Dane County Humane Society encourages the participation of volunteers who support our mission: “Helping People Help Animals” and the following core values:
- Together we hold central the welfare and care of animals
- Together we are compassionate and empathetic in every decision and interaction
- Together we are fiscally responsible and accountable
- Together we commit to honesty and integrity
- Together we stand behind our work
- Together we embrace constructive change
- Together we lead by example and with excellence
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 a volunteer role that matches your skills, interests, and schedule to our shelter's needs so that you can make a big difference in the lives of animals in need.
Because of a high demand in many of our youth volunteer areas we are not accepting volunteer applications from minors or youth/parent/guardian teams at this time.
We are currently recruiting for the following volunteer positions:
-
Event Volunteers
-
Adoption Center Assistants
-
West Side Adoption Center Assistants
-
Mounds Adoption Center Assistants (East Madison, Middleton & Sun Prairie)
-
West Side Adoption Center Assistants
-
AMS Ringworm-Annex Assistants
-
Canine Companions (8-10 a.m. shift highly desired)
-
Critter Cuddlers (8-10 a.m. shift highly desired)
-
Feline Friends (8-10 a.m. shift highly desired )
-
Building Maintenance & Grounds Assistants
-
Development Administrative Assistants
-
Photography Assistants
-
Lunch Assistants
-
AMS & Spay / Neuter Clinics (All areas)
-
Education Assistants (All areas)
-
Wildlife Caretakers
-
Wildlife Foster Parents
-
Companion Animal Foster Parents
Step 1: Submit a VOLUNTEER APPLICATION.
Please review and consider the many volunteer opportunities that are available in the space above. Complete a volunteer application, and mail, fax , e-mail or drop it off at DCHS. We’ll then compare your application with our available volunteer opportunities and if we find that your application matches our needs, we will invite you to a Volunteer Orientation. If a match is not made, we’ll ask that you continue to review our website and reapply when our volunteer needs have changed.
Step 2: Attend a VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION for new volunteers.
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 Dane County Humane Society. 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.
Step 3: Attend TRAINING for your volunteer position.
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 three 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 for your interest in becoming part of our volunteer team!
Emma Weidemann
Volunteer Coordinator
Dane County Humane Society
5132 Voges Road
Madison, WI 53718
p. 608-838-0413 x. 114
f. 608-838-0368
eweidemann@giveshelter.org
The following is a complete list of volunteer positions offered at Dane County Humane Society. Although we do not actively recruit for every position we look forward to working with you to find the volunteer position that’s just right for you!
Click on a position title below to view its full description.
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:
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:
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:
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:
Saturday Spay & Neuter Clinics
Dane County Humane Society has two high-volume spay and neuter clinic programs that depend on your help for their success. Shelter Outreach Services (S.O.S) is our mobile shelter outreach program, bringing spay and neuter services to rescue groups and shelters in Dane County and in surrounding counties. During our Saturday Spay Days, the shelter provides low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for cats of Dane County and surrounding counties. Join Dane County Humane Society in providing these surgeries, recognized as the number one solution to addressing pet overpopulation by volunteering in one of these positions:
Humane Education
Dane County Humane Society prides itself in its mission of “Helping People Help Animals.” If you are interested in instilling humanitarian ethics within our community consider volunteering in one of the following programs where you can educate people of all ages and interests:
Four Lake Wildlife Center
Four Lakes Wildlife Center offers wildlife rehabilitation services to south central Wisconsin from April to October of each year. During the winter months the center continues to rehabilitate injured fall migrants and raptors, as well as holding fundraising activities and providing educational presentations to school and youth groups. If working with wildlife interests you consider one of these positions:
All potential groups must submit a completed application and speak with a designated Dane County Humane Society representative regarding available volunteer opportunities prior to placement. We may also ask that all volunteers participate in position specific training as a part of their work experience. If your group or organization supports our mission, and is able to put forth the time to be trained, we encourage you to complete the following application. The information submitted on this form will help us to find the most satisfying, rewarding, and appropriate position for you and your group.
Download a Group Volunteer Application - it's now a writeable PDF!
At this time the minimum age to volunteer at Dane County Humane Society is 8 years old. All youth between the ages of 8 and 15 must attend a Volunteer Orientation, be trained and volunteer with a parent or guardian.
The following opportunities are available at the main shelter, located at 5132 Voges Road in Madison, for youth volunteers and their parent or guardian:
- Classroom Animal Assistant - minimum age 8
- Critter Cuddler – minimum age 8
- Event Volunteer – minimum age 8
- Wildlife Caretaker – minimum age 14
There are also a limited number of Feline Friend opportunities for youth volunteers and their parent or guardian available at some of our satellite locations, including:
-
Mounds Pet Food Warehouse, East, 2110 South Stoughton Road – minimum age 8
-
Dane County Humane Society, West, 7475 Mineral Point Road #42 – minimum age 12
Volunteers between the ages of 16 and 18 may volunteer alone, and available positions vary. Any volunteer under the age of 18 needs a parent or guardian’s permission to volunteer at the shelter or at any of our satellite locations.
The following opportunities are available for youth volunteers age 16 and over:
- Education Assistant – main shelter
- Feline Friend – main shelter
- Canine Companion – main shelter
- Critter Cuddler – main shelter
* Currently, all volunteers between the ages of 16 and 18 who are interested in volunteering at a satellite location must trained and volunteer with a parent or guardian.
Additional Youth Opportunities at Dane County Humane Society
Critter Club
Critter Club is for pre-school age children 2 to 6 and their parents. Every month children are invited to participate in animal-related games, stories, songs and other educational activities.
Club Whiskers
Club Whiskers is a winter and spring break day camp! Campers ages 4 – 14 enjoy a fun-filled, animal-filled, and laugh-filled camp!
Camp Pawprint
Camp Pawprint is a series of week-long day camps held at Dane County Humane Society during the summer. Campers ages 7-14 enjoy animal related lessons and activities while having fun with other animal lovers!
Humane Society Heroes
Children ages 7 to 15 are invited to join Humane Society Heroes. Sign up today and help homeless animals while having fun, too! Membership includes subscription to monthly newsletter, a pin and special event days held monthly just for Humane Society Hero members.
Even more ways children can help the animals at Dane County Humane Society
Are you interested in creating a project to help the homeless animals of Dane County Humane Society? If so, we’d love your help! All participants in these activities will receive a Thank You letter from the shelter! Check out these great ideas on how children can help:
- Lead or take part in a school service project to benefit DCHS.
- Create your own donation drive for items from our wish list.
- Collect soda or pop tabs and donate them to DCHS.
- Print pictures of our adoptable animals and place them at your school or at a local business.
- Lead or take part in a school drive to benefit DCHS.
- Have a coin drive with benefits going to DCHS.
- Have a birthday party where kids bring gifts and/or money for the animals.
- Donate items from your home on our wish list.
- Create an educational display about animals to place in your school.
- Have a lemonade stand or bake sale.
- Make cat or dog beds.
- Make dog toys or cat toys. (check with us first to see which ones we recommend).
- Sponsor an adoptable animal.
- Sponsor a humane society program.
- Set up an inform and fundraising table in your neighborhood or school.
- Make “ADOPT ME” signs for our animals so that they can find good homes faster!
- Make an educational display to promote empathy or respect towards animals.
- Make a report on an animal related topic.
- Keep our animals safe and healthy! Remind visitors NOT to put their fingers in animal cages.
Learn about DCHS's collaboration with Dane County Friends of Ferals and Shelter from the Storm. By working together we can reach our goal of making Dane County an adoption guarantee community by 2012. Click 
