Moms and Daughters Making a Difference Together
For some moms, the best way to spend Mother’s Day is side by side with their kids and a few pets.
Debbie and Allison, a mother-daughter volunteer duo, have been spending Mother’s Day weekend at Houston Humane Society for seven years.
It started when Allison moved back to Houston. Her mom, Debbie, has been a volunteer at Houston Humane Society for 20 years, and Allison says, "it was kind of a given that I would start volunteering as well."
Now, with one in Clear Lake and the other in Sugar Land, the shelter has become their meeting place, a space where they can spend time together while giving back.
That same connection brought Suzanne and her daughter Brooke here, too.
Five years ago, they were visiting with a Girl Scout troop when they learned families could volunteer together. Suzanne says, "We looked at each other at the same time, smiling. Neither of us had to convince the other. We were ready!"
The two of them have made countless memories walking dogs together, spending time with cats, and even lending a hand at a puppy yoga class.
Suzanne and Brooke keep coming back year after year, and according to Suzanne, "not a second of your time is wasted."
The moms who bring their kids, whether young children or grown adults, are passing down a legacy of compassion and giving. Like Allison says, “It takes selflessness to dedicate your time to pets in need (especially in Texas summers!) It teaches you patience to connect with an animal that’s scared and may have a rough past. And, it’s good for your health, physically and mentally. It’s hard work, sometimes smelly work. But it’s absolutely worth it. Animal shelter volunteers are a very special breed."
Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms, with a special thank you to the moms in our community who show their kids that animals deserve love and a second chance.
