When Casi Ortega and her daughters, Baily, 12, and Addy, nine, went to an event at Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) in 2023, it was love at first sight for them. Before they became volunteers, the Ortegas attended the ODHS Cinco de Mayo event, where the rescues dogs waiting to be adopted were featured. After spending time with the dogs, they immediately filled out the application that would allow them to become full-fledged volunteers.
Baily and Addy have been around animals their entire lives, and volunteering was a natural step for them. Through their time at ODHS, they’ve learned to have patience with the rescue dogs and read their body language. They’ll sit and wait for the dogs to earn their trust—even if it takes a long time.
“The girls are big animal lovers, and they spend a lot of time with the dogs waiting for them to be comfortable with them,” said mom Casi. “Sometimes it helps when they offer the dogs treats and peanut butter bones.”
The family is part of the Welcome Wagon Group, which iscomprised of volunteers who work on “intake” for the new rescues. This includes checking their records and finding out if they’ve been spayed/neutered, giving them dewormer, fastening a martingale collar on them and making kennel cards to identify the rescues and some of their personality traits. They’re also part of the Puppy Team, which requires them to be at the facility twice a day. The team rotates shifts to ensure the puppies are fed and get their daily exercise, as well as keeping their kennels and the facility clean.
Since there’s always a rescue to fall in love with at ODHS, the family has taken many of them home to foster, including their current canine, Dani. Bailey and Addy help by watching them in the yard when they play and go out for potty breaks. When Ortega feeds and bathes the dogs, the girls are always on hand to help out. Not kids to shy away from tasks, they clean up any messes the rescues make. Most of all, they provide the dogs with a secure home and lots of love and attention, which they may not have ever experienced before arriving at ODHS.
“We volunteer at least two times weekly, but sometimes we’re at ODHS five times a week, especially in the summer when the kids are off from school,” said Ortega. “They have no problem getting up in the morning when they know we’re going to volunteer and see the rescues.” The Ortega family has two dogs, Finn and Ozzy, who are also rescues.
To volunteer at the rescue, visit the ODHS website at www.olddominionhumanesociety.org/volunteer and fill out a volunteer application.