SPCA of Texas March Volunteers of the Month Consistently Have Fun Helping Animals

Some volunteers show up when it’s convenient. Masami and Riley Beltz show up every single Sunday—rain or shine, week after week—and they have been doing it for two years straight.

That kind of dedication is exactly why we are thrilled to celebrate Masami and Riley as our March Volunteers of the Month. Since they began volunteering together in March of 2023, the two have logged more than 200 hours each. That’s 400 hours combined of pure, consistent, show-up-and-get-it-done commitment to the animals in our care. That is not just a number. That is hundreds of Sunday mornings spent choosing our animals over sleeping in, and the impact of that choice is felt by every dog, every cat, and every staff member they work alongside.

If you have ever wondered what a perfect volunteer morning looks like at the SPCA of Texas, Masami and Riley have it down to an art.

They arrive and dive straight into morning play groups, walking dogs outside, giving them the fresh air, exercise, and one-on-one attention that makes a real difference in the life of our shelter dogs. This mother-daughter duo works with our behavior team, supporting the kind of structured, intentional care that helps dogs become more adoptable and more confident. And then, when the dogs are settled, they switch gears entirely and head over to cat care, rolling up their sleeves to help with morning cleaning and making sure our feline residents are comfortable, clean, and loved.

It is a full morning of meaningful work, and the Beltzes bring the same energy and dedication to every single part of it. SPCA of Texas employees nominated Masami and Riley specifically for this consistent, multifaceted commitment.

“They’ve made a huge impact on the animals and staff that help care for them,” wrote one nominator. And anyone who has seen them in action knows that is not an overstatement.

For Masami and Riley, the reason they volunteer with the SPCA of Texas is simple. “It makes us feel happy because we are able to meet and help a lot of animals,” Masami and Riley shared. “We love animals and want to help them when they are in need. It’s sad to see them without a home.”

That empathy is at the heart of everything they do. The pair is not here for recognition or routine. They are at the SPCA of Texas because they genuinely care. Masami and Riley care about the dog who needs a walk, about the cat who needs a clean space, about the animal who is one good interaction away from being ready for their loving family. Two years in and 400 hours later, that motivation has never wavered.

If you have ever been curious about volunteering but were not sure what to expect, Masami and Riley encourage others to volunteer at the SPCA of Texas because, “It is more fun than you think.

“It’s fun to help the animals, and we get to play with them too!” they say. And that enthusiasm is completely genuine. “Volunteering at the SPCA of Texas is not just meaningful work. It is joyful work. It is the kind of work that sends you home on a Sunday afternoon feeling like you did something that actually mattered. Because you did,” the Beltzes reflect.

(L-R) Riley and mom Masami Beltz and one of their SPCA of Texas favorites, Ivory. Sweet Ivory still is available for adoption!

Masami and Riley have seen firsthand what their work produces. “By walking, playing, and taking care of the animals at the SPCA of Texas, we think we’ve been able to make their lives better and to help them find their loving homes,” they reflect.

That is the quiet, powerful truth of what consistent volunteer service does. It moves animals closer to the moment someone walks through the shelter doors and says yes.

Four hundred hours is a remarkable number. But what it really represents is something even more amazing—two people who decided that showing up for animals every week is worth their time, and who have never stopped believing that.

Masami and Riley, thank you. Our animals are better for knowing you, our staff is grateful to work beside you, and we are so proud to call you our March Volunteers of the Month.