Volunteer Options At Animal Shelters

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Animal shelters are often looking for helpers. They usually are trying to operate on a very low budget, so they cant afford to hire employees. Instead, they rely on volunteers to help out and do an array of things to keep them running, care for the animals and raise funds. Animal shelter volunteer programs are usually a big part of every shelter and can be found on their websites. Heres a look at the different volunteer opportunities with animals that shelter may offer.

Adoption Counsellor

When people come to the shelter to adopt an animal, they have to be screened. The shelter wants to ensure that the family is ready to offer the care the animal needs and that the animal is a good fit for their home. This requires a counsellor to meet with the family and do an intake assessment. This is a key position that helps the animals find forever homes. Shelters will usually provide training and often have minimum age requirements for this position.

Socialization Volunteer

The animals at the shelter need attention just like pets a home. They cannot live locked in cages all the time. A socialization volunteer is someone who comes to the shelter to interact with the animals. This includes taking them out of cages and playing with them or taking them for walks. It may also include assisting with potential adoptions by helping people socialize with the animal they are considering adopting. Animal shelter volunteer programs usually offer all the training needed. There may also be a minimum age.

Cleaner

A cleaning position is exactly as it sounds. You will be cleaning cages and the different areas in the shelter to help keep things looking good and to maintain a healthy place for the animals, staff and visitors. If you have the skills, you may also be tasked with giving the animals baths and possibly even grooming them or handling regular care, like teeth cleaning and nail cutting. However, usually only those with previous experience can provide grooming services because training isnt usually offered.

Digital Helper

If you know a thing or two about computers and the internet, then many animal shelter volunteer programs can use your help. Most shelters have or are building a website to announce pets up for adoption and to provide the public with news about the shelter. Most shelters need help with posting online and setting up such websites. Some even run social media accounts that they could use help with. Any savouriness in digital photography, video creation or marketing can also be helpful to a shelter.

When it comes to volunteering at animal shelters, it is almost guaranteed that your local shelter needs help. The notorious under-funding of shelters combined with major overpopulation issues means that shelters are desperately in need. You can help lessen the burden and give a little of your time to make the shelter run more smoothly. Any volunteering you do also helps the shelter in other ways. Regardless of your job, you are helping to contribute to getting the animals adopted, which is the greatest reward you possibly ask for in return.