Young shelter volunteer lending a hand

submitted photo VOLUNTEERING -- Megan Gainey, daughter of Brian and Shawna Gainey, has been lending more than a hand to the Greene County Humane Society. Recently, Megan and her grandma, Ann Gainey, (at left) made a visit to the shelter with $100 plus cat and dog food, towels, toys and chew bones.

Megan Gainey, daughter of Brian and Shawna Gainey, has been lending more than a hand to the Greene County Humane Society.

Rene Abram, shelter director, explained, "I met Megan in 2006 when she came into the shelter with $100. I asked her where she got the money from and she said it was her Christmas money that she wanted to give to the animals."

Since, then Megan's been volunteering at the shelter as well as spreading the word on its importance.

"When I was 10, I gave $100, my Christmas money, to the Humane Society," Megan explained. "Another Christmas I gave another $100."

Just recently, Megan and her grandma, Ann Gainey, made another visit to the shelter with $100 plus cat and dog food, towels, toys and chew bones, Abram said.

"Megan went in front of the women's association of her church in Bloomfield and gave a minute presentation on why the women should donate to the shelter... and that was without our knowledge," Abram said.

And help out they did.

Megan explained, "I gave information about the Human Society and then they decided to help out...My (Bloomfield First Presbyterian) church donated all the food and $100."

Megan, now a teen, has also volunteered at the shelter intermittently.

Abram explained, "When she was younger she helped run the shelter, she was maybe 11 or 12... she still shows up to help. Every time she comes to the door she's bringing something with her."

Just a couple of months ago she showed up with her dad and 100 pounds of dog food, Abram added.

"Volunteers come and go, but she seems to be consistent with it even as she's growing," she also said.

Megan also encourages others to volunteer at the shelter.

"Most of time I've cleaned out cat cages... I give small dogs baths and I show the people coming in the animals," Megan explained. "It's fun. You get to play with the animals."

But, Megan's love of animals goes beyond the Humane Society.

"I have loved animals my whole life... and actually I became a vegan. I don't drink milk or eat meat, I love animals that much," she said. "I became a vegan at the beginning of this year and was a vegetarian three years prior to that."

At home she has a dog, cat, gerbil and a fish and she'd love to have more.

"We used to have two dogs, two cats, two gerbils and three fish...," she added, noting the downsize came only because some of the animals died.

"My mom doesn't really like animals so she won't let me get anymore, but my dad wouldn't care," Megan said.

You'd think that work in the veterinary field would be in her future, but think again.

"I want to be a pediatrician and adopt a dog and have it sitting around the office. I can't be a vet, I can't put any dogs down," Megan said.

The Greene County Human Society is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information on volunteering at the shelter call 847-4780.