Dane County Humane Society Volunteer Programs

Thank you for your interest in becoming part of our volunteer team! Volunteers provide homeless animals at Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) with care and compassion in so many ways. We look forward to working with you to find a volunteer role that makes full use of your skills, interests, and compassion while contributing to the well-being of the animals in our care.

GETTING STARTED

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

HOURS

Getting Started

Please review and consider the many volunteer opportunities that are available. Complete a volunteer application, and mail, fax or drop it off at DCHS. We’ll then compare your application with our anticipated volunteer needs for the next six months.

If we find that your application matches our needs, we will contact you to discuss potential volunteer roles. If a match is not made, we’ll ask that you reapply in six months, when our volunteer needs may well have changed. 

Download the 2009 volunteer application

* We strive to respond to your application within two weeks of receiving it. Thank you for your patience!

Once your application has been accepted, a DCHS staff member will contact you to answer your questions and discuss the details of our volunteer positions. Once we’ve found a volunteer role that is right for you, you’ll be invited a volunteer orientation.

At an orientation, you will be taken on a tour of the shelter to get an inside’s look into the many efforts that go into animal care at DCHS. You’ll also learn more about our programs and policies so you can start your volunteer work equipped with the information you need to successfully contribute to our mission.

You will meet with a designated staff member or volunteer who will train you in your new role and finalize your volunteer schedule.

After these four steps are completed, you’re ready to volunteer! Please be aware that this process can last well over a month, so we appreciate your patience and hope that your commitment to volunteering remains strong. Thank you!

Kim Krouth Volunteer & Adoption Supervisor

volunteer@giveshelter.org P (608) 838-0413 ext. 114 F (608) 838-0368   Dane County Humane Society 5132 Voges Road Madison, WI  53718

Volunteer Positions

We know you want to give your time doing something that is rewarding and meaningful while contributing to the care of homeless animals. There are a number of ways to get involved that require different time commitments, schedules, and focus. We look forward to working with you to find the volunteer position that’s just right for you!

Click on the headings below for position descriptions.

Power to the People!

The Humane Society can only fulfill its mission by working together and building relationships with the people of Dane County. If you'd like to “help people help animals” in our shelter and throughout our community, consider one of these positions:

• Spay/Neuter Assistance Program Check-In Assistants
• Reception Assistants
• Spay/Neuter Programs Assistants

Bringing People and Animals Together

There’s a certain magic when people connect with animals in need. If you like working with people but also want to get involved with the animals in a hands-on way, consider one of the following ways you can help people and animals come together:

• Adoption Center Assistants
• Adoption Counselors
• Animal Ambassadors
• Mobile Adoption Animal Handlers
• Mobile Adoption Event Assistants
• Mounds Satellite Adoption Center Assistants

Animal Care and Comfort

The 7,000 animals that come to Dane County Humane Society in a single year depend on the loving care they receive from staff and volunteers. If you would like to work directly with the animals, consider one of these opportunities to help ensure their health and wellbeing:

• Animal Medical Services Assistants
• AMS Annex Assistants
• Bathers/Groomers
• Canine Behavior Team Assistants
• Canine Companions
• Critter Cuddlers
• Feline Friends
• Mobile Adoption Foster Parents

Behind the Scenes

There’s plenty of work to be done behind the scenes, helping staff make sure that everything runs smoothly and our animals get the best care! If you’re looking to stay out of the limelight and make a contribution where it’s often needed the most, consider one of these opportunities:

• Admitting Assistants
• Building Maintenance & Grounds Assistants
• Foster Program Coordinator
• Photography Assistants
• Spay Day Data Entry Assistants
• Surgical/Exam Daily Data Entry Assistants
• Development Adminstrative Assistants

Spay/Neuter Clinics

DCHS has two high-volume spay/neuter clinic programs that depend on your help for their success. Shelter Outreach Services (SOS) is our mobile shelter outreach program, bringing spay/neuter services to rescue groups and shelters in Dane County and in surrounding counties. Mobile clinics most often occur on weekdays. During our Saturday Spay Days, DCHS provides low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for the pets of Dane County. Join DCHS in providing these surgeries, recognized as the number one solution to addressing pet overpopulation. Training is provided for all entry-level positions.

• Client Assistants (Saturday Spay Day Only)
• Intake Assistants
• Lunch Assistants
• Pack and Scrub Assistants
• Recovery Assistants
• Check In/Recovery Assistants (II)
• Surgery/Prep Assistants

Wildlife Caretakers (Seasonal)

• Wildlife Caretakers
• Head Wildlife Caretakers
• Wildlife Foster Homes

Hours

Dane County Humane Society is open for volunteers during the following times:

	January 1 - May 31
Monday	8:00am - 6:30pm
Tuesday	8:00am - 6:30pm
Wednesday	8:00am - 4:00pm
Thursday	8:00am - 6:30pm
Friday	8:00am - 6:30pm
Saturday	8:00am - 4:30pm
Sunday	8:00am - 6:00pm