Member-only story
Volunteering Isn’t What I Thought
Finding fulfillment at a dog shelter in rural Japan
For several years now, I’ve wanted to get back into volunteering. I’d done a couple stints with a local arts program back in high school, but nothing since then. The pandemic offered a convenient excuse, as did my move from the U.S. to Japan three years ago, after which I never stayed in the same place for long.
Eight months ago, my husband and I moved to rural Nara Prefecture, where we settled in rather quickly. I’d always wanted to live in the countryside, and now that we were both self-employed, we’d realized that dream. Still, something was missing. I was lonely and searching for a sense of purpose.
Donald Trump winning the 2024 election was what finally spurred me to action. I couldn’t make much of a difference in my home country from the opposite side of the globe, but I could find a way to get involved in my local area.
I’m now two months deep into volunteering at a dog shelter, and my only regret is not starting sooner, even if it’s a bit different than I expected.
Why a dog shelter?
Scrolling through the volunteering opportunities available in my small town didn’t get me anywhere. With my limited Japanese abilities, I didn’t feel that participating in a…
