Become a Volunteer
WHAT DO VOLUNTEERS DO?
Volunteers support nearly every area of our work. Together, we are creating a safe haven. It is our goal that every pet in the shelter gets a minimum of 20 minutes of human contact daily. Studies have shown that 20 minutes of human contact daily can make a difference in the life of a pet. It decreases the pet's anxiety, which can cut down stress-related illnesses and make them 'show' better to potential adopters. Your help in the shelter can and does, make a world of difference for the animals.
SHELTER CREWHelp with all aspects of the shelter including cleaning, giving out toys and treats, laundry, washing of dishes and litter boxes, and more!
MORNING DOG WALKINGMorning dog walkers come to the shelter starting at 7am and help our kennel staff take each dog for their morning walk before they get breakfast. As you walk the dogs, kennel staff are cleaning their kennels and moving them to new ones. You will be trained to walk the dogs in a specific way, that every volunteer and staff member is taught for consistency and to help with training.
AFTERNOON & EVENING DOG WALKINGThese dog walkers come to the shelter during our public hours and walk the dogs to keep them active and socialized. You will be trained to walk the dogs in a specific way, that every volunteer and staff member is taught for consistency and to help with training.
SMALL ANIMAL SOCIALIZATIONWork with the small animals so they stay socialized while at the shelter.
CAT CUDDLING & SOCIALIZATIONWork with the cats so they stay socialized while at the shelter.
MATCHMAKERSEvery volunteer also has the potential to be matchmaker! This means helping pre-screened adopters find the perfect animal for their home.
EVENT HOPPERYou will help with event preparations including mailings, donations, errands and distribution of marketing materials.
SHELTER AMBASSADORS**Ambassadors are volunteers who help us at our public events! You are the face of our volunteers and representatives of the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society. It is required that you know basic facts about the shelter, are reliable and have a positive attitude. Events happen throughout the year. Some events may require extra training sessions.
BATH BUDDIES**This program requires an extra training session with one of our volunteer groomers. The groomers that lead these classes are professionally trained. Those that participate in the Bath Buddies program will be trained to help with basic grooming including baths and brushing.
DOG TRAINING**This program requires an extra training session with our staff dog trainer. The dog training program is in its second year at SFAHS! The program helps the dogs learn basic manners, good leash walking skills and other good behaviors to help them get adopted faster! This is the base training method we use at the shelter and apply it as an overall training. We modify as needed for each dog's learning style and behavior. Our staff trainer is the only handler that leads this class, for consistency.
(**These positions may require extra training sessions)
REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES
- Must be 16 years of age or older to become a registered volunteer.
- Must complete volunteer orientation.
- Volunteers must read and comprehend detailed policy and protocol information and remember and follow shelter rules.
- Human interaction is a requirement of all volunteer roles. Volunteers must always communicate professionally.
- Most volunteer roles require volunteers to lift and carry up to 20 pounds, reach and lift, possess vision abilities including close vision, distance vision, and depth perception, and speak to customers, employees and other volunteers.
- We do not offer court-ordered or diversion program volunteering, due to liability conflicts. This includes any volunteering that has been ordered, recommended, or required by a parole officer, judge, teen court, halfway housing, juvenile detention center, etc.
- Because training new volunteers requires an investment of time and the animals are depending on you, we do require volunteers to be able to make at least a six-month commitment to work directly with the shelter pets, with a minimum of 4 volunteer hours each month.
- PLEASE BE AWARE that the SFAHS is a busy working environment, where pet allergens, cleaning agents and high noise levels exist. Critters may jump on you, leave muddy paw prints, and could scratch or bite. Although not all jobs require hands-on involvement with shelter animals, you will almost certainly be working near dogs, cats, and other small animals.
HOW DO YOU BECOME A VOLUNTEER?
- VOLUNTEER APPLICATION. Volunteer applications can be found at the front desk in the lobby of the SFAHS. You must fill out the application thoughtfully and in its entirety to be considered.
- PROCESSING & APPROVAL. Your application will be submitted to the volunteer coordinator for processing and approval. If you are approved, you will be contacted to set up a time to attend a volunteer orientation. If you are not approved, you will be contacted as well. We receive many applications each day and will process as quickly as we can. If you have not heard back about your application after 3-4 weeks, please reach out to our volunteer coordinator.
- ORIENTATION. After your application has been approved, you will need to attend a volunteer orientation before you are able to start volunteering. This will give you the opportunity to hear more about the shelter, the volunteer program, and expectations, as well as a tour of the facility. You may only attend orientation if your application has been approved. You will receive your name badge and your volunteer punch-in number at orientation.
- VOLUNTEER! Welcome to the SFAHS Volunteer Program! If you have any questions while you are volunteering, we are here to answer those for you. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to staff and ask for help.
GENERAL EXPECTATIONSEach year, more than 400 volunteers, with a wide variety of backgrounds, donate more than 30,000 hours of service. They give hands-on care to animals, help us raise much-needed funds, educate our community, assist our staff at the shelter, provide support, and more. SFAHS volunteers report a deep sense of satisfaction in contributing to improving the lives of our rescued animals while working alongside others who desire to create a better future to all animals.
SFAHS provides training for all volunteer positions, so no prior experience is required. Whether walking dogs, helping match people with potential pets, or helping to make an event successful, you can be apart of the life-saving work we do at SFAHS.
- Dedicated volunteers of all ages help make the shelter run each day, so it is important that you get your minimum of 4 hours in each month.
- While people come to SFAHS because they love animals, volunteers must be able to work well with other people. Our shelter isn't just about the animals - it's about people helping animals and our community.
- For everyone's protection, volunteers must use the safe animal handling techniques taught in their orientation.
- All tasks, from cleaning kennels and handling animals to stuffing envelopes and assisting at events, have specific procedures. Volunteers must adhere to these produces unless a staff member directs them otherwise.
- Once volunteers are comfortable and know their routines, they are expected to volunteer with minimal supervision. Following through on volunteer tasks ensures that animals are receiving the best possible care. Staff are always available to answer questions or assist if needed.
Sound like you would be a fit? Fill out an application.
Applications can be found at the front desk in the lobby of the SFAHS.
You must fill out your application thoughtfully and in full to be considered.
For questions, please see our
Volunteer FAQ.
ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF AND THE ANIMALS, THANK YOU, WOOF AND MEOW!