Match-making for 25 years.

Requirements for Volunteering

* We will no longer schedule Junior Volunteers at the main shelter due to space and safety constraints.

Please see below for other volunteer opportunities for Junior and Youth volunteers

All volunteers at the main shelter must now be at least 18.

General Volunteer Requirements

• All volunteers are required to make a $5 donation to cover the cost of a volunteer t-shirt and training.  Volunteer t-shirts must be worn at all times for proper identification.

• All volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 15 hours of volunteer time for in-shelter work and 12 hours for off-site.  See other community service ideas below.

• Volunteer shirts must be scheduled in advance with staff.

• All potential volunteers must download, complete and return a volunteer application (see details below for appropriate application) and release of liability form. Volunteers over 18 only need sign the top portion of the liability form.  Return the application and form via fax at 669-3819, email to address on application or bring to the shelter.

Types of Volunteers

Adult Volunteers - To volunteer at the Main Shelter, you must be at least 18 years old. Volunteer tasks include: cleaning, socializing cats and dogs, walking and bathing dogs, administrative help (filing, phone calls, data entry, and counseling), and Adoption Counseling. Adults may help with our 9:00am to 11:00am cleaning shift on Saturdays. Adult Adoption Counselors are needed on Saturdays for two shifts (10:00am to 2:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:00pm).

Junior Volunteers – Effective April 15th, we are no longer scheduling Junior Volunteers (under age 18) at the main shelter.  Volunteers age 14 and older may still volunteer at Petsmart and other offsite events as needed. Volunteers younger than 14 must have parental supervision.  * Please see other community service ideas below for additional activities for Junior volunteers.

Offsite available options:

Hwy 280 PetSmart location:   Saturdays 10am-1:30pm or 1:30-5pm

Alabaster PetSmart: Cat care - 7 days a week, during store hours

Group Volunteers - In order for individual group members to make good use of their time and provide valuable service hours to SHS, we limit the size of volunteer groups to 6 people. Our facility is not big enough to handle large groups. Please note that we are no longer scheduling Junior volunteers at the main shelter. * Please see other community service ideas below for additional group activities.

At-home Fostering - Provide a temporary home for injured and special-needs animals. It may be a mama dog or cat with a new-born litter or an injured animal that needs a safe place to recover. We also need homes for animals that have been at the shelter for a long time and need some TLC or training to get adoption-ready.  All of these special animals need a temporary home where they can grow stronger and ready to meet their new families!

How do I volunteer?

Step 1: Browse our website and download our Volunteer Orientation Handbook. Read up on our organization and learn about the available volunteer positions.

Step 2: To become an Active Volunteer, you need to download, print and fill out a volunteer application. You will also need to download a Release of Liability. If you are over 18, you only need to sign the top portion. You may bring these items with you when you volunteer, fax them to us at 669-3819, or mail them to the address on the application.

Step 3: Determine where you would like to volunteer and the type of activities you would like to do.

PetSmart Hwy 280 at Valleydale Road - Activities include cat socializing and cage cleaning. These opportunities are available 7 days a week during store hours. We also need assistance with dog care and socialization on Saturdays from 10AM-5PM. We require adult Adoption Counselors and teens to help care for the animals and keep cages clean.  Must be 14 years old to volunteer without a parent.  Contact 447-6451 or seavey@shelbyhumane.org to schedule or to become an Adoption Counselor (training required).

PetSmart Alabaster –  Activities include cat socializing and cage cleaning. These opportunities are available 7 days a week during store hours. Contact 447-6451 or seavey@shelbyhumane.org to schedule.

Columbiana Main Shelter - Needs for this location include animal socialization, dog bathing, cage cleaning, office assistance and other opportunities as assistance is needed. Anyone performing court-ordered community service must do so at the Main Shelter between the hours of 8AM and Noon. Other volunteers may schedule to work in the morning or afternoon. Please contact the shelter to let us know when you would like to volunteer and we will confirm your activities. Call 205-669-3916 ext 22 to make arrangements.

We have an immediate need for volunteers to assist with cleaning in our kennel area 6 days a week from 8AM-11AM. 

Step 4: Have fun. Once it’s time for you to volunteer, show up ready to help. We will give you all the information you need to make your time spent with us both effective and enjoyable.

Please download and complete the appropriate application.

 If you're an adult interested in volunteering, download the Adult Volunteer Application.

If you are between 14 and 18, download the Junior Volunteer Application (2 pages)

If you are an adult who will be volunteering with a youth, please download the joint Adult/Youth Volunteer Application (2 pages).

If you are required to perform court-ordered community service, download the Community Service Application

Once you have completed your application, please bring it on the day you plan to volunteer or mail it to:

Shelby Humane Society 
381 McDow Drive
Columbiana, AL  35051
Phone:  205-669-3916
email: volunteer@shelbyhumane.org

Community Service/Youth Volunteer Ideas:

Many schools, churches and service groups require community service hours or community service projects for members.  Some of these members are too young to volunteer onsite, or the shelter isn't large enough to accommodate the size or the group.  We don't want to miss out on this valuable support so we put together a list of other ways to get community service hours. Select a project from the list below and keep track of your community service hours.  

 Project Ideas:

• Hold a yard sale, bake sale or lemonade stand to benefit the shelter.  Have fun making signs and decorating for the event. Inform visitors that their contributions will support homeless animals.

• Write an essay about how a shelter pet has made a difference in your life. Include research about animal welfare topics such as the importance of adoption, spay/ neutering, or micro chipping.

• Print copies of our supply wish list online and hold a supply drive in your community. Ask local business or schools to allow collection bins in their establishments. Arrange to pick up the items and deliver to the shelter.  

• Host a charity party and make Shelby Humane the honoree! Invite guests to a birthday party, dinner party or back yard cookout and ask them to bring an item from our wish list or make a donation to the shelter rather than bring a gift.  

• Hold a newspaper collection drive. Set up bins and collect newspapers in your neighborhood to be used to provide comfort for the animals at the shelter.

Upon completion, submit these projects/donations to the shelter along with a written summary of your experiences. Include things that worked, didn’t work and what you learned during the process.

Once reviewed, a staff member will sign service hour forms if needed.