Do you offer a court-ordered or diversion program for volunteering?No, we are not able to fulfill these requirements at the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society due to legal and liability conflicts.
Any volunteering that has been ordered, recommended, or required by a parole officer, judge, teen court, halfway housing, juvenile detention center, etc is included in this.
How many people can be in a service group?A max of 10 people can be in each service group. If you have more than 10 people, we can schedule 2 service groups to take place at 2 different times.
Will there be heavy lifting involved?Yes, in some cases there may be heavy lifting involved.
I'm allergic to cats, can I still come to the service group?Yes, depending on the level of your allergy. If you have a severe allergy, please do not participate in the service group. We cannot guarantee there to not be cat fur, dander or even cats throughout the building and our lobby.
I'm allergic to dogs, can I still come to the service group?Yes, depending on the level of your allergy. If you have a severe allergy, please do not participate in the service group. We cannot guarantee there to not be dog fur, dander or even dogs throughout the building and our lobby.
I'm allergic to peanut butter, can I still come to the service group?Yes, depending on the level of your allergy. If you have a severe allergy, please do not participate in the service group. We do use peanut butter throughout the shelter for treats and to give medications to our dogs.
Will our service group take place outside during the winter?Yes, dependent on temperature. Please dress appropriately. We will limit the time spent outdoors if it is too cold, but dog walking and some service activities do require being outdoors.
All service groups are subject to cancellation due to weather or road conditions.
Will our service group take place outside during the summer?Yes, dependent on temperature. Please dress appropriately, bring water and sunscreen. We will limit the time spent outdoors if it is too hot, but dog walking and some service activities do require being outdoors.
All service groups are subject to cancellation due to weather.
What happens if my service group is cancelled?If your service group is rescheduled, please contact Dana and reschedule another time for your group.
Do you offer service groups for more than 2 hours?No, we are not able to fulfill requests for groups wishing to have a service group for longer than 2 hours.
Do you offer service groups for less than 2 hours?No, we are not able to fulfill requests for groups wishing to have a service group for less than 2 hours.
What should we wear?Wear comfortable clothing that you are able to get dirty, as that might happen! We also require closed-toed shoes; we recommend sneakers or tennis shoes.
How old do you have to be to be in a service group?You must be 16 years or older to participate in a service group.
Can my children come with me to the service group?No, you must be 16 years of age to participate in a service group.
When should I schedule my service group?You must schedule your service group a minimum of 2 weeks in advance. Based on availability, you may not be able to come out on your requested date. Time slots fill up quickly, so reserve your place soon.
Service groups are available Monday - Friday and may start between the hours of 10am - 3pm.
When do service groups take place?Service groups are available Monday - Friday and may start between the hours of 10am - 3pm.
My family and I want to sign up for a service group, how do we do that?Due to high volume of requests, service groups are available to businesses, organizations, or high school/college academic or athletic groups only.
If you are looking to volunteer at the SFAHS, please see our volunteer page and fill out an application at the shelter.
What do you do in a service group?There are a variety of activities that service groups complete and they are based on the current needs of the shelter at the time of your visit. You will spend one hour helping around the shelter and one hour directly interacting with the animals.
The first hour of your service group may include
- Kennel Cleaning
- Grounds cleanup, including waste removal
- Laundry
- Washing dishes and litter boxes
- Lobby cleaning
- Event preparation
- Treat preparation
The second hour of your service group may include
- Dog walking
- Cat cuddling & grooming
- Small animal socialization
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