There are many different ways that you can help the animals at CCHS!
At first, Animal Care volunteers are asked to commit to regular shifts. Once you’ve chosen one of these positions and attended task-specific training, we ask that you commit to at least three hours of service per week, for at least four months. Or, an equivalent amount of service.
And if the Animal volunteer schedules don't work for you, or if you're looking for more ways to help, please check our other volunteer opportunities! Whether or not you work with the pets directly, all volunteers improve the lives of pets.
CCHS volunteers must be 18+ years old. For those under 18 years old please reach out for more information.
Volunteer Positions
If you have an idea for a way to help that isn’t listed, or any questions about our volunteer positions and policies, please contact sarahc@cuhumane.org. We always hope to match new volunteers with duties that suit their individual skills and interests.
Here's a brief look at some of the most popular volunteer positions. At online orientation, you will discuss each of these in more detail, and then, if applicable, schedule a tour and in-person training, specific to the job you're interested in. All of your questions will be answered there!
Our staff will always be on hand during your volunteer shifts, working with you to make sure you have everything you need to help our pets.
Volunteering with the Animals
Adoption Desk
Some volunteers work at the CCHS front desk to greet and direct our visitors, speak with potential adopters, and help make great matches! This is an opportunity for friendly people who would love to get to know the pets and make adopters feel welcome. Adoption volunteers will also attend animal socialization trainings.
Available Shifts:
M, W, Th, F: 2-4:30 pm or 4:30-7 pm
Sat, Sun: 12-2:30 pm or 2:30-5 pm
Kennel Assistant
Both our cats and small animals need help from Kennel Assistants. Though the training is separate, and daily tasks different, both Cat Kennel Assistants & Small Animal Kennel Assistants help ensure that the animals at CCHS have a clean environment to live in. Kennel Assistants also get to feed the animals and provide new toys.
Available Shifts:
Daily: 8:30– 11am
Socialization
Socialization volunteers spend time with pets outside of their kennels. Cats and Small Animal Socialization volunteers will go through Kennel Assistant training as well, before they will graduate to Socialization training. With continued volunteering, Dog Socialization volunteers will also have opportunities to learn more advanced training levels.
Learn about opportunities, by pet:
Cat Socialization
Grooming, exercise, enrichment, and clicker training are all tasks Cat Socialization Volunteers help us with. And, of course, providing lots of affection and care!
Prerequisite: A minimum of 4 shifts as a Cat Kennel Assistant
Available Shifts:
M, W, Th, F: Anytime 8:30am -7pm
T, Sat, Sun: Anytime 8:30am - 5pm
Dog Socialization
Walk dogs and assist with grooming and enrichment. An emphasis is put on force free training to teach the dogs to behave politely.
There are two skill levels of training that volunteers may progress through in this program by volunteering regularly.
Available Shifts:
Daily: 8 or 8:30-11am, 12-3pm
M, W, Th, F: 3-6pm
T, Sat, Sun: 3-5pm
Small Animal Socialization
Small Animal Socialization Volunteers spend time with the small pets such as guinea pigs, rabbits, etc, to give positive associations with handling, and provide exercise and enrichment.
Prerequisite: A minimum of 4 shifts as a Small Animal Kennel Assistant
Available Shifts:
M, W, Th, F: 8:30am-7pm
Sat, Sun: 8:30am-5pm
Medical Lab Program
Medical Lab Medical Lab Volunteers help maintain the health of our animal population by performing a variety of duties including treatments and exams. There can be a wait list to volunteer in the medical lab as it is a very popular volunteer position. Priority may be given to volunteers with animal health or handling experience, but training is provided, and all are welcome to apply.
Available Shifts:
Daily: 8am-12pm, 12-4:30pm
Found the job for you?
Submit your application today and start helping pets!
Other Ways to Volunteer
When routine animal care volunteering isn't for you, or if you're looking for even more ways to help, there are many other ways to support the shelter with your time!
Fostering
Foster parents provide a temporary home for animals who need a little extra tender loving care. Animals needing foster care might be sick, injured, scared, nursing a litter, or pregnant. Some of them are too young to thrive in a shelter environment. To give them the best chance at finding a forever home we place these special needs animals with foster homes until they’re ready to come back to the shelter to be adopted.
Can you open your home to a pet in need?
Special Events
Special Events Volunteers represent CCHS at off-site events. Some events are held to raise money for CCHS (Mutt Strut, Fur Ball, and more). Others help raise awareness about CCHS and the animals available for adoption. And still others are aimed at educating the public about our mission and humane treatment of animals. Because events can vary in date, purpose, and scale, there is no initial, comprehensive training for event volunteers. Instead, volunteers will be offered opportunities as they arise.
Event volunteers are given job-specific training before the event, and/or an outline of the position's duties. Some special event volunteer positions require some kind of animal handling training, and others are open to anyone who wants to help. Registered volunteers will see their special event opportunities by email, in the volunteer portal, or on the volunteer Facebook page. Reach out to our event coordinator, Elizabeth Young, to give your time to special events!
Skilled Volunteers
If you have any special skills that you would like to give to the shelter, or if your business has services you can donate in-kind, or for a generous discount, please reach out. Expertise and experience can be invaluable to CCHS! Donating your expertise ensures that more of our funding will directly support animal and medical care in a measurable way. We have dedicated volunteers who act as gardeners, mechanics, repair people, photographers, advanced pet trainers, and more. Even yoga instructors have found a way to directly help the shelter!
We are grateful to all of our volunteers who want to contribute to the shelter in the ways that they can, and we would love to know how you think you can make the biggest impact. Email our volunteer coordinator, Sarah, or our Event Coordinator, Elizabeth, with ways you think you can help! If it matches with a current need, we would love to work with you.
Folding Newspapers
Something everyone can do from home! We use newspaper in our cat and small animal cages EVERY DAY, so we are always in need of folded newspaper. By folding the papers and removing the glossy inserts, you can help speed up our cleaning process immensely, allowing our staff to devote more time to animal care.
Sometimes newspapers are donated without having been refolded. If you’re a shelter volunteer with extra time on your hands, ask the Shelter Manager or Volunteer Coordinator if there are papers that need to be folded.
Adult Diversion/Court-Ordered Community Service
If you are subject to a court order to provide community service, we may be able to accommodate you. To see if you are eligible for completing your community service hours here at CCHS, please fill out an Adult Diversion application. You will hear from us after we have reviewed your application. There is no need for Adult Diversion volunteers to attend the orientation programs.