Celebrating Our Behind-the-Scenes Volunteers at Lollypop Farm

When people think of volunteering at an animal shelter, they often picture walking dogs or cuddling cats. And while those roles are certainly important, there’s a dedicated group of volunteers at Lollypop Farm whose contributions often go unseen but are absolutely essential.

These are the volunteers who wash endless stacks of dishes, fold mountains of laundry, organize donated goods, tend to our gardens, and greet guests at the front lobby. They are the quiet backbone of our shelter operations, the ones who make sure everything is clean, stocked, welcoming, and ready for the animals and people who walk through our doors each day.

Our dish and laundry volunteers ensure that every animal has clean bowls to eat from and warm blankets to snuggle into. It may not sound glamorous, but it directly impacts the health and comfort of our pets. Cleanliness isn’t just a nice touch, it’s a necessity, and our volunteers take on this task with pride and dedication.

Our donation distribution volunteers help us stay organized and efficient by sorting and stocking supplies donated by our generous community. Their work ensures that toys, treats, food, and other essentials get where they’re needed quickly.

Then there are our gardeners, who bring beauty and calm to the shelter grounds. They help create an environment that is welcoming not just for animals, but for the people who come to adopt, volunteer, or simply visit. Their green thumbs bring a little bit of peace to all who pass through.

And we can’t forget our lobby monitors, who offer a warm smile and helping hand to everyone who comes through our doors. Whether answering questions, guiding guests, keeping animals and people safe or simply offering a friendly face, they are often the first impression of Lollypop Farm, and they always make it a good one.

These roles may happen behind the scenes, but the impact is front and center. Together, our volunteers create a clean, safe, and nurturing space where animals can heal and find their forever homes.

To every volunteer who scrubs, sorts, plants, and welcomes, we thank you. You are a vital part of our mission. Lollypop Farm simply wouldn’t run without you.

Your work matters, and we are deeply grateful.

Honoring Our Offsite Volunteers

At our shelter, animal care doesn’t just happen under one roof—it extends to our offsite location in Greece Ridge Mall, where a dedicated team of volunteers show up each day to provide love, attention, and expert care to our cats and small animals.

This offsite location plays a vital role in our mission, offering an additional space where animals can thrive while they wait to meet their forever families. From cleaning enclosures and refreshing food and water, to engaging animals with enrichment and affection, our offsite volunteers bring heart and dedication to everything they do.

Whether they’re socializing shy cats, helping curious guinea pigs feel comfortable in new surroundings, or keeping everything tidy and welcoming for potential adopters, our volunteers are often the steady, behind-the-scenes presence that makes this satellite location run smoothly.

Their work is essential—not only in maintaining the day-to-day operations of the facility, but also in ensuring that every animal in their care receives the same level of compassion and commitment we value throughout our organization. So far this year they have helped us to achieve 344 adoptions (287 cats, 32 guinea pigs and 25 rabbits).

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our offsite volunteer team. Your time, energy, and devotion to animal welfare do not go unnoticed. You are helping to save lives, provide comfort, and prepare animals for a fresh start.

Your impact reaches far beyond the walls of that building—you are an integral part of the heartbeat of our shelter.

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Hello world, I’m Spencer! I’m a 3-year-old English Bulldog mix, and I came to Lollypop Farm in June. My people felt that I needed more attention than they were able to give me – and that’s okay! Sometimes when pet owners realize that they aren’t able to care for their animals, they try to do what is best and bring them to places like Lollypop Farm.

I love my daily walks around the farm. There are so many farm yard friends to meet, smells to smell, and sights to see! The dog walker volunteers say that I’m a very good boy, and even let me stop to watch the horses while they munch on hay.

When I go for walks, I learn all about walking nicely on a leash with my human friend. My walks usually end with a nice volunteer telling me that I’m a “good boy” and giving me a tasty treat! My friends here at Lollypop Farm believe in positive reinforcement training. When I do something good, I get a yummy reward and lots of pets. This shows me that I’m behaving in a way that makes the staff very happy, and you bet I’m going to do that good behavior again! Did you know that dog training classes are offered at Lollypop Farm? Your pup at home can learn all about being a good boy too!

Man, I’m tired out! See, it’s important to exercise my mind, too. Me and my furry friends at Lollypop Farm get to do training and enrichment activities with fun humans in the Behavior Department! Today I had to figure out how to get tasty treats of out this toy that moves around – making me really think about how to best score a nibble! Sometimes, treats are hidden in boxes and put all over the floor, and I have to use my nose to seek out the treats.

Now comes the time of day when I kick back, relax, and meet new people that visit Lollypop Farm looking to bring home a furry family member! I love to smile and wiggle wiggle wiggle at everyone that stops at my kennel to say hello. After a long, busy day, there’s nothing better than a snooze. I think I’ll probably be dreaming about finding my perfect family and going home soon.

Did you enjoy following along with my adventures today? Consider adopting one of my furry friends: www.lollypop.org/dogs

I’d like to give big sloppy kisses to everyone that’s supporting me while I wait to find a new home. Have you thought about joining Lollypop Farm’s Fur-Ever Yours monthly giving program? A little each month makes a big difference for pets like me.

Learn more: www.lollypop.org/fureveryours

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Bonnie Austin has loved animals as far back as she can remember. She was first introduced to Lollypop Farm when she was just 11 years old. Bonnie came with her Girl Scout troop to learn pet CPR for their “First Aid to Animals” badge, and she has never stopped doing everything she can for pets in need. Bonnie helps socialize dogs in the shelter, matches pets with their new families, and answers calls on our Pet Peeves Behavior Helpline to assist struggling pet owners. She’s even included Lollypop Farm in her will to ensure care for homeless and abused pets for many years to come.

Animal lovers like Bonnie help pets in need get the second chances they deserve. Learn more about how you can help homeless and abused pets.

The post From Girl Scouts to retirement, Bonnie Austin puts pets in need first appeared first on Lollypop Farm.