Whenever you consider volunteering at an animal shelter, your first thought could also be of all of the lovable puppies and kittens you’ll meet, and the animals you’ll fall in love with. However Brewster volunteer Steve Chapman can let you know there’s a lot extra to volunteering at ARL than what meets the attention.
After 26 years in high-level Regulation Enforcement, Steve Chapman and his spouse Gail relocated to The Cape in 2006. After just a few years of planting their roots of their new dwelling, Steve and Gail determined they had been prepared so as to add a four-legged pal to their household. “There’s nothing higher than seeing that blissful face within the window whenever you come dwelling to a canine,” Steve says. So, they got here to the ARL’s Brewster Animal Care and Adoption Heart, the place they met and adopted a candy Labrador Retriever, Zoey.
From there, Steve’s reference to ARL solely grew stronger. Retirement obtained outdated shortly for Steve, so when in search of out methods to meaningfully spend his time, he determined to begin volunteering at ARL. Upon the beginning of his volunteer journey, Steve realized that taking part in with the kittens and puppies, though enjoyable, just isn’t what was most wanted. With a small variety of workers members and volunteers on the Brewster location, Steve turned the go-to man for serving to with numerous upkeep tasks across the campus. Right now, he’s affectionately generally known as the MacGuyver of Brewster. In the event you go to the shelter, you may in all probability discover Steve swapping gentle bulbs, or fixing kennel doorways, or lifting and shifting meals, or actually simply doing something that’s wanted across the shelter! Whereas there are ample alternatives to work with the animals, we’re so grateful to Steve’s dedication in serving to us with a number of the much less glamorous components of working an animal shelter.
Along with his integral function as Brewster’s fix-it man, Steve has additionally turn out to be somebody that each the workers and volunteers can go to for help. Working and volunteering may be an emotionally daunting endeavor, and Steve is at all times there to supply a listening ear, and supporting phrases. His expertise in regulation enforcement helped him develop excessive emotional resiliency and the flexibility to stay logical in powerful conditions. However that doesn’t imply the powerful tales don’t have an effect on him. Actually, considered one of Steve’s earliest recollections involving animals was standing as much as a neighborhood bully who was being tough with a neighborhood cat. At a younger age, Steve discovered the significance of standing up for what’s proper – even whether it is troublesome to do.
Steve’s energy, composure, and heat makes him a fantastic useful resource for our workers and volunteers. Steve is a type of those that makes you snug sufficient to share your issues with, even inside hours of assembly him. Steve recollects a few of his finest recollections at ARL as ones when he obtained the possibility to attach with folks on a deeper degree.
“Everybody has a narrative”, Steve says. And whether or not that story belongs to a workers member, volunteer, or shelter animal, Steve is there to supply his help. We’re so grateful to Steve for being an unwavering champion for animals and the individuals who love them.
