There is something for everyone to get involved in at the Shelter and we encourage animal lovers to volunteer their time.
From dog walking and cat grooming to adoption counseling, there are many varied volunteer opportunities.
Dog Walking
As a volunteer dog walker, you will have the opportunity to interact with the dogs on a one-on-one basis. If you're not up for a walk, an equally interactive and enjoyable alternative is taking the dog into the exercise yard and playing a game of ball. You must be 18 years of age or older to walk any of the shelter dogs.
Fostering
Fostering a cat or a dog can be a challenging and rewarding activity all at the same time. Foster families are beneficial to the Shelter because they are often able to find homes for their guests much quicker, both because they fall in love with their foster animal and end up adopting themselves or because of their community connections. If you're an animal lover and enjoy the challenge of getting to know new animals and new breeds, you will definitely enjoy the fostering experience.
Pet grooming can be a mixture of relaxation and challenge. Like humans, animals have their own unique personalities and while some of the animals may enjoy a grooming, others may not be that enthusiastic. However, with a little bit of patience and determination you many find the experience to be highly amusing!
If you enjoy just "hanging out" and have knowledge in or are interested in learning about different cat and dog breeds, this volunteer opportunity is for you. In this volunteer role, you will speak with potential adoptive families about the animals available for adoption as well conduct follow up consultations with families who have recently adopted a cat or dog from our Shelter.
If you enjoy public speaking and are passionate about animal care issues, this is your opportunity to promote awareness on animal care and other animal related topics through the Animal Shelter Newsletter and Website or by presenting tours of the Shelter to schools and other community groups. You may also represent the Animal Shelter at local community events.
For those of you who aren't interested in working directly with the animals, but would still like to be a part of making the animals lives a little bit better, there are several activities at the Shelter for you. They range from grounds maintenance to gardening and for the most part pertain to the general maintenance and upkeep of the Shelter.
Adults, youth, children over the age of 12 and special needs individuals are all encouraged to volunteer at the Shelter. Younger children are welcome to visit the Shelter at any time with a responsible adult.
If you are 18 years of age or older you will be considered an adult. Adult volunteers, other then special needs adults, may operate without supervision while volunteering at the Shelter. You must be 18 years of age to take the dogs off the Shelter property.
Volunteers between 16 and 18 years of age are considered a youth. Youth volunteers are required to work under the supervision of an adult.
Children can also volunteer. Volunteers 16 and under are considered Child Volunteers. An Adult volunteer will accompany Child volunteers at all times during their volunteering.
Special Needs volunteers are any persons of any age who's physical or mental disabilities require them to be assisted by an adult. Special Needs volunteers will be accompanied by Adult volunteers or Shelter Staff during their volunteering.
- Fill out a Volunteer Application form available at the Shelter
- A release form – Youth and Child volunteers must jointly sign this with a legal guardian
- Youth and Child volunteers must also have the permission and written consent of a legal guardian before they can volunteer.
- Volunteers with Special Needs should have a legal guardian sign the release form when appropriate.
- Attend a training session. Volunteer orientation and training sessions are held once a month on a Wednesday evening at City Hall. Contact the Shelter to sign up for an orientation.