Meet Alyssa Doty: A Young Volunteer with a Big Heart for Service
When most 14-year-olds hear the words "Saturday morning," they're probably thinking about sleeping in.
Alyssa Doty is usually thinking about cats, owls, rodeo, and what needs to get done.
Alyssa is one of Fresno T.N.R.'s youngest volunteers. She's been volunteering with Fresno T.N.R. since she was 12, but volunteering is certainly nothing new for her. In fact, by the time she started helping Fresno T.N.R., Alyssa had already been volunteering for about 10 years.
It started when Alyssa's mom, Juliet, a Fresno T.N.R. volunteer and newsletter staff writer, brought a couple of cats to Brandi's house to be fixed. At the time, Brandi was operating Fresno T.N.R. out of her home.
"My mom was so taken with what Brandi was doing from her house, she asked if she could help," Alyssa says. "We started cleaning cages when Brandi was operating out of her cat room at her house. We cleaned kennels and traps over there many weekends."
And Alyssa was right there alongside her mom.
But helping with Fresno T.N.R. wasn't Alyssa’s first experience with animal rescue.
She Started Really Young
Mom has volunteered with Fresno Wildlife for years, and since most of the rehabbing back then was in home care, Alyssa helped.
"I would cut up chicks and mice and feed the owlets we were rehabbing," Alyssa recalls.
When Alyssa was asked why she volunteers, she gives an answer that is probably familiar to anyone who grew up in a family where volunteering was simply part of life.
"I really didn't have a choice in the beginning. My mom needed help, and I was told to help. But now I enjoy it."
And she certainly does more than just show up.
Many Saturday and Sunday mornings, Alyssa gets up early and heads to Fresno T.N.R. with her mom. She helps clean kennels, administer medications, assist with intake, and do whatever else needs to be done.
She also helps foster cats for Fresno T.N.R.
"We have fostered eight so far this year," she says.
Fostering is one of Alyssa's favorite parts of volunteering. She especially enjoys helping cats recover from injuries or leg amputations.
And, of course, there's the part she doesn't mind at all: getting to snuggle with them.
From Cats to Owls
Fresno T.N.R. isn't Alyssa's only volunteer commitment.
She continues to volunteer with Fresno Wildlife, which is especially close to home, literally. Her family has a mew, an aviary for raptors, on their property.
"We usually rehab three to five great horned owls a year and release them at the beginning of October," she explains. "I am responsible for feeding them in the evening and helping clean the mew, my least favorite job."
We can't blame her for having a least favorite job.
Alyssa also volunteers at Fresno Animal Center, primarily during Animal Balance events. Her responsibilities can include assisting veterinarians with wellness checks, transporting dogs and cats to surgery, and assembling surgical packs.
And then there's the California Junior Cowboys Association.
Volunteering Doesn't Stop at the Barn Door
Alyssa is an active rodeo competitor. She competes in pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, as well as heading and heeling in team roping.
CJCA is one of the organizations where she competes, but she doesn't just show up to compete.
"They always need help, so I help hold goats, set up poles, or haze," she says.
It seems that wherever Alyssa goes, she finds a way to help.
Why Does She Do It?
When asked whether she thinks volunteering is important, Alyssa doesn't hesitate.
"Yes. There are adults that I volunteer with at Fresno T.N.R. who do a lot. If more people did a little volunteering, it would lighten the load for the people who are doing a lot."
That's a pretty simple philosophy, but it's an important one.
Rescue organizations, wildlife rehabilitators, animal shelters, youth organizations, and countless other nonprofits depend on volunteers. Not everyone has the time to do everything, but almost everyone can do something.
A couple of hours cleaning kennels matters.
Feeding an owl matters.
Holding a goat matters.
Helping an injured cat recover matters.
And when enough people do a little, the people carrying the biggest loads don't have to carry them alone.
A Proud Mom
Juliet says she couldn't be prouder of her daughter.
"I am extremely proud of Alyssa. She comes with me 99% of the time and never complains. She does it with a happy heart and wants to serve."
For Juliet, volunteering is also part of the values she hopes to instill in her daughter.
"As Christians, volunteering is part of stewardship: time, talent, treasure, and I'm raising Alyssa to be a good steward."
And Alyssa has gained much more than volunteer hours along the way. She's learned practical skills, medical and animal-care skills, responsibility, and how to work alongside people of all ages.
"Alyssa is extremely competent," Juliet says. "I don't know many kids that would get up on a Saturday at 6 a.m., feed all their own animals, and then go volunteer. Most kids want to sleep till noon."
There is one thing Juliet doesn't have to worry about, though.
"I'm very glad she's my daughter, and I can volunteer with her. It’s memories I hold very dear."
It Takes All of Us
Alyssa's story is a great reminder you don't have to wait until you're an adult to make a difference.
You don't need a special title. You don't need to be an expert. And you don't have to do everything.
You just have to be willing to help.
For Alyssa, that willingness started with doing what her mom needed when she was little. Somewhere along the way, "I have to help" turned into "I want to help."
And now, at 14, she's helping cats, kittens, owls, dogs, rodeo competitors, and the organizations that care for them.
Fresno T.N.R. is incredibly fortunate to have volunteers like Alyssa who show up, get their hands dirty, and do the work that needs to be done.
Because sometimes the biggest difference isn't made by one person doing something extraordinary.
It's made by people like Alyssa, doing their little part with a happy heart.
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