Major Objective

Positively and knowledgeably increase the public’s knowledge and understanding of Larimer Humane Society programs and services. Increase visibility of adoption animals, thereby increasing adoptions and reducing euthanasia.

Duties

• Staff information and retail booth at community events, festivals, fundraisers and other off-site locations.
• Accept responsibility for booth materials and retail merchandise
• Present a professional and positive image of the shelter to the community.
• Provide general society information to the public and adoption counseling to potential adopters.
• Accurately and positively represent the shelters views on animal welfare issues
• Promote Society fundraising events, activities and programs
• Sell retail merchandise and record information correctly. Cash handling.

Training

Please note: all these steps are mandatory, with no exceptions

• Attend a Volunteer Orientation and complete a Volunteer Profile
• Interview with Humane Education and Community Outreach Coordinator 
• Attend LHS 101 Training Class
• Attend Community Outreach Training
• Attend WAGS Animal Handling Training Class

Commitment

Community Outreach Volunteers must commitment to an average of two to four hours of booth time per month (outside of training time). Must be available weekends, have own transportation and be a minimum of 18 years of age.

Volunteer Profile

Outgoing personality, good communication skills, deep commitment to animal welfare and ability to speak assertively and professionally. Interested in learning all aspects of shelter services, safe animal handling skills and desire to work with the public to increase awareness and understanding. Cash handling and sales experience helpful.

Volunteer Benefits

• Purrs and tail wags!
• Public speaking and client service experience
• Knowledge of shelter procedures and operations and educating our community about them
• Attend fun events and meet new people
• Rewarding experience of matching homeless animals with loving families

Supervision

Direct supervision by the Humane Education and Community Outreach Coordinator 

Major Objective

Assist fun and friendly Larimer Humane Society development staff with important day to day operations.

Duties

• Data entry
• Write thank-you notes to donors
• Label and sort material for bulk mailings
• Photo-copy documents
• Meter/stamp postcards and envelopes
• Assist in the facilitation of fundraising events (creative input appreciated)

Training

• Attend a Volunteer Orientation
• Complete Volunteer Profile
• Interview with Development staff person
• Attend LHS 101
• Program training with the development team

Commitment

We ask that Development Volunteers commit to at least one hour of service per week and are at least 18 years of age or older. 

Volunteer Profile

Detail-oriented, professional, quick-learning individual. Legible hand-writing. Basic knowledge of office machinery and personal computers a plus. Willingness to perform repetitive tasks and work closely with Development staff.

Volunteer Benefits

• Play crucial role in raising money to care for the animals
• Clerical experience
• Experience handling money
• Computer experience
• Flexible scheduling and duties
• Low-stress, clean working environment
• Great “secondary” program
• Fun experience in event planning and facilitation

Supervision

Direct supervision by Development staff

Major Objective

Assist shelter staff with the assessment of adoptable animals to improve their integration into new homes. Participate in keeping the shelter environment clean, safe and as comfortable as possible for the animals in our care.

Duties

• Perform Meet your Match Canine-Ality, Puppy-Ality and Feline-Ality assessments on adoptable animals
• Clean and sanitize evaluation rooms and training center following use
• Take digital photos of adoptable animals
• Complete kennel inventory
• Notify the staff of any health and/or behavioral issues noted during interaction with the adoptable animals
• Follow the Larimer Humane Society’s safe animal handling guidelines
• General office duties and other miscellaneous duties as assigned

Limitations

Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older and have animal handling experience.

Training

• Attend Volunteer Orientation
• Complete volunteer profile
• Interview with Evaluation Coordinators
• Attend LHS 101 training class
• Attend WAGS Training and pass Animal Handling Certification
• Attend Meet Your Match Trainings

Commitment

Evaluation Coordinator (EC) Assistant Volunteers must commit to at least one two hour shift per week for a minimum of six months.

Volunteer Profile

Dedicated individuals with previous animal handling experience. Behavior and/or training experience is preferred. Must be willing to handle dogs, cats, and small mammals and must not have any allergies to animals. Volunteers must be able to follow instructions given by their supervisor(s). Must be emotionally equipped to handle crowded conditions and long-term residents. Must have a desire to learn and be open to on the job training.

Volunteer Benefits

• Opportunity to interact with and enrich the lives of shelter animals on a regular basis
• Improve the relationship between animals and new adopters
• Animal handling training
• Gain knowledge and exposure to different types and breeds of animals

Supervision

Direct supervision by Evaluation and Enrichment Coordinators

Major Objective

Provide a nurturing and comfortable environment in your home for animals to mature, heal, socialize and become or remain adoptable.

Duties

• Provide all elements of care for foster animals, including feeding, grooming, medicating and socializing
• Ensure safety of foster animal and respond to each animal’s needs
• Maintain excellent communication with Foster Care Coordinator regarding the animals’ progress
• Return the animal to the shelter upon completion of its foster time so that it may be available for adoption

Limitations

At least 1 primary caregiver must be 18 years old or older (an adult). All paperwork in the foster care program requires the signature of an adult. This adult must attend the weekly animal health and behavior appointments, and we recommend that any child who attends the appointments be at least 10 yrs old.

Training

• Attend a Volunteer Orientation
• Complete Volunteer Profile
• Interview with Foster Care Coordinator
• Attend LHS 101
• Attend a Foster Care Information Session
• Complete Foster Care Application
• Annual in-home inspection
• Attend continuing education sessions periodically

Commitment

We ask that Foster Care volunteers commit as needed. Most foster experiences are at least 2 weeks long, some can be upwards of 3-4 months; most foster experiences occur during the spring, summer and fall months, fewer during the winter months.

Volunteer Profile

Dedicated individuals and families with a satisfactory living arrangement. Must be willing to care for animals that require extra time or attention to help them thrive and become adoptable. Volunteers must be accepting of emotional challenges when faced with adoption, illness, death or euthanasia of a foster animal. Volunteers must be able to follow instructions given by the foster care coordinator and/or veterinary staff. Ideal for people who need a flexible volunteer schedule, although you must be willing to bring foster animals to the shelter every week for health and behavior exams.

Volunteer Benefits

• Great way to get animal care experience
• Allows for flexibility in scheduling
• Rewarding experience of offering an animal a second chance

Supervision

Direct supervision by Foster Care Coordinator; indirect supervision by veterinary staff.

Major Objective

Positively and knowledgeably promote the Larimer Humane Society to the community. Create awareness of LHS programs and services.

Duties

• Assist the Humane Educator in creating and, on occasion, presenting age appropriate lesson plans with interactive focus to community groups, schools and organizations
• Help contact schools, scout troops, and other educational centers in order to schedule programs
• Help transport presentation materials to and from the shelter
• Present our services and departments explaining how they help the community
• Participate in special tabling events (such as high school service learning fairs and Spay/Neuter Day)
• Answer questions about humane issues, behavior and training and animal control ordinances
• Promote kindness to animals, bite prevention, the importance of spay/neutering pets, adoption, training, ID tags, licensing and environmental and wildlife education
• Looking for a bird knowledgeable person to assist with the Bird Fair (September 27, 2008) at Fossil Creek Reservoir. The assistant will attend committee meetings with the Humane Educator (starting May 08) and will attend along during the month of July

Training

• Attend a Volunteer Orientation
• Complete Volunteer Profile
• Interview with the Humane Educator
• Attend LHS 101 Training Class
• Attend Community Outreach Training (as offered)

Commitment

There is no minimum monthly commitment for Humane Education Volunteers. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age or older. 

Volunteer Profile

Strong, outgoing personality. Deep commitment to animal welfare and ability to speak assertively and professionally. Interest in learning all aspects of shelter services. Ability to work with the public in an age-appropriate manner to increase awareness and understanding. Background in education is extremely helpful.

Volunteer Benefits

• Feel-good job, working with children
• Social, fun and meaningful
• Full spectrum knowledge of shelter procedures and operations
• Public Speaking experience
• Possible teaching experience
• Meet many wonderful people

Supervision

Direct supervision by the Humane Educator.

Major Objective

Work closely with kennel staff cleaning; and possibly socializing and exercising the animals. Participate in all elements of keeping the shelter environment clean, safe and as comfortable as possible for the animals in our care.

Duties

• Clean water and food bowls
• Assist with kennel laundry, including towels and volunteer smocks
• Refill the animals’ water bowls
• Clean kennels and cages (i.e. poop scoop, empty litter boxes)
• Feed the animals

Training

• Attend volunteer orientation
• Complete volunteer profile
• Interview with Shelter Manager
• Attend LHS 101 training class
• Attend WAGS training class
• Complete hands on kennel training

Commitment

Kennel Assistant Volunteers must commit to one two-hour shift per week for a minimum of six months. Kennel Assistant volunteers must be 16 years of age or older to serve their time independently. Volunteers age 10-15 years of age may join our Partner Up program with a parent or adult relative and volunteer in the Kennel Assistant program. 

Volunteer Profile

Person with strong desire to positively influence animals’ shelter stay. Professional and safe animal handling skills. Willingness to get dirty. Emotionally equipped to handle over-crowded conditions and long-term residents. Open to on the job training and taking direction from shelter staff. Able to receive emails as a way to communiate with volunteer supervisor. 

Volunteer Benefits

• Tail wags!
• Animal handling training
• Exposure to many different types and breeds of animals
• Knowledge of shelter procedures and operations

Supervision

Direct supervision by Kennel Staff, reports to the Shelter Manager