Keep good company. You'll make lots of new friends—and not just the four-legged kind. Working side by side with people who share similar interests can forge lifelong friendships.

Meet the new you. You'll discover skills you never knew you had, and you may be surprised at what you're capable of achieving. Be all that you never knew you could be.

Gain a new career. You'll learn things that may lead you to the career—or career change—of your dreams. Employers and college admissions officers look favorably on time spent in volunteer serivce.

Enjoy a wagging tail, a purr, and a smile. Didn't someone once say that the best things in life are free?

Recommended Reading: "The Cathedral Within : Transforming Your Life by Giving Something Back " - Billy Shore doesn't just have a message; he is a great storyteller with a message. The result is a book that you won't want to stop reading until you get to the very last page. Then you will want to go out and do something to make yourself and the world a little bit better place. It has been a long time since I read a book that made me think so much, or reflect so deeply on the world in which we live; or the one that we will leave to the next generations. (courtesy: Amazon)