Testimonials

Working the Surrender Desk, a staff perspective

by Brenda Newman - Surrender and Exam Coordinator

I'd like to tell you a little bit about what goes on in our surrender
area. I think a lot of people think that the surrender area is probably
the most unappealing place to work at MVHS, but I think that it's the
most interesting. You deal with a whole range of people -- some very
tearful, some very uncaring. But that's only a small part of it.

Exams and vaccinations need to be done on the animals that come in and
when you're doing litters of kittens and puppies, you tend to spend a
little more time playing than working, but who wouldn't!?! Some of our
time is spent comforting frightened animals that may not be ready to go
up on the adoption floor. Often you can take a dog that is growling and
snapping at you, spend a little time with him and realize that he is
really a nice dog once he's comfortable around you. We also care for
some of our sick animals. Unfortunately, we are not able to do as much
as we would like for them, but we do what we can.

This is also where we do baths, first aid care, feed the dogs, feed the
cats, scoop the poop and occasionally, if we have time, take a sanity
break. I also need to mention, and I'll just come right out and say it,
we do euthanasias. This may be a large part of why the surrender area
is not the most desirable place to work or volunteer. Unfortunately, it
is something that needs to be done here.

I have a lot of respect for staff and volunteers who work in the
surrender area because they need to handle a lot and they handle it all
with ease (most of the time! :)) People always ask me how I can work at
the Minnesota Valley Humane Society. I tell them it's great for the
heart.

Brenda Newman Surrender and Exam Coordinator