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Volunteer Opportunities
Updated: August 10, 2010 2:35 PM
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The Humane Society for Southwest Washington has many opportunities for you to make a difference in the lives of the more than 10,000 homeless or abused animals every year. As a non-profit organization, we rely heavily on volunteers to stretch our resources and strength our programs and services. We offer a wide variety of volunteer positions both working directly with animals and in non-animal related areas. Volunteering at the Humane Society is extremely rewarding; however, being a Humane Society Volunteer extends far beyond simply playing with puppies and kittens. Shelter volunteer work is not for everyone so please read through the information below thoroughly to make sure that our volunteer program is right for you.
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| * Please Note: All Humane Society Volunteers must be able to show proof of current medical health insurance coverage prior to beginning any volunteer duties. Individuals without current health insurance coverage are not permitted to volunteer with the Humane Society in any capacity, no exceptions. |
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| VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES |
| Teen Volunteer Program- Ages 15-17 |
| Pet Facilitated Therapy Volunteers |
| Group Volunteer Opportunities |
| School Projects/Senior Projects |
| Court-Appointed Community Service |
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The Adult Volunteer Program at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington offers a wide variety of volunteer positions in both animal care and animal handling as well as in non-animal related areas. The Adult Volunteer Program is very popular and the application process can be competitive. Only those volunteers who complete a successful interview process are accepted into the program. New Adult Volunteer training courses are held every-other month and new volunteers must attend 4-6 hours of training before starting their volunteer service. Please read through the different opportunities below to find a position that best suits your interests and lifestyle.
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| *Please note - Participation in the Adult Volunteer Program requires a materials fee to help off-set the costs of volunteer uniforms and training materials. The materials fee is $20 for cat handling volunteers and $30 for dog handling volunteers. |
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~ Open to adults (ages 18 and older) only.
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| ~ Volunteers must be able to commit to a volunteer term of at least 6 months. |
| ~ Applicants who are able to commit to a regular weekly shift will be given preference. |
| ~ All volunteers must provide proof of medical insurance coverage at the time of training. |
| ~ All volunteers must complete all required training prior to starting their volunteer service. |
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| Animal Handling Volunteer |
Animal Handling Volunteers assist with the basic, day-to-day animal operations of the shelter. Duties may include exercising, socializing and training dogs, cats and other small animals, cleaning kennels, laundry services, customer service and patron assistance. All Animal Handling positions are offered 7 days a week.
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| Positions Include: Morning Dog Walking Volunteers (8am-10am fixed shift), Dog Socialization (10am-12pm fixed shift) Dog Socialization and Adoptions Assistant Volunteers (flexible shifts between 12pm and 6pm), Afternoon Dog Walking Volunteers (4pm-6pm fixed shift), Morning Cat Service Volunteers (8am-10am fixed shift), Cat Socialization (10am-12pm fixed shift) Cat Socialization and Adoptions Assistant Volunteers (flexible
shifts between 12pm and 6pm).
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| Humane Education and Outreach Volunteers |
| Humane Education and Outreach Volunteers assist with Humane Education programs, community outreach, public relations and special event planning and staffing. Volunteers may participate in local and regional events and fairs to promote Humane Society programs and transport animals for off-site adoptions. Volunteers may also assist with filing, answering or making phone calls, maintaining computer databases and facilitating direct mailing campaigns. |
| Positions Include: Humane Education Assistant and Outreach and Special Event Assistant. All Humane Education and Outreach Volunteer positions are intermittent and hours are dependent on events and programs. |
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| Animal Resource Volunteers |
| Animal Resource Volunteers provide a valuable service to the Humane Society by assisting with many areas of operations that may not have direct contact with animals. Resource volunteers may assist with the intake and receiving of animals to the shelter, transport animals to alternative and off-site adoption locations or assisting with retail services at the shelter or at one of our Paws-N-Claws Thrift Stores. Animal Resource volunteer opportunities are more irregular than other volunteer positions and may require the use of a personal vehicle. |
| Positions Include: Retail Assistant, Animal Receiving Assistant, Customer Care Assistant and Adoption Assistant. |
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| The Adult Volunteer Program is very popular and spaces in training classes are limited. Volunteer orientations and training sessions are conducted every-other-month which means that applicants may have to wait 2 weeks to 2 months for the next available opportunity. |
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If you are ready to make a commitment to the Volunteer Program at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, please download the Adult Volunteer Application (below) and return it to:
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| Shortly after your volunteer application is received, you will be sent an email confirmation with additional information regarding upcoming orientation dates and training opportunities.Incomplete applications, including those without a valid or legible email address, will not be considered. |
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The Teen Volunteer Program provides opportunities for youth, ages 15-17 to volunteer at the shelter without a parent or guardian but under the supervision of shelter staff and adult volunteers. Individuals under 15 may apply to the program if, and only if, they will be turning 15 by the beginning of the service term for which they have applied. Teen Volunteers assist with the basic, day-to-day socialization of animals at the shelter. Duties include exercising and socializing select dogs, cats and other small animals. Teen volunteers may also assist with shelter maintenance assignments and limited community events and education programs.
The Teen Volunteer Program is highly competitive and space in each term is limited to 30 participants. New Teen Volunteers are accepted in cohorts with a new group starting a 3-month, fixed term volunteer service in the Fall (service period is September through Novemember), Spring (service period is February though April) and in the Summer (service period is June through August). At the end of each volunteer service period, teens currently in the program are welcome to apply for the following term but acceptance is not guaranteed.
The Teen Volunteer program is an excellent way for busy teens to fit volunteer service into their schedules and is a great way to complete Senior Project hours. However, the Teen Volunteer Program has limitations on volunteer shifts and total monthly service hours allowable. If you are interested in applying to the Teen Volunteer Program to fulfill Senior Project hours, please read through the program requirements carefully (below) to be sure that our program will work for your schedule and satisfy all your school requirements.
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| *Please note - Participation in the Teen Volunteer Program requires a $20 materials fee to help off-set the costs of volunteer uniforms and training materials. |
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~ The Teen Volunteer Program is open to youth ages 15-17.
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~ Applications are accepted in July (Fall term), December (Spring term) and April (Summer term).
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~ Applications submitted in months other than July, December and April will NOT be considered.
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| ~ Teens must commit to volunteer for at least 4 hours a month for a 3-month service term. |
| ~ Service terms are in the Fall (Sep-Nov), Spring (Feb-Apr) and Summer (Jun-Aug) ONLY. |
| ~ Current volunteers must reapply to continue service beyond their 3-month term. |
~ Volunteer shifts are only offered on the following days and times - No exceptions!
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| Before applying to the program, please be sure that you are able to volunteer for one or more of the following 2 hour shifts. |
| • Mondays: 10:00am - 12:00pm and 4:00pm - 6:00pm |
| • Wednesdays: 4:00pm - 6:00pm |
| • Saturday: 10:00am - 12:00pm, 1:00pm - 3:00pm and 3:00pm - 5:00pm |
| ~ Teen Volunteers must be able to sign up for shifts using an online, internet based system. |
| ~ Teen volunteers are limited to a maximum of 12 volunteer hours per month. |
| ~ All volunteers must provide proof of medical insurance coverage at the time of interview. |
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| The Teen Volunteer Program is very popular and spaces are limited to 30 participants per session. If you are interested in applying to the program to fulfill Senior Project service hours, please plan accordingly. Special accommodations are not made for individuals working on school projects. |
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| If you are ready to commit to a 3-month teen volunteer term, please download the application below and mail it to the shelter at the address below. Applications for the Teen Volunteer Program are only accepted in July for the Fall term, in December for the Spring termand in April for the Summer term. Applications received outside of the stated application windows will not be considered. Please make note of the upcoming Teen Volunteer Program training dates listed below to be sure that you are available. Individuals who are not able to attend training at the scheduled dates and times, will have to wait to apply until the following volunteer service term. |
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Shortly after the volunteer application is received, applicants will be sent an email confirming the application is currently on file and under review. Incomplete applications, including those without a valid or legible email address, will not be considered. The Teen Volunteer program is very competative and it is not unusual for us to receive over 100 applications per term.
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| No phone calls please. |
| Those applicants who are highly qualified will be invited to the shelter for an interview. Volunteers are chosen for the program based on their demonstration of maturity and responsibility; as well as their commitment to the goals and mission of the Humane Society. Those that successfully pass the interview process and are accepted into the program are required to attend the following mandatory training sessions before starting their service. |
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• TBA
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• TBA
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| Pet Facilitated Therapy (PFT) is a visitation program designed to provide social, mental and physical stimulation to people through the use of temperament tested animals. The program allows individuals and families in difficult circumstances to enjoy the healing presence of animals is a safe and therapeutic setting. PFT enhances and promotes healing, encourages interactions and facilitates communication. Humane Society for Southwest Washington PFT Volunteers utilize their own, approved animals to provide PFT visits in the southwest Washington community. PFT volunteers visit schools, nursing homes, retirement communities, summer camps, day cares, hospice centers, hospitals and local library branches. |
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| Please note: The Pet Facilitated Therapy Program is not a program designed to train or certify service animals. Service animals such as guide dogs, signal dogs, or dogs individually trained to provide assistance to any individual with a disability must be trained and certified through a program recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Therapy animals certified as part of the PFT program at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington are used as adjuncts to therapy with a trained human counterpart ONLY. |
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Beginning in the summer of 2010, the Humane Society will partner with the Delta Society to certify and train PFT Teams. Those interested should visit the Delta Society's website to learn more about their qualifications. The Humane Society will begin hosting Delta Society evalutions and trainings at the Humane Society's animal shelter facility very soon. For information about Delta Society certified teams working in partnership with the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, call us at 360.213.2615.Thank you for your patience during this transition.
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Organized groups of up to 10 people with members ages 16 and up, may provide volunteer service through a shelter project. Opportunities for one-time group volunteerism at the shelter vary seasonally and are not guaranteed. Groups are always welcome to coordinate and facilitate fundraising efforts in the community with permission from the Humane Society Community Programs Department. If your group is interested in coordinating a community event to benefit the Humane Society or would like more information about upcoming shelter projects, please contact the Volunteer Office at 360.213.2626 or volunteer@southwesthumane.org.
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| Students, ages 15-17 who have a small amount of service hours to fulfil for a school or senior project should apply to the Teen Volunteer Program. The Teen Volunteer Program has limitations on volunteer shifts and total monthly service hours allowable so, please read through the program requirements listed in the Teen Volunteer Program section to be sure that the program will work for your schedule and satisfy all your school requirements. The Teen Volunteer Program is very popular and spaces are limited to 30 participants per term. If you are interested in applying to the program to fulfill Senior Project service hours, please plan accordingly. Special accommodations are not made for individuals working on school projects. Sorry, we do not have volunteer opportunities for students under the age of 15 at this time. |
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Individuals who need to fulfill court mandated community service hours may do so at the Humane Society if they meet the following requirements:
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~ Are over the age of 18.
~ Have proof of current medical health insurance coverage.
~ Have no convictions or charges of sexual crimes, violent crimes or crimes against animals. |
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| Community service workers are only scheduled on Mondays/Fridays between the hours of 10am and 6pm and Weekends between 10am and 5pm, no exceptions. Court-appointed community service workers do not work directly with the animals. Typical community service duties include general kennel cleaning, washing dishes, laundry services, grounds and shelter maintenance and garbage services. |
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| Interested individuals who meet the minimum requirements stated above, should contact the volunteer office at 360.213.2626 or volunteer@southwesthumane.org to arrange a meeting to schedule hours. All Community service hours must be scheduled in advance. Drop-ins are not accommodated. |
