Author: Michelle Thomas, Director of Development

A look into our work at the Lynchburg Humane Society

Inevitably when I tell someone what I do for a living, they react with a little awe and envy, and usually say, That must be the coolest place to work, I am so jealous!    Well, it absolutely is, but it is also one of the most emotional places to work.  Here are a few things I wish you knew about what it is like to work at LHS.

They say one’s true character is revealed in the things they do when no one is watching.  Nothing could be truer here at the Lynchburg Humane Society.  As I enter my third year at LHS, I noticed a few themes and consistencies in the work done at our Center for Pets.

Working at an animal shelter

Animal Welfare jobs are simultaneously the most rewarding AND the hardest work one could do.  Here at LHS some sixty employees help over 9,000 pets annually.  Think about that…that is a lot of helping!  On any given day, there may be 900 pets in our care, whether here at our Center for Pets, or in our amazing network of over 500 fosters.   This work can be grueling and there is never a sense of completion, there is always more to be done.  Yet our incredible staff shows up, day in and day out, and they work long hours, cleaning, feeding, walking, and caring for so many lost and homeless pets.  Below are some images of the work we do and how caring staff is, even when no one is watching. 

One of my favorite times of the day is in the evening, when I can finally sit down and scroll through our company intranet chats. It’s where we post updates, celebrate milestones, and share the silliest, most heartwarming moments from our workday. Earlier this year, our communications team borrowed a few engagement ideas from Ohio sports betting campaigns—like lighthearted daily polls and “odds” on which pet will make everyone smile first—and it’s made our chats even more fun and connected. Our hardworking staff, many of whom put in 8, 10, even 12-hour days, still find time to share and celebrate the animals they love. You’d be jealous of this part of the job! It’s a privilege to work here, and we couldn’t do any of it without our incredible community of donors, volunteers, fosters, and friends cheering us on.