There are many ways to volunteer at PAHS.
Every volunteer is a treasure.Whether you choose to work behind the scenes, in our shelter or from home.
Companion volunteers care for the animals at the shelter or at offsite locations and events. You can train for three types of companion programs:
- Dog volunteers
- Cat volunteers
Volunteer Tasks:
- Walking management approved dogs listed on white walking board
- Cleaning inside and outside of the shelter (debris, dog toys, trash, weeds, etc.)
- Playing with the cats and dogs
- Making enrichment items to stimulate them and keep them entertained
- Cleaning and disinfecting
- Cleaning cat and dog food and water bowls
- Giving animals treats
- Spot cleaning of litter boxes and dog kennels and dog poop on the outside, as well
- Organizing inside of shelter — putting away and organizing donations
- Assisting at the front desk
- Filling out “notification sheets” on bulletin boards or doors outside of the doors that enter the rooms to notify the staff and Veterinarian of any illness or issues of animals. (In case of an emergency, please notify the Director ASAP)
- Writing specific animal descriptions on the animals you interact with so we know more about their personality and quirks
- Participation at Adoption Events
The event volunteer program offers assistance at the shelter or at offsite locations. This does not require working directly with the animals.
- Adoption and/or Fundraising Event volunteer
Event Volunteer Activities:
- Organizing inside of the shelter
- Putting away and organizing donations
- Writing specific animal descriptions on the animals you interact with so we know more about their personality and quirks
- Participation at Adoption Events
Foster volunteersfor the animals in a home environment. You can sign up for any or all of the four types of foster options:
- Neonatal/bottle feed kitten fosters
- Cat fosters
- Puppy and dog fosters
- Fospice fosters
Companion volunteers care for the animals at the shelter or at offsite locations and events. You can train for three types of companion programs:
- Dog volunteers
- Cat volunteers
Volunteer Tasks:
- Walking management approved dogs listed on white walking board
- Cleaning inside and outside of the shelter (debris, dog toys, trash, weeds, etc.)
- Playing with the cats and dogs
- Making enrichment items to stimulate them and keep them entertained
- Cleaning and disinfecting
- Cleaning cat and dog food and water bowls
- Giving animals treats
- Spot cleaning of litter boxes and dog kennels and dog poop on the outside, as well
- Organizing inside of shelter — putting away and organizing donations
- Assisting at the front desk
- Filling out “notification sheets” on bulletin boards or doors outside of the doors that enter the rooms to notify the staff and Veterinarian of any illness or issues of animals. (In case of an emergency, please notify the Director ASAP)
- Writing specific animal descriptions on the animals you interact with so we know more about their personality and quirks
- Participation at Adoption Events
The event volunteer program offers assistance at the shelter or at offsite locations. This does not require working directly with the animals.
- Adoption and/or Fundraising Event volunteer
Event Volunteer Activities:
- Organizing inside of the shelter
- Putting away and organizing donations
- Writing specific animal descriptions on the animals you interact with so we know more about their personality and quirks
- Participation at Adoption Events
Foster volunteersfor the animals in a home environment. You can sign up for any or all of the four types of foster options:
- Neonatal/bottle feed kitten fosters
- Cat fosters
- Puppy and dog fosters
- Fospice fosters
Support PAHS
Are you interested in becoming a Supporter of the Plainfield Area Humane Society (PAHS)? Please Contact Us or Donate Today!
Expectations During A Volunteer Shift
1. Volunteers must wear the appropriate attire for the position while volunteering as explained in the position description; example: long pants and appropriate footwear. Hats should not be worn by volunteers while working in the shelter as they obscure your identity and may also frighten some of the animals.
2. Volunteers need to perform the essential functions as they are described in the Position Description and as instructed during training and by the Team Leader or Volunteer Staff during the shift.
3. Volunteers are not allowed to bring friends, family members or pets with them during their scheduled volunteer shifts into areas that are off limits to the public. Only people who are over the age of 18 and have been trained as a volunteer in our program are allowed to be in the off limit areas of the facility. Volunteers may accompany their friends and family members to the Adoption rooms outside of their scheduled volunteer hours during shelter adoption hours.
4. The use of cell phones and other electronic devices is strictly forbidden when handling any of our animals. This is for the safety of the animal and the person handling the animal. You may use these devices only when you are not handling an animal.
5. Volunteers are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all proprietary or privileged information to which they are exposed while serving as volunteers, whether this information involves a single staff member, volunteer, client, animal, other person or overall PAHS business. Failure to maintain confidentiality may result in termination from the program or other corrective action. All volunteers will be required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement as a condition to volunteer.
6. Volunteer Photographers agree that any product(s) (i.e., photos, videos, etc.) resulting from their services to PAHS are deemed “works made for hire” and that PAHS is deemed the author and shall retain all proprietary rights in the product(s) including the copyright and trademark rights. Photographers do not have authorization to use photographs for their own needs or sell or release them to the public without prior written permission from the Director of Development and Communications.
7. While volunteering with PAHS, volunteers must not engage in the following:
>> Discriminatory or racist statements or behaviors.
>> Sexual harassment, for example, jokes, innuendos, insults, sexist remarks, and the display of derogatory or pornographic pictures, leering, touching, or kissing.
>> The use of any alcohol or illegal drugs.
>> Any unlawful or inappropriate activity.
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