ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – For the pets sitting in a shelter waiting for their forever home, it can get lonely at times. That's why Albuquerque Animal Welfare is looking for more volunteers to provide some relief this holiday season. With the holidays in full swing, the Eastside Animal Shelter in Albuquerque is looking for an extra set of paws to help out with the animals in their care. "We have a ton of different volunteer opportunities at the shelter, and we can encompass whatever level of animal interaction that you're comfortable with," said Tara Mansker, community engagement coordinator at the shelter. She said, during the holidays, they experience a shortage of volunteers. Battle continues for East Mountain residents as Campbell Ranch development moves forward Upon signing up, volunteers go through an orientation, learning what goes into caring for dogs and cats, and then they are taught to perform certain duties such as walking and creating enrichment activities. Volunteers can even cuddle some of the shelter animals! "It is incredibly invaluable. Without volunteers, a lot of our dogs wouldn't even get out to get walked or get interaction because our staff simply doesn't have the time," explained Mansker. Even younger community members can help out. Some Cub Scouts played their part in helping these four-legged friends by volunteering their time to make cat toys, "Well, I'm just making this funny pop-up thing so if a cat puts on it, it'll go in and the cats will be so surprised," said Cub Scout volunteer Carter Weldon. Even if it's for an hour or two a week, the shelter appreciates people stopping by and volunteering their priceless time. "It's also just super, super imperative that we have people who care and understand what these animals are going through to help them feel the comfort and the warmth of the holiday season that we're all feeling at home, that they might be missing out on right now while they wait," said Mansker. Cub Scouts Dylan and Max Vegun echoed this sentiment saying, "They should volunteer to make the lives of animals better."