Members of the AV Technologies team recently spent their Volunteer PTO day with Humane Society Naples (HSN), socializing with sheltered dogs and organizing storage facilities.
During the morning session, the group joined the Rescue Recess program which pairs volunteers with dogs that need time outside of the kennel.
“Our staff was delighted that the team participated in our ‘Rescue Recess’ program and took several of our dogs on outings during the morning,” said HSN Community Services Volunteer Coordinator Tracey Talentino. “It is so beneficial for our dogs to be able to meet new people and see different places. This type of socialization helps prepare them for adoption.”
The volunteers brought the dogs outside to run and play in the fresh air at North Collier Park and a nearby backyard owned by HSN.
After a lunch break, Video Editor Aaron Barfus and AVT Technical Artist Taylor Bates returned to HSN for four hours of manual labor to help clean and organize the facility storage unit.
“In our normal work environment, Aaron and I are regularly found digitally organizing things for others in a way that will make the next time a little bit easier,” Taylor said. “Applying those instincts to a physical problem for HSN was a nice stretch. While some of our decisions could easily be improved upon, I’m glad we could at least put a dent in the idea of opening the space. Getting a good workout in as well was a nice bonus.”
Participants acknowledged how well maintained the facility was, and how loved the animals seemed to be by the staff.
“It felt good seeing the dogs eager to return to the shelter. It says a lot about the staff and facility,” said Video Editor Andrea Seamans. “It truly was a great day, and we all wished we had more time with the dogs. It was hard to part with them. These dogs need a home that is understanding and willing to work with their quirks.”
That evening, Andrea posted their new friends, Ruby, Shadow and Rando, on social media to her rescue community in hopes they will be adopted soon.
“We are incredibly grateful for the group’s assistance, especially with the strenuous job of cleaning out the storage unit,” said Tracey. “We are always impressed by how supportive the Arthrex community is of the work we do. We feel especially fortunate that this team chose to do their volunteer service with us.”
HSN is always looking for volunteers to help with the Rescue Recess program. The shelter and volunteers want to remind everyone that while rescue dogs may take more patience, they are very special and in need of loving homes.
Shelter dogs may need more time to adjust to a new environment, but programs like Rescue Recess and frequent interactions with volunteers can help make the transition easier.
Arthrex’s Volunteer PTO benefit allows employees eight hours of paid time off each year in order to give back to their community. Look for more stories of Arthrex employees using their Volunteer PTO benefit on Arthrex LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.