The animals brought Michael Arnold to Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary, but it was the people who convinced him to stay.

After taking an injured squirrel to Greenwood, Arnold realized he couldn’t “always leave a donation, but he could give back” by volunteering his time. Thus, after trying out several volunteer positions in the community, Arnold found his calling at Greenwood.

The Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary educates the public on Colorado’s wildlife, helps to resolve wildlife conflicts in a humane manner and helps injured, orphaned and sick wildlife return to the wild.

A volunteer since May 2006, Arnold has put in nearly 300 hours, according to Andrea Lawless, volunteer services coordinator for Greenwood. “He is not afraid to get his hands dirty and help us where we need it the most,” she said.

Arnold “designed a new hose system for the outdoor caging that has drastically increased efficiency for cleaning the raccoon cages,” Lawless said. “He assists with all of Greenwood’s facility needs, such as landscaping, building animal cages and basic maintenance.”

Arnold also is a member of Greenwood’s Transport Team, which drives injured and orphaned animals up to Greenwood for members of the public who do not have a method of transportation.

“No task is too great or too small for Greenwood’s jack of all trades, Michael Arnold,” Lawless said.

Arnold was quick to point out that the employees and other volunteers at Greenwood are “great people to work with.” The staffers “really treat volunteers well. They welcome you to try anything,” he said. “It’s just a super place to volunteer and you can’t beat the people — they are so dedicated and passionate.”

For information about volunteering with Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904, or go to our Volunteer Central.