets is truly inspiring. No rescue could run without volunteers.

A shameless plug here- if you are looking for volunteer opportunities, one of my rescue partners Secondhand Hounds is looking for Office Hours and Let Out volunteers. Office Hours volunteers work on administrative and organizational tasks, and sorting and putting away clean laundry. Let Out volunteers have direct dog and cat care duties, when they live at the office. Usually they live with fosters, but there are times they need to stay at the office. Both positions involve lots of snuggles and love for the furry residents.

If you would like to volunteer and truly make an impact on the lives of these animals, you can contact them via their website.

Thank you to volunteers everywhere. I appreciate you.