Name: Jen Raney

Position: Volunteer Engagement Manager

Pets at home:

I have four dogs: Charlie (10), Toby (9), Jethro (9) and Archie (7).

How long have you been working in animal welfare, and what made you want to work in this field?

Four years! I worked in pharmaceutical research for a long time, which paid the bills, but I always felt a pull toward something more rewarding.

What volunteer roles are available at the ARL, and how can people in our community get started with volunteering?

There are many different roles available! Right now, we need help with kennel cleaning, mucking stalls and support tasks (laundry, dishes, cleaning, enrichment, re-stocking). Still, we also have positions for greeters, adoption counselors, community outreach, medical and surgical volunteers, small animal care, administrative help, student interns, transport team, working (barn) and ringworm cat care, Jackson Galaxy’s CatPawsitive program, donation directors, dog walking, fostering, and our Book Buddies program. Check out Volunteer – Animal Rescue League of Berks County for details and to complete an application.

How does your department serve the animals at the ARL and in our community?

My department serves the animals by serving the staff. I match volunteers with opportunities to complete everyday shelter tasks, so our team can concentrate their specialized skills on our animals. Providing our staff with more focused time to work with the animals translates to the animals spending less time with us, which is the goal; fewer animals in shelter = more animals in happy homes.

What might a typical workday look like for you?

Typically I am reviewing applications and scheduling training for new volunteers, matching volunteers with opportunities, planning get-togethers for volunteer teams, assessing the needs of volunteers and shelter staff, designing and evaluating new pieces of the volunteer program, updating program documentation, and so much more!

What is one thing you wish people knew about your job?

One of the most impactful things a volunteer can do is help us clean. Our animals need a clean, safe place to hang out while they wait for their new forever family to find and adopt them. Our shelter is overcrowded with animals who are stressed by their current situation. Keeping the shelter clean is critical in preventing disease outbreaks. Volunteer help in that area is invaluable.

Tell us about an animal you will never forget.

Tough one, but I am going with the big, beautiful, block-headed goofball of a one-eyed pittie named Creed! Walking the 1-mile Jack Frost Parade route, Creed acted as the most perfect ARL and breed ambassador, greeting people and animals, wiggling his happy, silly self the whole way. Once he leaned into you, you could not help but fall in love with such a lovely gentleman.

If you could cross one thing off your bucket list right now, what would it be?

I want to vacation in an Ice Hotel!

Is there anything else you would like to share with your community?

Like my colleagues before me, I am going with a quote:

“Life is amazing. And then it’s awful.  And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and awful it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful.”  L.R. Knost

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Did you enjoy this article? Check out our other employee spotlight interviews in the blog!