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Volunteer group Wayward Journey reports rapid growth, new services at Grass Valley animal shelter
Summary
Wayward Journey told the City Council it has grown volunteer operations at the Grass Valley animal shelter over six months, operating a weekly pet pantry and vaccine clinic, expanding foster and enrichment programs, funding veterinary care and making facility upgrades. The group asked residents to volunteer and to donate through its website.
Wayward Journey, a volunteer nonprofit partnered with the Grass Valley animal shelter, told the City Council on Oct. 14 that it has expanded services, fundraising and volunteer capacity since the partnership launched six months ago.
"We have given away over 10,000 pounds of dog and cat food so far in the last 6 months," said Taylor Davis of Wayward Journey, describing a weekly pet pantry that distributes donated food and operates from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Davis said volunteers obtain supplies through a partnership with the Reno SPCA.
The group described a $10 donation vaccine clinic that has administered 116 vaccines to date and said it has made facility improvements — including new exterior gates, white‑line painting to reduce pavement heat, a sunshade over the play yard, donated wood chips and a new puppy play area in progress. Wayward Journey also said it helped the shelter move to management software called Shelter Love to speed adoption processing.
Davis outlined the nonprofit’s foster program: 23 foster providers are active, Wayward Journey said, and 62 animals have been adopted from foster homes; the group also reported transferring seven animals to partner rescues. The nonprofit said it subsidized more than $4,000 in veterinary care for shelter animals, including insulin for a diabetic cat and emergency procedures for other animals.
The group emphasized volunteer scale and scope: "We have 67 trained volunteers helping with enrichment, fundraising, social media management," Davis said, and volunteers have logged more than 3,200 hours. Wayward Journey estimated the minimum wage value of volunteered time at about $10,000 per month, and noted numerous professionals donate specialized services.
Council members asked how residents can help. "Please visit our website, waywardjourney.org. We have our volunteer applications, the foster applications on there," Davis said. Wayward Journey also said people may donate food at the shelter or order supplies shipped directly through online links.
The presentation concluded with council members thanking the volunteers and asking follow‑up questions about donations, drop‑off locations, and inclusion of volunteers of differing abilities.
Wayward Journey’s update was informational; no council action was requested or taken during the presentation.
