Volunteers are a vital part of our organization. With their help, we are able to meet our mission, “We advance the welfare of animals and promote positive relationships between animals and people.” You too can be a part of this mission and join a team of compassionate animal lovers.

What does it take to become a Volunteer?

1. First, there are a few questions you really need to ask yourself:

• Do I enjoy interacting with people?
• Am I ready to make a firm commitment to the animals today and give my time?
• Am I at least 16 years old?
• Am I ready to roll up my sleeves and jump in?

If you have answered YES to all of the questions, then you are ready to proceed to the next steps:

• Fill out our Online Application
• Attend a General Orientation session

Seating is limited to the first 100 and begins at 10am. Doors are closed after 10am, so please be on time. Training for specific volunteer programs will be held immediately following the Orientation, or on the following Sunday. The 2012 schedule is as follows:

• Friday, February 10th (10am-noon) OR Sunday, February 12th (10am-noon)
• Friday, April 13th (10am-noon) OR Sunday, April 15th (10am-noon)
• Friday, June 1st (10am-noon) OR Sunday, June 3rd (10am-noon)
• Friday, August 3rd (10am-noon) OR Sunday, August 5th (10am-noon)
• Friday, October 5th (10am-noon) OR Sunday, October 7th (10am-noon)

2. Decide at General Orientation whether or not you REALLY want to make the long-term commitment to help animals while working closely with people

3. Attend at least one “Matchmaker” training following General Orientation

Volunteering FAQs

1. How old do you have to be to volunteer?
   You have to be at least 16 years old to volunteer at the shelter.
2. How many hours do I need to commit to volunteering?
   Six hours per month for a six-month period of time is the minimum requirement. This gives you time to obtain the necessary training to keep you and the animals safe.
3. What type of experience or qualifications do I need to volunteer?
   Our programs are so diverse; we can typically accommodate a wide range of skill sets.
4. What sorts of programs do you offer volunteers?
   We offer a wide variety of volunteer positions, such as:
• Special Events: Assist with planning and conducting events such as our annual Dog-A-Thon fundraiser and offsite adoptions to help pets find their forever homes.
• Bath Brigade: Bathe and groom shelter animals to improve their health and make them more adoptable.
• Foster Program: Nurture and socialize dogs, puppies, cats, kittens or rabbits, in your home until they are ready for adoption.
• Matchmaking (Pet Adoption): Assist potential adopters with the selection of a new companion animal, the adoption process and general use of resources.
• Spay/Neuter Project: Assists low-income Pierce County residents with spaying or neutering their pets.
• Website Photography: Take photos of shelter pets and upload them into our shelter database for viewing.

It doesn’t stop there! The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County offers many other opportunities for volunteers to share their skills and talents. You can find out about other exciting programs at General Orientation.

Foster an Animal

Fostering is simply nurturing a shelter pet in your home for a period of time. Fostering is usually for two weeks, but can be longer. The majority of animals fostered are litters kittens. Kittens and sometimes puppies come to the shelter stray or abandoned and are too young and fragile to be placed in permanent homes. They need the security of their littermates, they need special care, and they need to learn important lessons from each other.

That's where you come in. Just like kids, kittens and puppies learn to get along with each other by playing. They learn limits, they learn tolerance, and they learn not to hurt each other — too much! This littermate interaction is essential for the healthy development of puppies and kittens. Fostered litters also learn about the home environment — other cats, dogs, and kids. When they return for adoption, they are often the most outgoing, confident animals in the shelter.

Other animals that may need fostering are animals recovering from surgery, or those that for some reason need time in a home before being adopted. This is particularly true of some of the dogs that come in and haven't truly been part of a "family".

Some dogs just benefit from getting out of the kennel for a "sleepover" or a weekend break. You can help make a difference in the life of a shelter animal — and have a lot of fun, too!

If you are interested in becoming a pet foster parent, please plan to attend one of our volunteer orientations, where you will learn more about our foster program. Contact Us.