Forest Oden
“My time at PAWS has been more rewarding than I could have imagined, and I hope it is for you too!”
Forest Oden moved to Chicago in December 2022, and he’s been a PAWS Chicago volunteer since December 2022.
“It was actually part of my criteria to find an animal shelter that I wanted to volunteer at before signing a lease. I did my first Zoom orientation in my new apartment with boxes still everywhere,” says Forest.
Forest spends a lot of time in our Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic as a recovery assistant and helping at our Pet Food Pantry. He’s also a PAWS Ambassador, Community Outreach volunteer, and Vaccine Clinic volunteer.
“I love all of it, but Pet Food Pantry has been my favorite. Being able to interact with the community and help foster the human-animal bond in underserved communities is so rewarding,” says Forest.
In addition to all that, Forest just completed TLC training to work with quarantined animals at the PAWS Chicago Medical Center.
“PAWS’s mission means so much to me because it gives every cat or dog that comes through our doors a chance to find their home regardless of their circumstances,” says Forest.
For anyone thinking about becoming a PAWS volunteer, Forest has a few tips:
“Just try it! Everyone I have met, volunteer or staff, is always willing to support you as a new volunteer. And be open to new things. There are a lot of different opportunities at PAWS beyond playing with cats and dogs—although who doesn’t want that—that go towards supporting animals in and around Chicago,” says Forest.
Outside of PAWS, Forest has a deep love of electronic music and has travelled to many states in the U.S. and five other countries in pursuit of this passion. But a new passion is on his horizon.
“I am going back to school to pursue my dream of getting into veterinary school and ultimately becoming a vet.”
PAWS Chicago is thrilled to be a part of Forest’s animal welfare journey, and we hope to soon be a part of yours. Please consider joining our team of dog and cat-loving volunteers.
“My time at PAWS has been more rewarding than I could have imagined, and I hope it is for you too,” says Forest.