Young Volunteer Devotes Friday Afternoons To Shelter Pets

Each Friday, the cats at Palmetto Animal League look forward to seeing one of their favorite people! Delaney Bausher may be one of our younger volunteers, but her passion for animal rescue is unmatched. This 7th grader is an incredibly hard worker, and she’s always eager to help in any way possible. 

“Delaney is always joyful when she comes to volunteer,” says PAL President Amy Campanini. “She’s a fast learner and whether she’s feeding the cats, scooping litterboxes, doing the dishes, or folding laundry, she always gives a hundred percent!”

Accompanied by her grandmother, Sandy Leinbach, Delaney visits PAL once a week during the school year and two days a week in the summer. 

“When my grandchildren were little, they loved visiting the cats and dogs at PAL,” explains Sandy. “Laney enjoyed it so much, she wanted to volunteer, but she was only 9 years old at the time. I told her I would sign up with her, so she could expand her passion for helping shelter pets.”

Now 12 years old, Delaney creates a special connection with so many cats at PAL, offering them a precious sense of “home” during their time at our adoption center. Unable to have a cat of her own at home due to an allergy in her family, time spent with shelter cats is good for her soul. 

“The thing I like most about volunteering at PAL is watching the most amazing and perfect cats get adopted into their forever homes,” says Delaney. “These adopters bring home the most sophisticated animals in the world to call their own.”

There’s no doubt Delaney has a special love for cats. She knows lots of cat facts and takes it upon herself to learn about all the different breeds. She gives extra attention to the senior and disabled cats, especially 12-year-old Tomcat who has been at PAL for nearly 3 years. 

“I rely on Delaney to spoil Tom every time she’s at PAL,” says Campanini. “He knows she’s his ticket to a second dinner! I’m grateful for Delaney’s love of cats and her commitment to making their lives better at our adoption center.”

Fridays at PAL would not be the same without Delaney and Sandy. Delaney’s dedication, kindness, and compassion inspire us all.

Palmetto Animal League relies on volunteers to help care for over 300 animals at our no kill adoption center in Okatie. Dedicated volunteers like Delaney and Sandy are an essential part of our life-saving mission. For information on different volunteer opportunities at the PAL Adoption Center or PAL Thrift Store, visit PalmettoAnimalLeague.org/volunteer.   

Lindsay Perry, Palmetto Animal League Marketing Coordinator

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Thank you to our Partners in Rescue, The Bluffton Sun and The Hilton Head Sun for being beacons of compassion and hope for homeless pets in our community. Please show your support for these local animal loving businesses!