How to Volunteer at Dog and Cat Shelters
When you volunteer your services at animal shelters, you are not only providing much needed help, but will be richly rewarded knowing you have helped out. Most animal shelters only stay afloat because volunteers donate their energy and time to take care of the many small jobs required in running an animal center. Learn how to volunteer at dog and cat shelters to offer your services.
Locate animal shelters close to your home. Use the yellow pages, check with your veterinarian and research on the Internet. Some shelters are set up by specific locations such as one per city or individual counties. You can use the online website PetFinder to locate the nearest shelters by typing in your zip code.
Make a list of potential locations and research websites on the Internet in addition to making phone calls. Many shelter websites have dedicated pages about volunteering and information about how to get started.
Identify what types of volunteer jobs are needed at each location you are considering. Animal shelters have an endless list of jobs that need to be performed daily. You might be needed to walk dogs, clean pens, feed or brush animals and help with filing. Or you might run errands or help out with advertising. Determine what hours each center is open and how you might fit volunteer work in your schedule.
Call or visit each shelter and see what the conditions are like. Arrange for an interview or inquire how to get started as a volunteer. Take into account that each shelter organization may have different requirements for volunteers. Some centers may provide a more casual on-the-job training procedure, while others may have structured classes and training.
- Make a commitment with one or more facilities and follow through. Even if your schedule only permits you to volunteer for a couple of hours each week or volunteering for 20 hours a week, you can help and make a difference.