El Paso Volunteers Donate 50,000 Hours to Shelter Pets

When Kim Heidemann walks through the kennels at the Humane Society of El Paso, tails start wagging before she even arrives. Robin knows she'll stop to scratch behind his ears, and Rex does excited laps knowing treats are coming.

Heidemann joined the shelter's volunteer program earlier this year after realizing she couldn't adopt a dog herself right now. Instead of letting that stop her from helping animals, she found another way to make an impact.

"I've got a soft spot for animals since I can't have one personally," Heidemann said. "And this is my way to give back."

As a "tail wagger" volunteer, she cleans kennels, washes dishes, sanitizes toys, and gives extra love to dogs waiting for their forever homes. The work might sound simple, but for animals stuck in cages all day, it's everything.

The Humane Society of El Paso runs on this kind of dedicated community support. Volunteers collectively donate nearly 50,000 hours every year, keeping operations running and giving homeless pets the attention they desperately need.

The shelter offers a tiered volunteer program, letting people serve in areas that match their interests and schedules. For many El Pasoans, donating money isn't an option, so they donate their time instead.

Heidemann said she grew up with many dogs and missed their companionship. Volunteering fills that gap while helping animals who need her most.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story special isn't just the numbers. It's watching someone transform a personal limitation into community action. Heidemann can't have a dog at home, so she became the favorite human for dozens of shelter dogs instead.

She's also found connection beyond the animals. Volunteering introduced her to other animal lovers and made her feel part of something bigger. "It's a really great way to be part of the community and also help with exercising the animals," she said.

The shelter's 33rd Annual Happiness Happens Here Telethon is raising funds for medical care, food, shelter, and enrichment activities. But the real wealth walking through those doors every day is people like Heidemann, proving that showing up matters just as much as writing a check.

Her hope is simple: make the dogs a little more comfortable in a tough situation.

The best part? There are thousands of hours still waiting to be filled by people who just need to show up.