Have you ever stumbled onto something where you know right away that it is going to be incredible? In the way you think to yourself, this is it? That is exactly what happened to me with Meridian Canine Rescue. I came across their social media page on Instagram and loved what I saw. The stories that went along with the pictures were so captivating and I knew immediately this place was different. I had been wanting to volunteer at a dog rescue or shelter for years and I just hadn’t been able to find the right place. I knew I wanted to be involved in something great, and most of the places that I checked out in the Treasure Valley were not checking all the boxes for me. When I went to the MCR website, I read their mission statement and discovered that their values and beliefs about dogs aligned with my own. I was hooked. I was excited to sign up to volunteer. I came to the first new volunteer orientation meeting that I could. What I learned in that short hour would change the way I view rescues and volunteering forever.
There are so many reasons I volunteer at Meridian Canine Rescue. I volunteer because I want to make a difference. I want to do more. I want to be a part of something greater. Meridian Canine Rescue has given me the opportunity to advocate for dogs on their behalf. It has equipped me with the tools and skills to handle dogs and interact with dogs in a way that is safe and beneficial. I have learned so much and continue to learn more about canine behavior and well being everyday. I initially volunteered to walk the dogs. But I have been trained to assist the staff with many different jobs and tasks at the rescue. This is enriching for me because the work that we do is important and necessary. There is so much that goes into keeping an organization like this running smoothly. Being able to assist with that has increased my appreciation and respect for the work that the staff at the rescue does. I am grateful to them for allowing me to be apart of this important work. Volunteers are treated like family at MCR. We are valued and appreciated. We would do anything for our own, especially the dogs. This is a special place.
I am a volunteer at Meridian Canine Rescue because I am passionate about dogs getting the right care with the right set of values and programs in place to make sure that they are able to thrive. I volunteer for the dogs. At least that is what I tell myself. But what they have given me in return is so much more than I could have ever hoped for.