Every so often The Ranch is fortunate enough to have volunteers from all over the world happy and willing to walk and feed dogs, play with puppies and interact with our local staff and other volunteers. Sometimes those volunteers are teenagers that bring their enthusiasm and energy, brightening everyone’s day.
Although most teenagers want to spend their spring break at the beach, Ian Shreve would rather work with rescue dogs. Eighteen-year-old Ian just finished his second spring break volunteering at The Ranch. He attends an International High School Program in Eugene, Oregon, and has also been in Spanish Immersion since age five. As part of his school requirements, he needed to perform some volunteer work in Spanish. His former neighbors now live in Ajijic and they connected Ian with The Ranch while he was vacationing here.
An experienced “dog person,” Ian has also volunteered at a shelter in Oregon. He was very impressed with The Ranch, noting that the dogs have more space to run around and also more interaction with people than where he’s worked in Oregon.
Ian found his experience at The Ranch to be extremely rewarding. He worked largely with the Spanish-speaking staff members at The Ranch and felt they were very friendly. He spent his time feeding and giving water to the dogs, walking them, and assisting with vaccinations and veterinarian visits. Ian and his mom have also been Flight Angels, transporting dogs from here to adopters in Portland.
Ian does have a favorite dog at The Ranch, a big, lovable Boxer named Victoria. Ian describes her as so sweet and loves attention. She’s calm, doesn’t jump up or bark much and simply adores people. Victoria is also easy to walk, despite her size. Ian finds it sad that Victoria has been at the shelter so long. “People are put off because she doesn’t really like other dogs,” he said. “But she’d be great for any home where she’d be the only dog. She’s not aggressive with other dogs when walking or anything and she just loves affection from people.”
Katie, another teen volunteer, was also at The Ranch last summer. Preparing to enter college in the fall to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Katie’s grandparents live Lakeside and her family has their own adopted Ranch dog they all adore, so when Katie got the chance to spend time at The Ranch she was thrilled. During her time she witnessed some of the surgical procedures the Ranch vets perform, as well as administering meds and vaccinations to the current dogs waiting for their forever homes.
Most importantly for Katie, just like Ian, she was able to indulge her love of animals daily and give the wonderful Ranch dogs the attention they crave and deserve.
If you would like to volunteer or learn more about The Ranch contact us at adoptaranchdog@outlook.com or donate by visiting our website at Theranchchapala.com.
For more information about Lake Chapala visit: www.chapala.com
- Ramblings From The Ranch – March 2024 - February 29, 2024
- Ramblings From The Ranch – January 2024 - December 26, 2023
- Ramblings From The Ranch – November 2023 - October 31, 2023
