Volunteering at HSW

This program provides free food to the pets of limited income or elderly citizens. Route Representatives pick up food from donation bins in pet supply stores. You build rapport with store employees, helping them understand how beneficial AniMeals is to their stores and to the pets who receive the food.

Frequency: Once per week or twice per month. Dependable transportation and some heavy lifting are necessary.

Pets awaiting forever homes need extra T.L.C.! Working in the adoption services department includes exercising and socializing dogs or cats, kennel cleaning, grooming, laundry and clerical duties. Once trained, volunteers are scheduled to come in once a week for a 3-hour shift. Shifts times start at 7am, 11am, and 2pm, Monday through Saturday. Sunday shifts are 7:00am – 10:00am and 3:00pm – 5:00pm. Volunteers working with dogs need to be physically able to handle very large, enthusiastic dogs.

Commitment required is 6 months or 70 hours with a regular weekly schedule.

A fun and flexible way to help the shelter animals! Join a program where you monitor donation boxes in retail locations around town! Volunteers exchange full donation boxes for empty ones on a weekly or bi-weekly (depending on location) basis. We also need volunteers to help recruit new businesses.

“P.E.T.” involves taking dogs to visit patients in convalescent homes, hospitals, and retirement facilities. Individual volunteers own the only dogs used in this program, after screening by P.E.T. personnel. Ask our receptionist for screening forms to find out if your pet is suited for this type of volunteer work. Volunteer owned dogs are screened and introduced to the program after the volunteer is trained. This rewarding program requires patience and an outgoing personality. A commitment of 4 shifts (usually 3 hours each) per month, scheduled in advance is requested. Generally, this program is on weekday mornings or early afternoons. Saturday shifts are very limited. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old

This program involves volunteers going to various locations around the community, setting up a booth, and soliciting donations for HSW. Ambassadors also talk with the public about HSW programs and hand out brochures. At most events, an adoptable dog is taken along to

increase interest.

NOTE: In order to transport/handle any adoption animals, you must complete the AnimalHandling Training class. Classes are scheduled usually following a Volunteer Orientation.

Our fundraising events include, but are not limited to, Bark in the Park, Way Out West Beer Fest, HSW Strut Ur Mutt Dog Walk, and Feline Fashion Show. Tasks include set-up, take down, registration, auction sales, cashiering, vendor assistance, beer pouring, fun, etc.

Since the animals will not do any paper work or answer the phones, we must find humans to fill the void! The reality of it is that the office, administrative, and fundraising side of our work is invaluable fuel for all of the programs for the people and animals that we serve. HSW utilizes Microsoft Office software, including Word, Publisher, and Excel. We need volunteers who pay attention to detail, are organized, and have customer service skills. Volunteer positions are usually a 4-hour shift, Monday through Saturday.

Care for pets in your home! Volunteers provide varying levels of care for homeless dogs or cats, ranging from a warm quiet place to promote weight gain, to socializing with humans, noises, and new surroundings. Our most intensive level of care requires bottle feeding or medical administration around the clock. . Volunteers participate in an orientation, interview, and training process for certification. Once trained, the volunteers name is added to a list to be called to care for baby animals 2-8 weeks of age, as the need arises. (Volunteers are not ‘on-call’ indefinitely. They are called at the time of need to see if they are available for about 2-8 weeks.) The pet(s) are brought back to the shelter after foster goals are met.