Finding fulfilment as canines’ companion

Tim Campbell loves dogs. He loves them so much that as soon he retired from his job at Panasonic Canada in early 2024 he began volunteering in earnest at the Winnipeg Humane Society (WHS).

He’d started his voluntary career five years prior with another local dog rescue organization. The work was rewarding, he says but the call-outs were unpredictable.

He was looking for a voluntary role which had a bit more structure to it, something he could build a routine around, while spending time with the animals he truly adores.

“In the summer, I’m there two mornings a week, and when the weather turns a little colder, I’m there anywhere from three to four mornings, depending on what’s going on,” Campbell, 59, explains.

The Canine Contentment Volunteer’s (CCV) shifts are most often spent caring for the dogs in the holding area in the back of the building.

Essentially, I get to play with dogs,” he says with a laugh. “I take them outside to do their business and hang out with them, take them for walks … I also monitor the dogs and take notes to provide feedback to the behaviour department in case of any behavioural issues.”

The number of dogs he cares for can vary from shift to shift. Sometimes there can be a dozen puppies needing attention and play. At other times there’s up to 25 dogs, some of which are strays, rescues and surrenders, awaiting assessment before being deemed suitable to be moved on to the adoption area, while others are pets awaiting veterinary procedures or recovering after an operation.

“There could be a dog that could come in for a short time, maybe four days and then it could go back to the owner,” he says.

But there are also dogs there that remain in the holding area for much longer than anyone on the team would like.

Campbell’s job is to make sure the animals do not experience feelings of stress. High noise levels, unfamiliar smells and past trauma can cause dogs in the holding area to display signs of depression or stress responses.

“We want them to have as little stress as possible. We want to have them meeting people, playing as much as they can because animals love to play. We want to get them out for a long walk or run, get them bouncing and jumping.”

But it’s not all fun and games. The work routinely brings volunteers into contact with animals recovering from physical injuries and neglect. It’s one of the more challenging aspects of his role.

“When I first started that was a bit of a tough one, but if you think about it, we’re doing good for the animal, we’re taking care of it if it needs an operation, if it needs some help. And dogs are very, very resilient,” he says.

Another challenge is encountering nervous canines who can’t seem to settle. It’s best to take one’s time with jumpy dogs, Campbell says pointing out that volunteers are trained by staff on how to deal with tense and panicky animals.

“They’re scared, they’re stressed, they’re alarm barking at you then you don’t want to jump in and greet the animal too quickly. You’ve got to take your time, you’ve got to let the animal get you know first. As long as you deal with it properly, then the dog will be your best buddy,” he says.

Most of the time treats can entice a scared or nervous dog to approach you, but sometimes even the yummiest liver stick or stinkiest pig’s ear might not be enough if a dog has shut itself off from any kind of interaction.

When Campbell encounters a pup that won’t respond to anything, he tries to stay on after his shift ends if only just to sit outside the dog run with some gentle music playing in the background.

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“For me it’s all about respecting the dog’s space. You’re not trying to pressure it to go outside, you’re there to let it get used to you. It’s amazing what happens from one day to the next, because when you go back the dog remembers, it knows you’re a good person who is there for good reasons and it will approach you,” he shares.

The work is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding but Campbell relishes every moment. Walking into a room and seeing a dog’s mood swiftly change is the best thing about his role, he says.

“There is nothing better than having a dog that wants to be around you, that wants to play, cuddle and give you kisses … it’s a very rewarding part of volunteering here. I find if I’m with an animal, a dog, a horse, whatever, the stress level just drops. You’re just in your happy place. And the animals need us. We’re here to look after them. We’re here to care for them,” he says, adding that when he first started at the WHS his wife was worried he was going to come back home with a handful of dogs.

“My wife was a little bit nervous, she was worried because I love dogs so much. Oh man, it’s hard not get attached to these dogs… I would say out of 10 dogs, nine of them I’ll get attached to. Maybe 10 … maybe 10.”

If you know a special volunteer, please contact AV.Kitching@freepress.mb.ca

AV Kitching
Reporter

AV Kitching is an arts and life writer at the Free Press. She has been a journalist for more than two decades and has worked across three continents writing about people, travel, food, and fashion. Read more about AV.

Every piece of reporting AV produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.