I was home from college over summer break in 2006 when a tornado ripped through rural Stoddard County, taking the doors from my parents' storage shed along with it.  It was shortly thereafter that my father made the decision to tear it down. Consequently, this action sent a number of mice scurrying for the nearest source of shelter - our house. They began appearing everywhere- the kitchen, the living room, the hallway.  My mother declared war. There were sticky traps all over the house. No rodent was safe.

I hated sticky traps. My conscience would not allow me to feel good about letting a creature sit helplessly glued to a piece of cardboard until it met some form of untimely death.  My family thought it was ridiculous when I scoured the Internet to find the politically correct thing to do when a mouse is caught on a sticky trap (for those who are interested, simply sprinkle a little vegetable oil on the mouse and place the trap somewhere far from your home- or your neighbors yard if you are so inclined. It will work itself loose).

Animals have always been my weakness. I am the kind of person who tries to dodge frogs on the highway in the summer.  I rescue bugs from swimming pools.  I caught mice in our house with my bare hands and released them in the back yard (I'm sure they immediately ran straight back into the house). I don't even like killing spiders. My grandpa used to call me Elly May when I was a kid because of all the pets I had-parakeets named Biscuits and Waffles, a canary, a horse, two goats, a rabbit that my seven-year-old brother named Fluffy Durango Peter Rabbit, countless fish, cats and dogs. It was my childhood dream to have a pet ostrich and I assure you had there been a cement pond in the backyard of my grandparents home, there would have been a dolphin as well.

So that's what led me to volunteer for Gateway Pet Guardians. It presented an opportunity for me to pursue something that I was passionate about, all the while allowing me to contribute in a way that fell within my professional experience.  I enjoy contributing to a worthwhile cause and helping to build something that will leave a legacy in St. Louis. I'm very happy to be a part of this special organization.

Often times when people think about volunteering for an organization, they overestimate the time it may take to contribute.  But anyone can do it.  If you don't have the time, donate some money.  If you don't have the money, donate some time.  Five dollars here and there can add up.  So can five minutes.  And that's all the time it takes to re-post something on your facebook wall, or forward an email.  Who knows, the next person who sees it may result in a big donation, an adoption, a foster family, or our next super volunteer. Spread the word about Gateway Pet Guardians, you never know where it will take us.