Rules & Guidelines

  • No applicants with a history of animal abuse/cruelty, assault, or retail fraud charges
  • Signed waivers required for all volunteers
  • All new onboarding volunteers must attend a one-time orientation
  • Volunteers between the ages of 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult volunteer (18+ years)
  • Volunteers under 12 are encouraged to participate in our Junior VolunTerrier Program

Additional Rules due to COVID-19

  • Before signing up for shifts on VicNet, you must commit to a life-saving team. This ensures that you are not exposed to new people every time you help at our shelter.
    Please note that you are not required to come on all days dedicated to your team, but you may only come on those assigned days. For example, if you are part of Team 2, you cannot sign up for a shift on Friday or Monday. If there is a task you would like to sign up for but the shift time does not work for you, email volunteer@lenhumanesoc.org and we’ll help customize what works best.

    • Team 1 – Sunday & Monday

    • Team 2 – Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

    • Team 3 – Friday & Saturday

  • ALL volunteers must be scheduled for a shift prior to coming in as an effort to comply with CDC regulations and to keep everyone safe. Drop-ins are no longer allowed until further notice.
  • While in the shelter, all volunteers and staff must follow social distancing protocols, staying 6 feet away from each other with no more than 3 people in the same proximity.
  • Make sure to sanitize tools (mop handles, sinks, doorknobs, leashes etc) and work stations after use.
  • And of course, you can stay involved from home if you’re not comfortable coming to the shelter.
    • Follow us on Facebook and Instagram (the more you engage, the more our posts get seen!)
    • Spread the word about our organization and adoptable pets
    • Foster a pet

Process

1. Submit volunteer application

Apply online and wait for a follow-up email or phone call from us with a list of orientation dates.

2. Attend orientation

We’ll contact you with a list of orientation dates, offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Each orientation lasts roughly 45 minutes and includes an overview of our volunteer program and a behind-the-scenes tour.

3. Sign waivers

Turn in your waivers during orientation. Volunteers over 18 can sign during orientation. Volunteers under 18 need to bring waivers to orientation, signed by a parent or guardian.

4. Choose your path

Check out the VolunTerrier opportunities below and choose your path. Do you want to focus on dogs, cats, or both? Do you love working with kids? Are you great at fundraising?

The choice is yours and the opportunities are endless! There’s no limit to the ways you can help us and our personalized training workshops will make sure you succeed.

Click on each tab for more information about each volunteer position and the prerequisites necessary to reach that level.

• Shelter 101
• 10 Shelter service hours

• Shelter 101
• Cats 101
• 10 Shelter service hours

• Shelter 101
• Cats 101
• Cats 201
• 90 Shelter service hours & 6 months at Cat Care Level 1

• Shelter 101
• Cats 101
• Cats 201
• 10 Cat Care Level 2 service hours

• Shelter 101
• Dogs 101
• 10 Shelter service hours

• Shelter 101
• Dogs 101
• Dogs 201
• 90 Shelter service hours & 6 months at Dog Care Level 1

• Shelter 101
• Dogs 101
• Dogs 201
• 10 Dog Care Level 2 service hours

Ready to bridge the gap between people and animals? In this workshop you will learn how to speak with potential adopters about pets who may be a good match for their family. You’ll learn how to greet visitors through excellent customer service skills, how to answer the most common adoption questions, and how to begin the adoption process with potential adopters.

• Reception 101
• 10 Reception service hours

• Outreach 101
• 10 Shelter service hours

• Foster Care 101

• Outreach 101

• Outreach 101
• 10 Outreach service hours

• Fundraising 101

• TNR 101

• Reception 101

• Shelter 101
• Reception 101
• 10 Shelter service hours

• Photography 101

• Grooming 101

• Grooming 101
• Grooming 102

• Shelter 101
• Clinic 101
• 45 Shelter & Clinic service hours

• Shelter 101
• Clinic 101
• Clinic 102
• 6 months Clinic service hours