As I leave the vet from taking my 2 year old pit bull to get new rabies shot I relieve that within the variety of dog s people can choose from often times bigger dogs are the ones families are choosing. The “American” family of two married parents with two beautiful kids almost always have a Golden Retriever, a mixed mutt or what seems to be the most popular lately, a Pit bull. Some families even have multiple dogs. But what happens when the dog has to be put down due to Cancer related symptoms.

If there was one organization I would want to advocate for, it would be Wild Berry Dogs Foundation. Worth explains that advocating includes action taken in support of a cause or an idea. (Worth, pg.471). Wild Berry Dogs is a nonprofit organization that focuses on education and awareness and research of canine cancer. They have incredible education information on canine wellness, cancer awareness and canine cancer treatments. The organization says that one and three dogs get cancer. 6 million dogs are diagnosed this year and without treatment must die within the year. This organization is a very important as it allows dog lovers and families with dogs within their family live a longer life span. Fundraising activity they use is a weeklong dog camp in Lake Tahoe and a series of yuppie hour events and get together’s that are created for dogs to have fun along with their owners. Wild blue dogs and the team of volunteers create a variety of activities for pet owners and their pets. These activities may include the outdoors, walking or showing off their dog and enjoying their time with friends, neighbors, and their dogs. People who can fund and support the Wild Blue Dogs Foundation the more funding for treatment this organization can give to these animals and also find was to fund the trial experiments that may cure diseases that these dogs are getting. One reason I chose to donate to them is I feel they are trying to make the people happier knowing they will not just have a dog for the next 7-10 years but possibly longer than that. It’s about making the people feel great just as much as they make their pet live the happiest life possible.

More and more people are getting dogs and these creatures are becoming part of millions of families in the US. Are though they are like all living things life must come to an end but if we are able to find a cure to help manage their symptoms and side effects to extend their lifespan and lead to the best life possible for as long as possible why not help! “Advocacy by nonprofits has played an important role in the most significant social changes through U.S. history.” (Worth, pg.487). If we are able to help with educating the people and help monitor families that need help with their dogs condition(s) we higher the risk of having happier families and possible longer living family members, “the more they advocate and [italics original] serve, the greater the impact they achieve” (Worth, pg.485).

They have partnered up with NCI, National Cancer institute And CLEAR, Cancer Lymphoma Education Awareness and Research. NCI have a strong image and Pfizer are maintaining an entire library of canine tissue samples and several clinical trials. WBD offers grants and provides treatment services for California Residential dogs that are diagnosed with cancer or show signs of cancer activities within their bodies. 

REFERENCES

The WBD Vision (n.d) Retrieved July 26, 2019, from https://www.wildbluedogs.org/

Worth, Michael J. (2017). Nonprofit Management: Principles and Practice. Managing the Nonprofit Organization: Developing Strategy and Building Capacity. Pgs.468-488.

Volunteer Opportunity #1:

OC Public Library needs volunteers so they can promote the library with in the community enriching resources, providing legislative support and sponsoring cultural programs . Throughout their 33 libraries within orange county they are looking for regular volunteers (2003)  to teach internet classes, assist with after homework centers, create art display and assist with arts and craft projects, staff phones and answer questions from library patrons, shelves books and assist with children summer reading programs, help preserve special collections, participate in story time activities and puppet shows, assist with fundraising activities and special event, and many more activities (Shin and Kleiner, 2003). There isn’t a specific date or times when this opportunity is available, it is based on the volunteer’s schedule. If interested, you contact the organization from the volunteermatch.org website by leaving your phone number. Although there is no requirement to become a volunteer for the OC Pubic Library you are given training before you begin your volunteer hours. Ways I can improve this volunteer opportunity to make it more informative and appealing is by adding direct contact information, provide the age groups they may work with and most importantly benefits they might get out of volunteering. The mission for this volunteer opportunity is to promote the library with in the community, enriching resources, providing legislative support and sponsoring cultural programs. They fundraise to support children’s programs and other projects. Not only is the agency extending this opportunity within 33 different locations they are including the volunteers of OC Public Libraries in the library’s circle of influence allowing them to be a part of the community’s improvements and support the library system and services. Volunteers are motivated by being repaid in some kind of benefits and in this case they gain new skills, get involved in the community, provide valuable services, make new friends and gain fresh perspectives and get to apply their own talents and expertise’s to activities and projects for their experiences (Worth, T. 2016). The opportunity gives complete insight on things they do daily by helping me learn how they find fun ways to keep children involved in the library and uses volunteers to help plan fundraising. Before seeing the volunteer advertised, I was aware of the volunteer opportunity. I even recommended this to a friend that is studying in Early Child Development and is now a preschool teacher. I am interested in this opportunity as it is local and is a great way for me to learn and find books that entertain children and bring knowledge to children within different age groups.

OC Public Libraries Volunteer – La Habra. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp445644.jsp

Worth, M, J. (2016). Retrieved from Non Profit Management Principles and Practices 4^th Edition.

Volunteer Opportunity #2:

After School Program Volunteer Cypress Villa is an opportunity to enrich the lives of children who live in affordable living. The location of the volunteer experience is 900 N. Cypress La Habra, CA 90631 but again the time depends on the volunteer’s schedule but will take place on Tuesday and Thursday’s. Volunteer interest can go through the volunteermatch.org website where they will contact you from the number you left but there is no direct contact number. Volunteers would be helping with reading clubs, arts and crafts, computer classes, character education and many more activities that help children develop self-confidence and a love of learning. There was no specified orientation explained but they require to run a background check and you must be at least 14 years old to volunteer. This opportunity does not interest me in volunteering, but I did recommend it to a friend who is currently wanting to explore in possibly pursing an Elementary School teaching certification. To make the volunteer opportunity more informative and appealing I would add specific activities, how they are going to promote self-confidence and incorporate the ways they plan to help kids find the love in learning. They need to make it fun and clear on how they will with hold their mission. The volunteers involved can create and push activities that will get kids attention which will help meet their mission. The volunteer opportunity does not give insight into the daily operations.

After School Program Volunteer in La Habra (Cypress Villa). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp440535.jsp

Worth, M, J. (2016). Retrieved from Non Profit Management Principles and Practices 4^th Edition.

Volunteer Opportunity #3:

Wet N Wild 5k is a charity event that helps children in crisis living in Baja, Mexico. The event takes place on August 10^th, 2019 at 5:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at La Mirada Splash. Splash is a Aquatic Center and Regional Park 13806 La Mirada Blvd La Mirada, CA 90636. This organization is looking for “spot volunteer” (2003), since this takes place within two days they just need enough people to have a successful event (Sunney Shin and Brian Kleiner, 2003). They need volunteers on August 9^th to race set up and put together packets and set up the courses. On August 10^th, volunteers will assist with registration, aid stations, course direction and can even participate in the run themselves for a $25 entry fee. Although there is no direct contact information you can go to their website, www.wetnwild5k.com and send or sign up for the event. To sign up to be a volunteer you must be at least 8 years old, if under 12 they will need supervision and there will be some type of training. I am interested, if I were to volunteer, I would definitely participate in the run and help in any other ways because that’s what makes volunteering fun, being involved! The events give volunteers options, which I like but I also enjoy the act that it rewards everyone who contributes all ages.  

WetNWild5K, Sat. August 10, 2019. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp2310050.jsp

Worth, M, J. (2016). Retrieved from Non Profit Management Principles and Practices 4^th Edition.