Walking the Walk: Volunteering for Huntsville Animal Services
Published on January 28, 2026
For years, Susan Lash supported Huntsville Animal Services (HAS) in small but meaningful ways: following along on social media, donating food and treats, fostering a dog in 2021, and helping with Trunk or Treat events. Still, she hesitated to take the step into regular volunteering.
“Like a lot of people, I worried it would be too hard or too sad to spend time with the dogs and then leave them at the shelter,” Susan said.
That hesitation began to fade after Susan adopted an Akita from the Enterprise, Alabama shelter in 2024. The dog—then 88 pounds and now a thriving 124-pound gentle giant—had been saved thanks to a determined shelter employee who refused to give up on him. When Susan later returned with her dog to visit that employee, the moment left a lasting impression.
“It really meant a lot when she told me he was one of her best success stories,” Susan said. “It made me realize that as much as the dogs need homes, shelter staff need wins too.”
Inspired by that experience, Susan found the Huntsville Dog Stuff group and began participating in Pack Walks in November 2024. She officially completed HAS volunteer orientation in August 2025 and now volunteers two to three times a month. Her time often includes walking dogs around the shelter or taking part in Doggy Day Out adventures: sometimes to Dog Splash or the Huntsville Botanical Garden, and usually a pup cup stop is included.
Since moving to Huntsville in 2007, Susan has found the City to be welcoming and community-focused – qualities she sees reflected at Huntsville Animal Services. She frequently encourages others to join a Dog Stuff Pack Walk, describing it as a fun, low-pressure way to get involved.
“When people hear I volunteer at the shelter, they always say, ‘That must be so hard,’” Susan said. “But I’ve never had a dog not want to go back inside. The dogs are excited to see their daily caregivers.”
Susan says HAS staff members are always eager to hear how each outing went and to see photos or videos that help tell a dog’s story and find the right forever family.
“It can be tough sometimes,” she said, “but seeing how happy the dogs are with one-on-one attention—and all the puppy kisses—makes it completely worthwhile.”
