Those of us who have adopted the challenging animals have realized that volunteering at the animal shelter means you often bring home the overlooked pets. 5. Check out this multitude of jobs performed by animal shelter volunteers: Because most are nonprofits, shelters need volunteers to keep operations running smoothly and the doors open to the public. Human beings that lack compassion are the reason why these living creatures have been cast out and animal shelters seek to remedy the situation. Come along to our local and national events - open days, microchipping events, fetes and more. If you volunteer at an animal shelter, you will slowly begin to understand the problems which your world or even just the city you live in has. Colleges want students who're experts in something. The RSPCA helps animals in England and Wales. If you'd like to find out more please contact your local RSPCA branch or centre and find out more about getting involved. If this is a major concern for you, ask about it in advance. You have a common interest at heart, and talking about animals is a sure way to strike up a conversation. Volunteering can be a long-term commitment and may not always be easy or convenient, but if you can stick with it, volunteering with animals is one of the most rewarding experiences available. Shelters need volunteers to clean cages, fill … Other responsibilities listed on an Animal Shelter Volunteer resumes include providing food and water to animals, cleaning living areas, taking animals out for walks, brushing and grooming animal coats, and transporting animals. Most volunteers come from 9am until noon. There are guidelines that must be followed in order to maintain the standards of the shelter and to provide you with an enjoyable and fulfilling volunteer … Training may be given for each individual or, like at my shelter, held only once per month. Volunteers are representatives of the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care & Control. Chances are your shelter is wondering what sort of duties you’d be willing to perform beyond playing the day away with masses of puppies. Volunteer jobs with animal welfare organisations can vary from helping with kennel duties, assisting with fund raising events, carrying out wildlife surveys, or working on specific projects. If you’re thinking of helping out at your local shelter, here are some things you need to know before grabbing your volunteer T-shirt and diving straight in: Check Now: Blue Buffalo • Science Diet • Purina • Wellness • 4health • Canine Carry Outs • Friskies • Taste of the Wild • See 200+ more brands…. Here are some volunteer opportunities to check out: 1. This could be anything from working with the animals to doing graphic design or helping them advertise available animals for adoption. Most of these shelters are entirely volunteer-run with limited funding, and could do with all the help they can get. Our rehoming and veterinary services help 35,000 pets each year, and we couldn’t do this without the support of our dedicated volunteers. 4. Accidents can and do happen, and sometimes a scratch or bite is just a scared animal’s way of trying to protect itself. From cake bakes to sky dives - check out our fundraising ideas! Young adults can become better acquainted with animals, experience a set schedule of responsibilities, and gain a reference for an employment or college application. Make a tax-deductible donation (to cover potential costs associated with volunteering). There are many ways you can help us make a difference, no matter how much time you have available or the level of commitment you can afford to give. Volunteering can allow kids to gain compassion and respect for animals and also help them decide whether careers with animals are in their future. It is also an easy way to open some doors if you’re looking to land a paying job in a shelter. All new Volunteers are REQUIRED to attend an orientation before volunteering. All these tasks help the animal find a happy home and better life filled will love. You may wonder what sort of duties you could be responsible for as a volunteer. A feral cat may need to be socialized, a dog may have mats to remove or a guinea pig may be underweight. Before you join us as a volunteer, you will be asked to complete a volunteer application form, attend an informal interview and provide referees for us to contact (depending upon the role you are applying for). Here are 10 reasons why you should choose to volunteer at your local cat shelter. Find the perfect Volunteering At Animal Shelter stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images.