Volunteer Spotlight: Ethen Cecil

Ethen Cecil first started volunteering at HSMO’s Macklind Avenue shelter doing feline enrichment in 2022. He had always had a soft spot for animals, and he wanted to start giving back to the community.

“It felt like the perfect pick,” he said.

In his role doing feline enrichment, Ethen helps ensure that every available cat gets an equal amount of time for social interaction and playing to help get them acclimated to humans.

“I write down the details of each cat: what they like and don’t like, their personality, obvious needs, etc.” he says. “All of this helps to determine which cat would be best for families to adopt based on their requests, and also helps other volunteers after me know how to handle each cat.”

Ethen enjoys volunteering because he knows he’s making a difference in the cats’ future.

“Helping a cat to be less afraid, comfortable, and having the chance to find a loving home, is what keeps me motivated and happy.”

He particularly likes working with the energetic kittens, noting how they think everything is a toy.

“Play time with the rascals has always been a hilarious joy,” he says.

Ethen encourages anyone interested in volunteering with the Humane Society of Missouri to look into it and research the ways you can help. He also recommends narrowing down which opportunities are a good fit and knowing your boundaries/limits.

“Sticking to a routine will absolutely help in the long run,” he says. “And don’t be afraid to ask for help. We’re all there for each other.”

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at both of our locations, click here.