Humane society volunteer Barb Timmer raised enough money through selling T-shirts to have outside play area for dogs like George, a shephard boxer mix. George and many other dogs are available for adoption at the Humane Society of Richland County.(Photo: Jason J. Molyet/News Journal)Buy Photo

ONTARIO - Barb Timmer has been a faithful volunteer at the Humane Society of Richland County for six years.

She saw a particular need almost right away.

"I've been wanting a fence ever since the first dog I walked got loose," Timmer said. "Luckily, I sat down and eventually the dog came back to me."

Timmer raised $4,000 for fencing for play yards through the sale of T-shirts. She found a company called Merch on Amazon that does print-on-demand T-shirts.

Some of the shirts feature pictures of dogs at the shelter.

To get to the site, visit ItsTheTruthDesigns.com.

Humane agent and shelter director Missy Houghton has four or five of the T-shirts.

"They hold their size well," Houghton said. "They're soft and comfortable to wear."

There is a need for dogs to be able to burn off energy. Houghton said the exercise lowers stress levels and makes the dogs more adoptable.

Timmer initially came to the humane society to walk dogs. She developed an interest in the adoption events and started helping with those.

Today she is the volunteer coordinator.

Timmer says she wasn't sure she wanted to be at the humane society.

"I was kind of leery of coming in here," she said. "I thought it was a sad place, but I found it was a happy place. I love spending time with the animals."

During a recent interview in the play yard, a young boxer mix named George romped with the volunteer.

Timmer has been a nurse at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital for 38 years. The Mansfield native married her high school sweetheart, Mark.

"We met in 10th grade," she said. "He's not the animal lover I am, but he tolerates the time I spend out here."

The Timmers have a dog and a cat at home. Timmer said she's partial to golden retrievers.

Through continued T-shirt sales, Timmer hopes to raise money for "things that are considered luxuries to a shelter." Those include a shed to store equipment and MP3 players for relaxing music.

Timmer said her greatest satisfaction as a volunteer is seeing an animal come out of a bad situation and go to a loving home.

"They're really happy here until they hit the jackpot and get adopted," Timmer said. "They have the care, the attention and the love that they need."

Timmer is a big part of that success.

"What she does, you can't put a value on it," Houghton said. "She is so willing to go above and beyond.

"We wish every shelter had a Barb Timmer."

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill

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Volunteer raises money for dog play yard at shelter - Mansfield News Journal