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Youth Opportunities

Youth Volunteer Opportunities

 

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, are trained and volunteer with a parent or guardian.

Youth that are 16 or 17 may volunteer alone, and available positions are limited. 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. 

Most of our volunteer positions require a weekly 2-hour commitment for a minimum of six months; and youth are limited to the positions they may participate in based on their age.  If requested, DCHS will provide a letter of completion for school or work community service time earned after the minimum commitment of six months, volunteered in weekly two-hours shifts has been completed.

Main Shelter Volunteer Opportunities - located at 5132 Voges Road in Madison

  • Barkins’ Assistant – minimum age 16 to volunteer solo
  • Canine Companion – minimum age 16 to volunteer solo
  • Classroom Animal Assistant – minimum age 8 with adult (Must be 16 to volunteer solo)
  • Critter Cuddler – minimum age 8 with adult (Must be 16 to volunteer solo)
  • Education Assistant – minimum age 16 to volunteer solo
  • Event Volunteer – minimum age 8 with adult
  • Feline Friend – minimum age 16 to volunteer solo (Must be 18 to volunteer at Mounds)

 

Youth volunteers between the ages of 8 and 17 years old have restricted hours at the main shelter due to our employment of Oregon Correctional non-violent work release inmates.  Shift openings are variable but would occur between the hours of:

3:00pm and 7:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

3:00pm and 5:00pm Wednesday

8:00am and 5:00pm Saturday and Sunday.

 

Satellite Location Volunteer Opportunities:

Mounds Pet Food Warehouse - East, 2110 South Stoughton Road

  • Critter Cuddler – minimum age 8 with adult (Must be 16 to volunteer solo)

Dane County Humane Society - West, 7475 Mineral Point Road #42

  • Feline Friend – minimum age 16 to volunteer solo

 

 

Additional Youth Opportunities at Dane County Humane Society:

There are a wide variety of additional opportunities available for youth that are not able to commit to a weekly 2-hour volunteer six month commitment.  Youth can be Humane Society Heroes, join a club, attend a camp or become involved in a variety of projects that will help the homeless animals living at the Dane County Humane Society.

Critter Club – Critter Club is for pre-school age children and their parents. Every other 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 7 to 15 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 to 15 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. 

For more information about the above youth and family opportunities, please contact Dane County Humane Society’s Shelter Educator:  Emily Steinwehe This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

 

Even more ways youth 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 the humane society.
  • Create your own donation drive for items from our wish list.
  • Collect soda or pop cans or 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 (toy, treat, etc) 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, at DCHS, or other local businesses.
  • Have a lemonade stand.
  • Have a 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 informational 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- (i.e. spaying and neutering, Id tags, bite prevention, or no more homeless animals).
  • Keep our animals safe and healthy! Remind visitors NOT to put their fingers in animal cages.