Dave came to the Sequoia Humane Society looking for a canine companion—little did he know how quickly his dream would become a reality!

Dave began volunteering about a month ago with the intent to dedicate two afternoons a week to walk dogs.

“I have a little extra time now, I want to help the animals and I need some exercise. So I figured, what better way to accomplish both than by coming down here and walking some dogs!” said Dave.

But it was love at first sight when Dave met Jonesy. “He’s everything I’ve been looking for in a dog,” he recalls.

Many people who don’t own pets volunteer at SHS so that they can spend time with the animals. Many also find that when they discover the joy and fulfillment being with a cat or dog brings them, they can’t get enough! Fortunately, there are lots of kitties and doggies waiting for new homes—like yours!

People volunteer at Tailwaggers Thrift Shop for a variety of reasons, and top of the list is the experience of meeting new people. One of our newest volunteers comes to us from France. Julie Andre may have thought she was falling in love in Holland with an American from Arcata, but she was on her way to meeting the regulars of Henderson Center and having a Tailwaggers experience.

The Volunteer Center of the Redwoods sent Julie to us in late September. She called the shop and explained that she was in Humboldt County on a tourist visa while visiting the U.S. with her boyfriend. When Julie arrived she charmed us all with her French accent and her wonderfully playful personality. She is very funny and understands American culture very well. She greets the customers, shares in jokes, and is very organized. One day when it was slow in the store I caught her sorting the clothes on the rack by color! She was also on deck during the Henderson Center Holiday Open House and along with Board President Judy Lewis and fellow volunteers she greeted customers with a smile while continuing to sort through the donations.

But alas, as the holidays come and go, so will Julie Andre. Her visa will expire in late December and she will return to France to be with her family. She came to us to have an American volunteer experience and we will miss her. We wish her the best and are extremely grateful that she graciously donated her limited time in California to Tailwaggers Thrift Shop and the Sequoia Humane Society.—Sarah Connelly, Tailwaggers Manager.