By Fiona Finchem, Staff Writer
When you first walk into the SPCA, you immediately hear the rattling of excited dogs jumping in their cages, hoping you will take them home. Seniors Olivia Bowlin and Juliann Gotthelf are interning at the SPCA, surrounded by this excitement every day.
The SPCA has a full staff, but it doesn’t hurt to give the animals more attention. That’s why the SPCA loves having volunteers walk the dogs and help with training, cleaning and much more. Bowlin and Gotthelf help with anything they can.
“I usually go Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and most of the time I go up to two hours a day,” Bowlin said. “I volunteer at the SPCA because I enjoy working with the dogs and cats and I enjoy helping out the workers there.”
Bowlin and Gotthelf do more than clean up around the shelter. They also enjoy spending time with the dogs and cats.
“My favorite animal was Ace. He was a black and white pit bull, but he got adopted. I used to walk him all the time,” Gotthelf said.
Dogs are kept in large kennels and can go outside to play and exercise. Cats have smaller kennels, but they have a playroom so they don’t spend all of their time in cages.
“I walk dogs, play with cats and organize donations of food, towels, blankets and sheets,” Gotthelf said.
Spending hours on end with animals is a great internship. But it’s more than that for Gotthelf.
“I chose this internship because I have thought about veterinary medicine, but I am also thinking about nursing or something in the medical field,” Gotthelf said.
Looking for a career is a stressful thing for high school students, and internships are a great way for them to discover what they may want to do.
“It is so fulfilling to see our students grow and mature through their real-world experiences,” internship coordinator Kathy Neal said. “As they excel at their internships, the word is spreading in the community and future business sponsors are reaching out offering to partner in our students’ education. This year’s interns are opening doors and paving the way for our future interns.”
Sophomore Fiona Finchem can be reached at 22finchemfi99@daretolearn.org.
