Marines volunteered to assist the Onslow County Animal Shelter via the Lejeune-New River Single Marine Program, Monday.
This week through April 21 as part of the 2018 Single Marine Program Days of Service, hundreds of Marines will be volunteering throughout the community.
According to Brig. Gen. Kurt Stein, director, Marine and Family Programs Division, the SMP Days of Service was created to demonstrate support for local communities and to provide volunteer opportunities for Marines and Sailors.
“We are out here volunteering for the animal shelter,” said Sgt. Thomas Svrjcek, a volunteer with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. “We were deep cleaning the kennels and now we are cleaning out the pig pen.”
Marines did not have to take leave to participate in the SMP Days of Service.
“My command really encouraged me to come out here,” said Lance Cpl. Joshua Green, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. “A lot of volunteer work is highly encouraged in our unit. They said they needed a lot of help and that it would be a great experience being around different people, outside of the Marine Corps.”
At the shelter, the Marines were mainly cleaning. They cleaned the kennels, pig pen, trailers and windows.
“When I heard that I would be helping out at an animal shelter I didn’t exactly think of cleaning trailers and wiping down windows, but we are helping the animals get adopted,” said Green. “If this place looks good on the outside then you can only assume the animals are well taken care of on the inside.”
The staff at the animal shelter were grateful to have the help.
“This is really helpful; we really appreciate them coming in,” said Alice Marlow, animal care attendant, Onslow County Animal Shelter. “They work hard and do a good job. We had to teach them to properly clean the kennels and most of them are right on par with our workers and they work pretty quick. This takes a little bit of the load off of us and allows us to have a little bit more time to do meet-and-greets with our dogs and their prospective families.”
The main goals of the shelter are to protect the health and safety of our residents, ensure humane treatment of animals, provide temporary shelter for stray and unwanted animals and promote responsible pet ownership.
“Our goal is to get these animals adopted into wonderful homes and never have them come back,” said Marlow. “The volunteers help us meet that goal.”
While the Days of Service are this week only, volunteering can be done year round.
“Volunteering helps you learn new things and meet new people,” said Green. “It helps you out and it helps other people. Everyone needs a helping hand and everyone has a hand to help with.”