Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead
Volunteers are the backbone of many non-profit animal welfare organizations such as ours. Volunteers' contributions are vital for the health and well-being of the wonderful animals we shelter.
From dog walkers to board members, from those who help with events to those who clean kennels, each and every one of our volunteers is a valuable part of our shelter community. We've all come together to benefit animals' lives.
Requirements of a volunteer:
- A minimum 6 month commitment.
- Must be at least 16 years of age.
- To work directly with dogs you must be at least 18 years of age.
- Fill out a Customer Care & Events Volunteer Application OR Animal Care Volunteer Application (not both please).
- Attend a Volunteer Orientation and any other appropriate trainings.
- Must have an email address and have access to it on a weekly basis.
- Sign- up for a Level 1 scheduled position after orientation. If your schedule doesn’t allow for a weekly commitment you will be required to complete 6 hours of Shelter Help (laundry, dishes and basic cleaning of our shelter) before moving on to the other positions.
- Fulfilling community service for school? There’s a minimum 25 hour requirement for all community service volunteers. Please fill out the Animal Care Volunteer Application only.
- Fulfilling court mandated community service? Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator by email before filling out an application: EllaV@hsccvt.org
***There is a 1-3 month waiting period after applications are submitted! Keep this in mind when thinking about community service hour needs and the 6 month commitment.***
Volunteer Program
What kind of volunteer would you like to be?
Please look over each of the two volunteer descriptions: Customer Care & Event Volunteer and Animal Care Volunteer and fill out the application that is the best
fit for you!
Volunteer Hours: 8am-5pm (position dependent) seven days a week, 365 days a year!
Please only fill out one of the applications, not both.
Customer Care & Event Volunteer
Shelter Help is helping with laundry, dishes and the general cleaning and organizing of our shelter. This position is very important to keep our shelter clean and running smoothly and is always needed daily.
This position is not scheduled and is needed throughout the day.
Volunteers will work alongside the staff in the lobby during our open hours. Volunteers will greet the public, answer phones/take messages and help with other responsibilities such as: cleaning windows, trash removal, wiping down counters, cleaning out cat rooms and organizing paperwork as needed.
Shifts are 2-3 hours and needed Tuesday – Saturday during open lobby hours.
Volunteers will assist with the adoption process and answer any questions adopters have. Adoption Assistants introduce adopters to animals they are interested in, tell them more
about the animal and their history, and counsel adopters about general animal care. After an adoption is complete, the Adoption Assistant asks to take a picture of the new family
for our social media!
This position is scheduled Tuesday – Saturday during open hours.
We are so lucky to have so many amazing donors in our community! We make sure that each donor receives a thank you letter/note from HSCC. Having volunteers’ hand-write a simple “Thank you” is a nice and personal touch. Volunteers also help with the addressing and stamping of these letters.
Scheduled 3 days a week, days can vary.
HSCC has a number of fundraising and tabling events throughout the year. We always need support around these events so we can to do more to help our community.
Tabling and fundraising events are usually on weekends or in the afternoon/evenings during the week.
Each morning, seven days a week, a group of volunteers feeds, cleans the enclosures and loves up on all of our cats and small animals on the lobby floor. Then, after all animals have been tended to, the lobby is swept and mopped.
This position is scheduled mornings from 8am-10am.
We always need help transporting animals to and from veterinary specialist appointments during the week.
Pick-up is at 8:15am here at HSCC and pick up from the veterinarian is between 1pm and 4pm.
Transports are on Saturdays, times of day vary, from afternoons into late evenings.
Click here to fill out the application to be a Customer Care & Event Volunteer.
**Applications will be deleted after one year of inactivity.**
***There is a 1-3 month waiting period after applications are submitted! Keep this in mind when thinking about community service hour needs and the 6 month commitment.***
Animal Care Volunteer
Shelter Help is helping with laundry, dishes and the general cleaning and organizing of our shelter. This position is very important to keep our shelter clean and running smoothly and is always needed throughout the day.
This position is not scheduled and is needed throughout the day.
Helping disinfect rooms, kennels and spaces that animals have recently come out of is a constant need to help move animals through the adoption program. This ensures the space is clean and ready for the next animal to take up residence. Also with this position, volunteers can assist in prepping breakfast, help with projects and with the enrichment of our dogs, cats and small animals during/after morning cleaning.
This position is scheduled from 8am-10am/11:30am (depending on enrichment).
Each morning, seven days a week, a group of volunteers feeds, cleans the enclosures and loves up on all of our cats and small animals on the lobby floor. Then, after all animals have been tended to, the lobby is swept and mopped.
This position is scheduled each morning, 7 mornings a week from 8am-10am.
Helping feed, cleaning kennels and rotating dogs out for bathroom breaks. Volunteers will be assigned a room/kennel space that they will be responsible for on the morning they’re scheduled.
This is a scheduled position from 8-10:30am, needed 7 days a week.
This position is the feeding and cleaning of enclosures for the cats in our care who are not yet ready for adoption. Volunteers will be assigned a room that they will be responsible to clean and feed each morning they’re scheduled.
This is a scheduled position mornings from 8AM-10:30AM, needed 7 days a week.
Volunteers will rotate dogs out for bathroom breaks, feed and give Kongs to all dogs before we close for the day. Other responsibilities may include dishes, trash removal, and dog enrichment.
This is a scheduled task from 3-5:30pm, needed 7 days a week.
Volunteers will give each cat/small animal on the lobby floor their dinner and fill water dishes for the night.
This is a scheduled position from 3-5pm, needed 7 days a week.
We aim to get each dog out on three walks a day! Volunteers are always needed to help get dogs out to stretch their legs each day!
This position is not scheduled, and is flexible and needed throughout the day.
We always need help transporting animals to and from their appointments during the week.
Pick-up is at 8:15am here at HSCC and pick up from the veterinarian is between 1PM and 4PM.
Transports are on Saturdays, times of day vary, from afternoons into late evenings.
Click here to fill out the application to be an Animal Care Volunteer.
**Applications will be deleted after one year of inactivity.**
***There is a 1-3 month waiting period after applications are submitted! Keep this in mind when thinking about community service hour needs and the 6 month commitment.***
HSCC's Board of Directors is recruiting!
We are always looking for experienced board members to serve on our Board of Directors. Board service is for a term of 3 years and starts January 1st. We review applications in the summer time and will reach out by early fall to discuss next steps. If you are interested in board service, please submit an application or email bestfriends@hsccvt.org.