volunteer of the month lindsey wood
Posted By SLCo Animal Services
July 30, 2018
Lindsey Wood is Salt Lake County Animal Services volunteer of the month:
Volunteer Q&A
What brought you to SLCoAS? I came to SLCOAS to be around animals again! Growing up, we had every animal in the book and we were always fostering more, but now that I don’t have any pets I just wanted to be around them again. Dogs were my favorite pets and I missed them! I craved that specific type of bond and affection that can only be found in a dog.
What is your favorite thing about volunteering? My favorite thing about volunteering is seeing the dogs slowly start to warm up to me. There is nothing more rewarding than when a nervous dog decides that they can trust you and then turns into a cuddly lap dog.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to hike, run and paint in my spare time.
Tell us about your family and fur kiddos: I live with my boyfriend David, and though we don’t have any pets of our own my parents still have plenty. Our family dog Misty just passed away this last year at age 13. She was happy and loving right up until the end. Since then, my moms have rescued an old and quite chubby chihuahua named Gidget who will climb on your chest and demand kisses, and their foster-fail CJ. who’s goofy personality was too much to give up, she just fits in so well. I look forward to the day when David and I buy a house and have dogs of our own. We want a rottweiler and a german shepherd and they shall be named after characters from the lion king.
What advice do you have for new SLCoAS volunteers? My advice to new volunteers is to keep tabs on your own emotions when you are working with the dogs, and to be patient. They can sense if you are nervous or frustrated and they will play on those emotions. Keep a good non-threatening composure and pay attention to the dogs body language and do not push, the dog might need time to warm up to you-- after all you are a stranger.
Tell us something unique about you: My favorite adoption story is CJ’s. My mom began fostering dogs after Misty passed away and CJ was her first one. CJ’s tail was still healing (the previous owner had kicked her so hard he had broken it) and she was very skittish and had a litter very young. After a few weeks though, her personality slowly began to shine through and we discovered that she was this playful goofball. My mom and her wife could’t let CJ go and so she became their “foster-fail”. The new CJ is a completely different dog who loves attention and playtime and who is afraid of nothing.
Where is your favorite place to travel? I hate traveling! I don’t like trying to figure out a new place I would rather go to places I know. I do like to go to Bryce, Zions and Yellowstone and would be interesting in going to the Tetons. But traveling in general is a headache.
Interested in volunteering find out more on our Volunteer page or email animalvolunteer@slco.org.