"Year of the CAPS Volunteer"

Companion Animal Protection Society is proclaiming 2012 to be the "Year of the CAPS Volunteer"

In a world where the value of volunteerism is becoming increasingly vital, CAPS is offering some exciting volunteer opportunities with our organization.

CAPS not only helps the animals within its care, it also gives people who love animals a chance to make a significant difference in the lives of those animals, as well as in their own lives. If you have a heart for animals in need, whether you are 13 or 93, we have many ways for you to get involved.

CAPS urgently requires foster homes for both cats and dogs. Without a safe, loving place to call home until they are adopted, many little animals will not get a second chance. Please consider this plea for help. It's truly a matter of life or death.

CAPS also needs animal care volunteers to help with daily chores at its largest foster homes. Can you commit to a morning, afternoon or evening a week to make a difference in the lives of these animals?

Not possible to foster or commit to a regular weekly volunteer commitment?

Not to worry. There are many other volunteer opportunities for you to consider.....

We try to match our team members with avenues of service that will be most fitting and fulfilling for their personalities, lifestyle, talents and training. Cuddler, groomer, rolling change, animal transportation, pet photography, fundraising, info, ticket table worker, event volunteer, clerical work, folding laundry, pet food/supplies organizer.....these are just a few of the possibilities that demand only a few hours of your time on a relaxed schedule that fits your busy lifestyle.

Check the website frequently to learn how you can really make a difference to the Companion Animal Protection Society and to the homeless companion animals of Annapolis County. Email us as info@caps-annapolis.org, call us at 902-825-2277! Help us find the perfect endings that these homeless animals deserve, while at the same time serving your community in a way that is fulfilling, challenging and so satisfying.

Help us reach our goal of DOUBLING our foster home count before kitten season arrives!

Letter to the Editor: Annapolis County Spectator

A Thank you from CAPS

Definition - Volunteerism: the policy or practice of volunteering one's time or services, as for charitable or community work.

Once again this Christmas the young people of Middleton Regional High School have done their teacher, their school, their town and Annapolis County proud!

Under the direction and inspiration of teacher Mrs. Crystal Veinot, the MRHS Helping Hands Program, now in its seventh year, donated over $3000.oo in cash, supplies and gifts to three chosen charities, the Salvation Army, the Middleton Food Bank and the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) of Annapolis County at a pre-holiday assembly on December 14th, 2011.

All of the over 130 companion animals in CAPS foster care, and our team of dedicated volunteers, wish to thank each and every "youth volunteer" in this program for their hard work, imagination, stick-to-it-ivness and generosity. This amazing Christmas donation to CAPS of $1818.17 will go far towards helping us continue our work with the homeless and abandoned animals of Annapolis County.

Whether or not these young people realized it at the time, each student who took part in this amazing endeavour became a volunteer for these three organizations. They showed a desire to do something that would make life better for many. They cooperatively and thoughtfully worked on their plans and as a result they have made a wonderful difference in their world and in our world here at CAPS.

I sincerely hope that the brilliant spirit of altruism and volunteerism shown by these young people will not fade with the packing away of the Christmas lights, but instead will shine in the New Year and produce many new active volunteers so necessary in today's society. These are indeed the volunteers of tomorrow. We welcome them to work with us. We praise them for their achievements and thank them for their kind generosity towards those who need their love and support.

"That's what the spirit of volunteerism is all about, Charlie Brown".

Many thanks to Middleton Regional High School from all the CAPS animals and all the foster families and volunteers who care for them!