Chi Nguyen, Social Media Editor–
In the heart of Licking County, a group of Denison students is bridging the gap between campus life and community service, one wagging tail at a time.
The Denison Community Service Association (DCSA) arranged this experience, providing volunteers with the opportunity to dedicate their Thursday afternoons to the Licking County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center. These volunteers provide much-needed support to the shelter’s operations and its four-legged residents.
The Licking County Dog Shelter is in Heath, which is just 20 minutes from Denison. It serves as both a temporary home and a lifeline for abandoned and surrendered dogs across the county. The shelter’s mission is to provide safe, humane care for lost and homeless dogs while working to place them in loving, permanent homes.
Through DCSA, students can sign up to volunteer at the shelter on a weekly basis, with no long-term commitment required. It’s an opportunity that allows students to step out of the classroom and into the community, often forming deep connections with the animals—and the mission—they serve.
Anna Keller ‘26 has been volunteering for the animal shelter since her freshman year and is now serving as the Animals Right Coordinator for DCSA. Her inspiration for involvement in the team started from the connection she has with her own two cats, Georgie and Bill.
“I’ve always found that when I’m around animals, it really helps with my anxiety and everything. It just gives me a mental break. And I like to help others find that too,” said Keller.
The volunteer experience begins with students meeting on campus to carpool to the shelter. They’re greeted by shelter staff who provide a short briefing and assign tasks for the day. Some students help clean kennels or organize donations, but most spend the majority of their time interacting with the dogs—walking them, playing with them in the yard, or simply sitting beside them and offering affection.
Many of the dogs at the shelter arrive scared, uncertain, and in need of socialization. The presence of calm, caring volunteers can make a noticeable difference in their behavior, improving their chances of adoption.
“I also volunteer at an animal shelter at home. Over the summer, there’s this one dog. We call him Squishy, and he’s been at the shelter for half of his life. He does not like children and cats and he’s very protective of himself. I know he was mistreated, and he’s been back and forth between homes,” said Keller.
The work isn’t always glamorous—kennel cleaning and muddy walks in Ohio weather can be challenging—but for Keller, it’s about more than just walking dogs. Helping out with the shelter is about building bridges between the university and the wider community, but also between humans and the animals that depend on them.
“[The dogs] always like treats. So usually I start by setting a treat down, and then they usually slowly start to come towards you,” said Keller. “Wait until they nudge your hands before you pet them, because they might be caught off guard with all the initial interaction. It takes a lot of time with the animals.”
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