1. Attend a volunteer orientation
2. Schedule an interview with the department that you are interested in volunteering with
3. Attend department-specific training

1. Attend a Volunteer Orientation
   • Our next volunteer orientations will be held in November 2010.  Please check here in mid-October to read about our volunteer process, what positions will be available this fall, the exact date/times of the November volunteer orientation and how to register.  We will begin registering volunteers for the November orientation in mid-October.  Thank you so much for your interest!  We look forward to hearing from you in October. All orientations are held at Larimer Humane Society located at 6317 Kyle Avenue in Fort Collins.
   • Please note that we do have a cap on our orientation classes, and individuals are signed up on a first-come first-serve basis. You must register (via email or phone) for one of these sessions in advance. In your message, please include the following information: first and last name, phone number, email address, orientation class you want to attend and what program you are interested in volunteering with (see list below). Note that any missing information may delay your registration for the class.
   • BEFORE THE ORIENTATION
     • Complete and sign the Volunteer Profile and Waiver
     • Decide which department(s) you want to volunteer in
     • Read the Performance Guidelines and Code of Conduct
   • WHAT TO BRING TO THE ORIENTATION
     • A completed and signed Volunteer Profile and Waiver
     • A calendar (or knowledge of your availability) for scheduling your volunteer interview
     • Please wear rubber-soled, non-skid shoes and appropriate clothing for walking around the shelter.
   • AT THE ORIENTATION, YOU WILL
     • Receive an overview of Larimer Humane Society, organization philosophies, shelter safety, and policies
     • Review the Performance Guidelines and Code of Conduct
     • Receive a tour of the Shelter facility
2. Schedule an Interview with the Department that You are Interested in Volunteering With
   • You will sign up for your interview(s) at the volunteer orientation.
   • Please have a calendar (or knowledge of your schedule) with you so that you’re prepared to schedule your interview.
   • Interviews usually take place within 1-2 weeks of the orientation unless you make other arrangements.
   • At the interview, you and the department representative will have the opportunity to ask questions of each other and determine if your placement in that department is a good fit. If it is a good fit, at the end of the interview
     • You will pay the manager $20 to cover the cost of your T-shirt and nametag.
     • The manager will give you a volunteer T-shirt.
     • You will schedule your first volunteer shift with your department manager.
   • You will receive your nametag within 2-3 weeks of your interview.
3. Attend Department-Specific Training
   • Following the interview, you will need to attend additional training(s) specific to the department in which you will be volunteering. To ensure your safety and that of our animals, volunteers whose duties involve direct handling of animals generally involve more training than administrative roles such as those in our licensing and development departments. At your interview, your department manager will inform you of additional training that you will need before beginning your volunteer service.
   • NOTE: If you will be working directly with animals as part of your volunteer duties, you will need to complete a mandatory WAGS (Animal Handler Certification) Training before you can begin volunteering at Larimer Humane Society. The date of the WAGS training will be posted in mid-July on this webpage. 

• Who can be a foster care volunteer?
• How do I become a foster volunteer?
• Do I need to provide any supplies?
• Do I need special skills or training to become a foster care volunteer?
• What types of animals need foster care?
• How long will I be fostering an animal, and what type of care is involved?

Who Can Be a Foster Care Volunteer? Our foster care volunteers come from all walks of life! No experience is necessary; we will train you! This program is perfect for families, college students seeking hands-on animal experience, busy professionals who can’t commit to pet guardianship, and senior citizens looking to put their experience to work. Foster volunteers must be willing and able to drive foster animals to the shelter at least weekly for regular health and behavior checkups.

How Do I Become a Foster Care Volunteer? Anyone interested in becoming a Foster Care home for Larimer Humane Society must attend our volunteer orientation and the Foster Care training class within the same month. At the orientation, you will have the opportunity to sign up for an interview with the Foster Care Coordinator. Following the interview, you will be signed up to attend our Foster Care Introductory Training; this introductory training class will allow you to be added to the list of foster care volunteers. For more information, please This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it our Foster Care Coordinator

Do I Need to Provide Any Supplies? No. The shelter will provide you with all needed supplies including food, leashes, litterboxes, etc.; however, we do appreciate it if you are able to provide some supplies such as litter, leashes, etc. All items you purchase for foster animals are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. We do ask that you provide a spare bedroom or bathroom for your foster animal to live in. The shelter provides all veterinary care for foster animals.

Do I Need Special Skills or Training to Become a Foster Care Volunteer? Our program is designed to suit your experience and interest levels. Some animals require medications and veterinary treatment and some just need a warm place to stay. We’ll work with you and your comfort level, provide you with necessary training, and we’re always available to answer your questions. All new foster volunteers start with fairly low-maintenance foster animals and work their way up to the more time-intensive foster experiences, if they wish.

What Types of Animals Need Foster Care? Our most common foster animals are kittens with nursing queens, or weaned kittens and puppies that need a few weeks to grow strong before placement. We often have homeless adult cats and dogs suffering from treatable illnesses such as Upper Respiratory Infection or Kennel Cough, or animals recovering from surgery. On occasion, the foster animal may have been the victim of neglect or abuse and emotional as well as medical care will be needed. On occasion, we are in need of foster homes who can care for undersocialized small mammals (rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc.). The Society may also call upon foster volunteers to help reduce over-crowded conditions at the shelter.

How Long Will I be Fostering an Animal and What Type of Care is Involved? The average stay for a foster animal is three weeks, but some foster animals can require up to 3 months to recovery from injury or illness. Some foster animals, like newborn kittens, require round-the-clock care. Puppies and kittens need structured socialization and basic manners training. Others, such as hamsters or birds, simply need daily attention. We’ll arrange a foster care time commitment around your lifestyle, work schedule and vacation plans. The foster care department offers periodic educational seminars relating to many aspects of animal care including but not limited to cat enrichment, puppy raising, and rabbit care.

The dogs at Larimer Humane Society are resting more comfortably these days thanks to the generosity of our community. We are thrilled with the tremendous response to our Kuranda "Donate-a-Bed" program! Now you can help the cats and kittens be comfortable as well!

You can give the gift of comfort and enrichment by purchasing a cat Kuranda bed or a cat scratching post for the animals in our care. Simply visit Kuranda's donate a bed page and follow instructions to locate Larimer Humane Society's wish list. Your purchase will be shipped directly to the shelter!  If you would like to donate a cat scratcher so that our cats and kittens can get exercise and stretch in their kennels visit Stretch and Scratch where you can purchase scratchers and deliver them to the shelter. The cats and kittens thank you for your generosity so they can rest comfortably and enjoy their time while in our care.

• Hot dogs (non expired and non opened packages)
• Natural Balance Food logs (any flavor) for dog enrichment
• Baby Food (meat flavors only: ham, turkey, chicken, etc) for cat enrichment
• Tuna (or other canned meat such as salmon or chicken) for cat enrichment
• Bath towels