Volunteer Spotlight: Carol Hyman
When I moved back to Baltimore almost seven years ago, one of the first things I did was to check out volunteer opportunities at local animal shelters. When I saw BARCS, which had changed dramatically during my 20 years in California, had a burgeoning Community Cats Program, I immediately reached out to them. I had worked with TNR groups in California so it seemed like a good fit. At the time, the Program was administered by Best Friends Animal Society; since I was already a registered Best Friends volunteer, I wasted no time in getting started.
My job was to make the staff’s jobs easier, like cleaning cages and traps and scrubbing floors. Whenever a kitten came in, I had the arduous task of beginning the socializing process. That meant picking up a tiny hissing and spitting kitten, holding it, and within moments having it purring and begging for more. Tough job, eh? But even the “scut” jobs were fun because I got to be around cats and wonderful people.
I felt that I was family with the three Community Cats Program staffers I lovingly referred to as my “trailer girls.” At the old shelter, the Program was housed in a trailer behind the shelter. It was stinky, it didn’t have running water, and a lot of the time it was overflowing with cats. Cats in traps were in the back and cats who needed medical attention or who had other issues were in the front part. As soon as I got in, I fed and gave water to the cats up front and then prepared food for the cats in traps.
While my time with the trailer girls was incredibly special, it was isolating. I really did not get to know other staff and volunteers, so when BARCS moved to its big new shelter on Giles Road, I took the opportunity to try new things.
Since the move and COVID coincided, I knew something I could do to help was foster cats. At the time, my husband Jerry and I were down to three cats and we were looking for a fourth, so fostering seemed a great way to audition new cats. Our third foster, Winston, fit the bill perfectly. He is Mr. Congeniality. He has never met an animal or human he doesn’t love.
As the shelter began to slowly reopen, a big need was for dog walkers, and I thought, well, I’m old and not that strong, but I love dogs, so why don’t I give it a try? I emailed the Volunteer Manager, who told me to come on in and she’d show me the ropes. She also introduced me to some of the other dog walkers as well as kennel staff, so if I ran into problems there would always be someone nearby to lend a hand. Soon, I put in enough hours to become a Level 3 dog walker! I also got my husband to participate in weekend pack walks.
The Community Cats Program is now housed in the shelter and I have been helping out with cats either getting ready to be spayed or neutered or tending to them after their procedures. The two women who run this program are so dedicated and are doing their best to get it fully operational, though they could always use more help.
One program I am most excited about is the Community Pets Program. Program coordinator Kaitlyn Thomas has made great headway into helping people in Baltimore’s underserved communities get resources for their pets and themselves. She holds regular events where animals get exams, vaccines, light grooming, nail clipping and information about free and low-cost resources. There is a trainer on hand to help folks with their dogs as well as really fun kids’ activities. I love participating in these events and meeting the shelter’s neighbors who love their animals so much.
Right now, the needs on the cat side seem to take precedence for me, so I have been spending more time over there, though I do try to sneak in a dog walk or two. It’s so incredibly rewarding to see a cat who has arrived at the shelter scared and fractious, but with love and kindness, become a cat ready to find a forever home. Or a dog so confused and afraid who has to be coaxed out of his kennel into a pup who anyone would want as a best friend.
I can confidently say that there is a volunteer opportunity for just about anyone at BARCS because, let’s face it, I’ve done almost all of them. There are days I come home dirty and exhausted, but you know, it’s that good kind of dirty and exhausted knowing I’ve maybe helped a dog or cat get ready for a forever home or pet owners make their families’ lives better.
I have done my share of laughing and crying at BARCS, and I have made some incredible friends there—of both the two- and the four-footed variety. And for that I could not be more grateful.
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