Kearla Bentz Service Journal: Community 1

Service-Learning Journal: Community

This semester I participated in community service at the Billings Animal Rescue Kare

(BARK). BARK is a private non-profit animal shelter in Montana that homes lost, neglected, and

mistreated cats and dogs. I chose BARK because I know they are always in search of help and

rely on volunteers to assist with the animal care. Also, BARK is one of the only local animal

shelters that does not euthanize the animals which I think is very important.

My service at BARK included being trained on how to care for the dogs and clean the

dog cages. I had a trainer with me that showed me the routine for each volunteer shift at BARK.

This included learning the location of cleaning supplies and the process to clean each cage, each

dog’s specific diet regimen, and the rotation of dogs out of their kennels based on how they get

along with each other.

I found that it was helpful to have a trainer with me because some of the dogs get nervous

when strangers are present as a result of the previous horrible situations they had been through.

Although, after spending time with them most of them were accustomed to my presence and

allowed me to help without any problems. Cleaning cages, specifically picking up poop, was not

the most fun or pleasant thing to do, but the feeling of helping dogs that need care made it

completely worth it.

Overall, my experiences volunteering at BARK were very pleasant and rewarding. It is

sad to think about the awful things that some of the dogs had been through but being able to feel

like I was contributing and helping them live a better life, and potentially find their forever

home, made me feel good. It reminds me of working as a radiation therapist and helping patients

that need care, except at BARK the patients are dogs. I always thought it would be difficult to
Kearla Bentz Service Journal: Community 2

find the time and put in the effort to volunteer, so I have not participated in volunteer

opportunities much, but it was easy to get involved and did not take much time to make a

difference for the shelter and the dogs. I plan on volunteering more at BARK and eventually

getting friends and my son to join in the experience. I think it is beneficial to everyone to help in

the community.

Below are a few links to the websites available for BARK. Most of all the ladies that

volunteer and run the operations at BARK are over 60 years old. I think that is why some of the

social media aspects of advertising and promoting are a bit lacking. I hope that I can eventually

help with uploading photos and spreading the awareness of BARK and the animals that need

homes, and I look forward to spending more time with the dogs.

https://www.barkshelter.org/mission

https://www.facebook.com/billingsanimalrescuekare/mentions