From reading to cats to taking the dogs for a walk and cleaning kennels, here is how you can volunteer at animal shelters to help them
While your local pound works to find forever homes for many cats, dogs and other animals, volunteering is an easy way to improve their lives while they wait.
Becoming a volunteer generally starts with an application. You can choose the kinds of activities that interests you, whether that’s walking dogs, cleaning kennels, reading to cats or creating social-media posts, to name some of the options. There might be a short informational session or, for specific skills, some hours of on-site training.
Many shelters ask volunteers to commit a certain number of hours per month, but even the smallest act is appreciated. “A successful volunteer is someone who loves animals and appreciates the fact that no matter what they do, how small their role might seem, it has a huge impact on the pets here at the shelter. Someone who is just really open to not being intimidated by a pet that doesn’t immediately warm up to them, but who is willing to give it time and a little bit of love. And that kind of friendship and trust can roll over into that pet being adopted and having a better relationship with its new owners,” says Callista Pearson, marketing and development manager for Salt Lake County Animal Services in Utah. Here are five ways to volunteer:
ENRICHMENT
Shelters are boring for animals. There’s lots of noise but little to do. Enrichment activities to keep them occupied include making and delivering food-puzzle toys, reading to them, sitting and petting them, or taking them on walks.
Volunteer dog walkers will probably be trained in leashing dogs, getting them in and out of their kennels, and managing them around other dogs. At Maricopa County Animal Care in Phoenix, volunteers with the Petite Pet Project simply sit in a room with dogs and give them small treats and toys, letting the dogs socialise at their own pace. “I love seeing them learn, it’s okay to come out. The socialisation of the dogs, getting them used to touch is like a dog therapy. You’re committed to help the dogs find their best self,” says volunteer Julie Jo Hughes.
Cats might need help getting acclimated to a shelter so they won’t be nervous when potential adopters come by. Just by checking in on and petting cats, volunteers can help them learn to be calm during interaction with humans.
“The more comfortable a cat is with a person approaching the cage and putting their hand in there, the more likely they are to get adopted,” says Katy Hansen with the Animal Care Centers of New York City.
FOSTER
Fostering an animal can be great for someone who loves having a pet in the house but can’t guarantee a forever home. Fostering programmes vary, but usually start with a conversation with the coordinator about the level of involvement and commitment they’re willing to make. Fosters can take a dog for the afternoon, the weekend, or until they are adopted.
Pearson says the shelters homes admit around 9,000 animals a year, and the constant noise and activity can be stressful for dogs. Having a quiet home to escape for the day can help the dogs to relax.
Shelters also use fosters to house animals recovering from surgery or illness. “They’ll recover faster in that home than in the kennel,” Pearson says.
She adds that fostering kittens or puppies, while time-intensive, makes it more likely that those animals will be adopted quickly “because they’ve been now handled by people,” and “socialising pets is a huge thing.”
CLEANING
An important part of making shelter animals happy and healthy is keeping kennels clean.
“We all have to be willing to do some dirty work, because with over 700 dogs in our care on a daily basis, there is a lot of cleaning to do,” says Samantha Wessel, volunteer engagement coordinator. A clean blanket for each animal means a lot of laundry.
Terri Sharp, a retiree who has volunteered at the Phoenix shelter for more than two years, starts her day checking on all the linens in the kennels.
She says, “We also mop and clean as we go. It helps them thrive. We want to give them every opportunity to succeed.”
DONATIONS
Shelters always need donations, so consider setting up a collection box or fundraiser for much-needed goods. Consider bringing in a box to work or school and collecting toys, blankets and other items.
“They can be new or used and washed,” says Hansen. “The only thing we can’t take is open or expired food or treats.” Lots of shelters have online wish lists too.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Another way to help from home is by joining a shelter’s social media team, sharing or helping to run social media pages. “Answering questions people post, writing bios is very helpful,” says Hansen. Volunteers can design flyers, create templates and share ideas. “Good flyers can get shelter pets adopted quickly,” says Karen Hirsch of Lifeline Animal Project in Atlanta.
