Volunteer Spotlight: Doug Harkness

Doug was driving by our shelter one day, and felt a pull to see how he could volunteer. Now, Doug is one of nearly 530 volunteers who help Make Happy Happen for our shelter pets.

Q. What is your volunteer position?
A. I volunteer with dog walking, shelter animal transport, and administrative support.

Q. How long have you been volunteering?
A. Seven months!

Q. What made you want to volunteer at the shelter?
A. I was driving by the shelter one day and felt the pull to see how I could volunteer. I love dogs and cats, and right now, I don’t live in a place where I can have one of my own. So, I figured volunteering with shelter pets was a great alternative! I Googled the Society, found volunteer information and signed up.

Q. What’s your favorite part of volunteering?
A. Two things, actually! First, I love gettings to see the dogs and how excited they get when they know it’s time for a walk. That feeling is so rewarding! These pets are well cared for, and I love that I get to be a direct part of that care. And second, I absolutely love the staff. They make things so easy for us volunteers, and they’re very personable.

Q. If you could give one piece of advice about volunteering with the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, what would it be?
A. Just do it!! If you’ve been considering it for a while, take the leap and sign up! If you’re in a place where you’re able to foster, please reach out and get some information. You can Make Happy Happen for so many deserving pets!

Interested in a career with the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County? Check them out here. Want to volunteer or foster? Our application is live here!