Want to volunteer, but not sure what you'd like to do? Here are some ideas!
Working at the Adoption Center (M-F 9-4; Sat 10-12)
Includes greeting visitors, talking with potential adopters about pets they might be interested in, helping with the adoption procedure, socializing the dogs and cats, temperament testing and obedience training, replenishing water bowls throughout the day, helping with repairs and maintenance, yardwork and landscaping, minor help with cleaning dog and cat kennels, sweeping and mopping of floors, washing and drying laundry, answering the phone and taking messages. You can work as many or as few hours as you'd like.
Working Satellite (Off-site) Adoptions
Includes loading adoptable animals and taking them to an off-site location for "Adoption Day" events. You would need to have some background knowledge of animals available for adoption that day so that you could answer questions that potential adopters might have. Interested parties would fill out preliminary applications and after being approved, they would be contacted to come to the Adoption Center to complete the adoption process. This increases the visibility of our pets and, therefore, their chance of finding a home.
Working Humane Society Awareness Events
The Humane Society sets up a booth each year at the Burgoo Festival and Cause 4 Paws, along with various other events simply to inform the public about what we do and how we benefit both the animals and the citizens of Anderson County. We hand out brochures, have small fundraisers, and have pictures of our adoptable pets available for viewing. This is a really easy way to become more involved with our organization.
Fostering Cats or Dogs
Many times, animals come to us ready to give birth. We would rather they be able to do this in a warm, loving home environment rather than in a kennel. Foster homes are a great way for us to make sure our mommies are at their best when their babies arrive. There are also times when a pet is injured when it arrives at the shelter, and needs some healing time and a foster home is the perfect solution. A foster home also benefits an animal because they can be housetrained and socialized in a home situation, which will make them more adoptable, and also eases the overcrowding that we sometimes face. Foster parents are a great asset to the Humane Society and undoubtedly saves lives.
Working Fundraising Events
We hold several fundraising events each year and volunteers are a big part of our success. Our biggest fundraiser of the year is our Annual Giant Rummage Sale held at the American Legion, and we need as much help as we can! We also have a Dog Walk in October and could definitely use some fresh faces and new ideas. There are many other fundraisers we do, and we're always looking to me new people interested in helping.
Transporting Animals To and From the Vet
All animals adopted from the Humane Society must be spayed or neutered before going to their new homes. Injured or sick animals also need to be seen by a veterinarian for an evaluation. We would love to get some additional help in taking pets for these visits.
Transporting Animals to Rescues
We work with various rescue organizations who pull our pets into their rescues if they fit their protocol. Some are local, some are regional, and some are even out of the state. Usually for long distance transports, a Humane Society volunteer will take the animal a short distance (usually within an hour's drive), then they will meet up with someone from that area who will drive another "leg" of the trip, where they will meet up with someone else who drives another "leg", and so on. Right now, there are only a couple of volunteers who help us with transports, and we'd love to get some new people onboard our "underhound railroad".
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Donna at ahs_40342@yahoo.com.
Need financial help getting your pet spayed/neutered? Click here!