1. When and why did you begin volunteering at the APS?
I have started the volunteer work at the APS since February 2012. Because I have been doing foster care for the dogs while I was in Taiwan, I thought I should continue helping animals here.
2. Tell me about your job here.
My job is a dog walker. I really enjoy walking the dogs here. Every time when I take them out of the kennel I can feel that they are so happy and excited. It might sound silly, but when the house trained dogs go potty I feel so relieved as they do. I just cannot imagine that they have to stay in such a small place for almost 24/7 and wait somebody to open the gate for them so they can release the pressure in their bodies. No dogs deserve to live like that. Each one of them is an angel, and they should all have a lovely home and be loved by people.
3. What animals do you have at home?
While I was in Taiwan, I have one Shih Tzu named Alfie. Then, my husband and I adopted two cats- Nina and Alec. We brought three of them to the US with us. Two years ago, we met Lefteye, a strayed cat who injured his lefteye and wondered around our complex. We took him to a vet and took him home with us. So now I have one dog and three cats.
4. Are there any stories about a particular animal here or anything else you’d like to share?
There are tons of touching stories happening everyday at the APS. I will just share the one I recently experienced. Cassie was a lady of pit bull and boxer mix. She was a newbie at the APS so she was shy and not confident about everything here. It was therefore quite difficult to let her step out of her kennel. However, Eunice, one of our many lovely volunteers, came up a great idea. Eunice asked me to take Carla, a smaller but more confident dog and let Carla walked in front of Cassie. In this way, Cassie might feel more comfortable and less nervous. And it did work out! The power of a pack did encourage Cassie to explore the outside world. When Cassie hesitated, Carla would stop and go back to sniff her and push Cassie to move on. I was so deeply touched by Cassie, and so proud of small Carla.
5. Tell me a little about what you like to do when not here, including work or previous work, family and any hobbies you have.
My husband is currently a PhD student at Duke. And that is also why we moved here from Taiwan. Life in the US is quite challenging to me even though I do not go to work (due to the visa issues, spouse is not allowed to work ). To be independent (I do not like hassle my husband all the time…), I learned how to drive, cook, and take care of my small family here. But most importantly, I learned how to adapt to a new life style in a different country. At first, I thought working as a volunteer at the APS is to help the animals; however, it turns out that it is quite the other way around; volunteering at APS is therapeutic for me. The dogs I walk each day they also give me their love back to me.
1. When and why did you begin volunteering at the APS?
I have started the volunteer work at the APS since February 2012. Because I have been doing foster care for the dogs while I was in Taiwan, I thought I should continue helping animals here.
2. You do so much for APS. Tell me about your job here. What do you like most?
My job is a dog walker. I really enjoy walking the dogs here. Every time when I take them out of the kennel I can feel that they are so happy and excited. It might sound silly, but when the house trained dogs go potty I feel so relieved as they do. I just cannot imagine that they have to stay in such a small place for almost 24/7 and wait somebody to open the gate for them so they can release the pressure in their bodies. No dogs deserve to live like that. Each one of them is an angel, and they should all have a lovely home and be loved by people.
3. What animals do you have at home?
While I was in Taiwan, I have one Shih Tzu named Alfie. Then, my husband and I adopted two cats- Nina and Alec. We brought three of them to the US with us. Two years ago, we met Lefteye, a strayed cat who injured his lefteye and wondered around our complex. We took him to a vet and took him home with us. So now I have one dog and three cats.
4. Are there any stories about a particular animal here or anything else you’d like to share?
There are tons of touching stories happening everyday at the APS. I will just share the one I recently experienced. Cassie was a lady of pit bull and boxer mix. She was a newbie at the APS so she was shy and not confident about everything here. It was therefore quite difficult to let her step out of her kennel. However, Eunice, one of our many lovely volunteers, came up a great idea. Eunice asked me to take Carla, a smaller but more confident dog and let Carla walked in front of Cassie. In this way, Cassie might feel more comfortable and less nervous. And it did work out! The power of a pack did encourage Cassie to explore the outside world. When Cassie hesitated, Carla would stop and go back to sniff her and push Cassie to move on. I was so deeply touched by Cassie, and so proud of small Carla.
5. Tell me a little about what you like to do when not here, including work or previous work, family and any hobbies you have.
My husband is currently a PhD student at Duke. And that is also why we moved here from Taiwan. Life in the US is quite challenging to me even though I do not go to work (due to the visa issues, spouse is not allowed to work ). To be independent (I do not like hassle my husband all the time…), I learned how to drive, cook, and take care of my small family here. But most importantly, I learned how to adapt to a new life style in a different country. At first, I thought working as a volunteer at the APS is to help the animals; however, it turns out that it is quite the other way around; volunteering at APS is therapeutic for me. The dogs I walk each day they also give me their love back to me.
