Volunteers – Our Shelter Pets Best Friends!

Tulsa SPCA dogs and cats, puppies and kittens are always happy to see our volunteers with loving hands, playful attitudes, time to visit, take a walk, and socialize.  Orientations are on the second and fourth Saturdays each month at 10:00 am.

Volunteers help the pets in countless ways and often become a new shelter pet’s first human best friend.

Meet May’s Featured Volunteer:

A Tulsa native, Bruce Hall works full time for ResourceOne as a computer programmer.  He’s been in that field for over twenty years now and has seen many changes to the way computers operate.  Bruce and his wife, Lori, had visited the Tulsa SPCA and adopted a furry friend named, Lucy, a 7-year old black Chow mix, so they were familiar with the organization.

During 2006, Bruce was unemployed for a short time and was told he should be out “networking.”  He decided to go back to the Tulsa SPCA, go through the Orientation and start doing something constructive with his time.  So, while he searched for a job opportunity, he was hooked on Volunteering!

He began helping out with the Mobile Adoption Center called “The MAC.”  Every Saturday, the MAC goes into the community with dogs and cats on board.  The purpose is two-fold: to socialize the pets further and to find them a Forever Home.  Lori joined him soon after and they both gave much time and energy to the Cause.

Since then, there’s hardly a program or a place within the Tulsa SPCA that Bruce hasn’t helped with.  He’s walked in the many parades with the MAC and pitches in with the various events that help raise funds for this non-profit organization.  It’s not uncommon for Bruce to be Santa at the many holiday events toward the end of the year.  The visiting dogs just love him, though he needs a lot of padding to look authentic and they wonder about that white beard!

Bruce says he more or less “stumbled into photography.” Becky Robbins, a long-time volunteer, was taking the photos of the pets for the website and Bruce began helping her.  The switch was made and Bruce became the official photographer with Becky’s assistance.  The dogs and cats on the Tulsa SPCA campus smile for Bruce’s camera on a Saturday morning or at outings and events.  Tirelessly and diligently, Bruce burns the midnight oil often to inspect, organize and choose the perfect photo to display on the Tulsa SPCA and PetFinder websites.  He also edited the bios for the pets in addition to submitting photos of the pets for special additions of the newspaper, such as “Pause for a Pet” in the Tulsa World.  And when it’s time for the Tulsa SPCA newsletter to be published, Bruce is on hand to edit.  He’s got a keen eye and a dedication like no other!

Opening their hearts and homes to Waiting Dogs, Bruce and Lori foster dogs constantly now.  He says that with a tone in his voice that admits he’s glad to have the dogs there.  “Each pet has their very own personality and needs,” Bruce said.  We’re sure no two days are ever alike for the Hall family because Bruce often comes home to a new, temporary family member. We know he wouldn’t have it any other way!

When asked why he volunteers, Bruce said, “Seeing the dogs come out of their shells after being in their less-than-desirable circumstances is very rewarding.  I like spending time with them to help them overcome their shyness.  Some dogs need more help than others.”  When he’s finished photographing them, Bruce often sets his camera aside and spends time with the dogs.

“It’s a good feeling,” Bruce says, “to see dogs finding a home and getting a second chance in Life.”

To quote part of a Beatles’ song, “Where would we be without you?” Bruce. Thank you for everything you do!!