Volunteering



If you are 16 years old or older, fill out an online application

today! 

 

 

Opportunities:

  • Dog Walker (main shelter)
  • Cat Socializer (main shelter)
  • Off-site Adoption Care (weekly PetSmart Alabaster and PetSmart 280)
  • Web Photographer (main shelter)
  • Shelter Partners Driver
  • Special Events (various times and locations; off-site adoption care experience preferred)

 

General Volunteer Requirements:

 All volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 15 hours volunteer time with Shelby Humane Society.  If you are interested in fulfilling your 5 hours of community service for school, please see below for alternative opportunities.·       
 

All potential volunteers should submit an online application (preferred method) or fill out a hardcopy of the volunteer application in the front office at SHS.

·         After submitting your volunteer application, you will be contacted within 3-5 days with information regarding the next volunteer orientation.  We host orientations once a month. 

·         All volunteers are required to purchase a volunteer t-shirt.  Volunteer t-shirts must be worn at all times for proper identification.


  

Types of Volunteers:

Adult Volunteers:  Adult volunteers (18+) may volunteer at any of our locations and events.

·           Volunteers under 18 (16-17 years of age): Effective January 1, 2012, Shelby Humane Society has decided to limit volunteer opportunities to youth ages 16 and older.  Our existing “Junior Volunteers” ages 14+ years old that have already been trained and volunteering will be grandfathered in and can continue volunteering unless otherwise notified.  Volunteers 16 and older can volunteer at any of our locations and events.

·          Groups: Our ability to host volunteer groups is limited at this time.  We do have special projects occasionally available.  Please contact our volunteer coordinator directly with your group inquiry at Vcoordinator@shelbyhumane.org.

 

 

Volunteer Locations:

Main Shelter in Columbiana – 381 McDow Road, Columbiana, AL 35051.  Volunteer hours vary depending upon the volunteer position, but are available Monday – Saturday.

PetSmart Hoover/Inverness – Highway 280 at Valleydale Road.  Cat care and socialization opportunities are available 7 days a week during evening hours.  Adoption Counselors (adults only) and dog care/socialization volunteer opportunities are available every Saturday from 10am-5pm. 

PetSmart Alabaster – Highway 31 at I-65.  Cat care and socialization opportunities are available 7 days a week during evening hours.  Adoption Counselors (adults only) and dog care/socialization volunteer opportunities are available the first Sunday from 12:30pm-4pm.

Special Events – locations, dates and times vary. 

 

  

Alternative Community Service Ideas:

 

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 with our shelter or the shelter isn’t large enough to accommodate the size of 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.  Upon completion of the project, either speak to a front desk staff person at our shelter in Columbiana or contact our volunteer coordinator at Vcoordinator@shelbyhumane.org to have any paperwork signed.

 

Project Ideas

  • Hold a yard sale, bake sale or lemonade sale to benefit the shelter.  Have fun making signs and decorating for the event.  Inform visitors that their contributions will support homeless animals.
  • Print copies of our supply wish online and hold a supply drive in your community.  This can be done several different ways.  You can write a letter to your neighbors with the supply list attached and set a date that you will be going around collecting the supplies.  Another option is to ask a local business or school to allow collection bins in their establishments.  Arrange to pick up the items and deliver them to the shelter.
  • Host a charity party and make Shelby Humane the honoree!  Invite guests to a birthday party, dinner party or backyard 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 at the shelter in various ways.
  • Write an essay about how shelter pets make a difference in the lives of humans.  Include research about animal welfare topics such as the importance of adoption, spay/neutering, microchipping, or positive training methods.