January 2023 Monthly Volunteer Profile: Tanner Kobar

Tanner (left) with job coach, Michael (right)

There’s a saying about how people ‘make a mark’ in an organization through hard work and dedication. In the case of Winnipeg Humane Society volunteer Tanner Kobar, he makes his mark around the shelter each week by removing marks, which helps guests, staff and volunteers get a clear picture of adoptable animals.

Tanner is in his second year of volunteering at the WHS. As an Adoptions Maintenance Assistant, cleaning the windows of the dog enclosures for the Adoptions department takes up a lot of his shift each week, but he will now be doing some laundry and filling the animals’ water bowls for Animal Care.

Tanner volunteers at the WHS as part of his involvement with the Career and Community Experiences Program offered by the Pembina Trails School Division in Winnipeg. The program, open to all students, is designed to offer a variety of community/work experience and career exploration opportunities in support of their educational programs.

Where possible, work experience opportunities are related to a student’s areas of interest. Tanner had indicated a passion for animals to his teachers, so the WHS was approached.

For two hours each week, Tanner comes to the shelter with job coach Michael Marks to clean the windows of the dog enclosures of the nose prints and paw prints. If you ask Tanner, he’d say he has to keep Michael on track. “He doesn’t spray the windows,” Tanner said. He just plays with the dogs.

“No, I play with them first and then I spray the windows,” Michael answered.

“Yeah, but it takes a while,” he replied.

Their banter aside, Tanner and Michael agreed there’s always a bit of time for cuddles or playing with the dogs. When Tanner started, he was also cleaning the windows of the cat condos but he soon confirmed that he is allergic to cats, as is Michael.

In addition to his weekly shift at the WHS, Tanner also does laundry at Shaftesbury High School (where he attends) and works as a dishwasher at the Rec Room three times a week. Life skills activities include going grocery shopping or taking a bus. And he also takes on variety of courses from grades 9-12.

It’s clear that visiting the shelter is one of his highlights of the week. “My favourite things about coming here are seeing the dogs and saying hello to everyone,” he said. “Everyone is friendly here and that’s what I like about here a lot. All the people love the animals.”

Tanner and his family have a dog at home. Rex is a three-year-old miniature poodle. “I like him a lot,” Tanner explained. “He’s a very smart dog. When I say ‘Night-night’ he goes running up to my bedroom and he sleeps with me every night.”

If animals are Tanner’s top interest, next on the list has to be World Wrestling Entertainment. He’s been to several wrestling cards in Winnipeg where he’s been high-fived or gotten a pat on the back from the wrestlers. He also has a collection of WWE memorabilia, including posters, pictures, t-shirts, action figures and more.

But for now, at least, dogs remain at the top of Tanner’s interests. He’s hoping that he could learn to be a dog walker when he takes on a second shift next semester. Of all the dogs he’s met over the two school years, his favourites were mixed breeds Banjo and Wiley.

“Ever met a dog here that you’d like to take home?” I asked.

“All of them,” he said, without hesitation.

Written by: Brian Kozak, Volunteer MVP Writer
Photo by: Jim Harvey, Volunteer MVP Photographer