SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Volunteers like Paul Kestner are valuable to Seminole County Animal Services. Spectrum News 13’ Everyday Hero is a "Paw Partner," spending time every week walking shelter dogs.  

What You Need To Know

  •  Paul Kestner is a 'Paw Partner' for Seminole County Animal Services, who spends his time walking dogs at the shelter

  •  Animal Services has a great need for volunteers like Kestner

  • Staff members say there's been an uptick in people surrendering pets amid inflation and higher costs of caring for them  

  • Anyone who wants to volunteer can learn more at the shelter's website

Kestner’s passion for animals began early on. He said he’s had dogs for as long as he can remember and now owns three dogs that keep him busy at home.

“I get at least one 45-minute walk a day, sometimes two,” he said.

Kestner has a German Shepherd mix named Cato and two Tree Hound mixes named Lucy and Grace. He adopted all three from the shelter. 

Kestner hopes the time he spends exercising and care for the dogs at the shelter will help get them adopted.

“When I first started volunteering, they had pretty much two dogs in every kennel,” he said. “Where now there’s only three or four kennels that have two or three — or have two dogs in ‘em.”

The Seminole County animal shelter desperately needs more volunteers.

“When we have volunteers that are dedicated, and that come all the time on a regular schedule, we know that they’re coming,” said Education coordinator Diane Gagliano. “They’re on a regular schedule — we can count on them. The dogs count on them.”

Anyone who would like to volunteer can learn more at the shelter’s website.