I am a socially awkward person. Interacting with people I have just met is not an easy task for me. What should I say? How do I act? Those are just some of the questions that can run through my mind when faced with the situation of having to chitchat with a new acquaintance.
Not when you add a cat or dog to the equation, though. As a matter of fact, there were several occasions when I was the one who initiated conversations with strangers in parks or malls, all because I couldn’t resist the pets that they had with them. When I see an adorable kitty or doggo, my anxieties just seem to melt away.
The thing is, I actually like meeting new people. I’m just not good at it. So my dilemma is this: Where can I meet new people in a way that feels less stress-inducing for me? That’s how I ended up becoming a volunteer at CARA Welfare Philippines.
After signing up as a volunteer, I visited the CARA headquarters one rainy Saturday afternoon. Upon arriving, I felt a bit self-conscious because I was all by myself but the CARA staff who gave me a tour of the clinic, put me right at ease.
During my visit, I got to meet the cute cats at reception (the cat receptionists were sleeping on the job when I dropped by, but the weather was perfect for napping so I get it), met the playful dogs that were up for adoption (this was a pleasant surprise because I wasn’t expecting to see dogs there), and learned about feline immunodeficiency virus (there are cats diagnosed with FIV at the CARA clinic and they’re currently looking on getting them forever homes). It was a well-spent Saturday for me.
Because of the very fulfilling experience of visiting the CARA clinic, I decided to visit the Laguna Pitbulls a couple of weeks later. Together with fellow volunteers, I got to walk, play with, and feed the pitbulls. Each dog had their own distinct personality and I fell in love with all of them but for some reason Albina, with her calm demeanor, captured my heart most of all. I was sad when I learned that she crossed the rainbow bridge earlier this year, but I’m glad that I got the chance to meet her before she passed away.
Last April, I also got a chance to volunteer during the 2023 Pet Summit that was held at Ayala Malls Manila Bay. It was a fun day of meeting some cats and dogs who came to the event with their hoomans and getting to check out various booths of pet supplies and of other animal welfare groups, but there was one exchange in particular during the 2023 Pet Summit that’s especially memorable to me.
While the other volunteers were busy with their own tasks, I noticed a lady browsing through the CARA merchandise. As much as I would have preferred to just quietly fold shirts at the back of the booth, I knew that I had to attend to the lady.
As I approached, I noticed that she’s already wearing a CARA shirt, so I asked her if she used to be a volunteer. She told me that she’s not because she doesn’t have much free time to spare for volunteering, but she makes it a point to buy a CARA shirt every year to help the cause. As I placed her newly-purchased CARA shirt in a paper bag and handed it to her, I realized that we can all do our part in promoting animal welfare in our own way. Even though the interaction was fleeting, that lady is the kind of person I had hoped to meet when I decided to be a volunteer.
As a CARA volunteer, I had the opportunity to meet like-minded people who love animals, care for their welfare, and are willing to spend time and resources for the cause. I also got to participate in activities that I wouldn’t have been able to experience otherwise.
I don’t think I’ll ever be a social butterfly, but my experience as a volunteer has helped me come out of my shell a little bit. At this point, getting to spend time with cats and dogs is just a wonderfully added bonus.
Story by Jean Bajar