Thank you for your interest! We are not currently in need of additional onsite youth volunteers (those under 18 years) and do not anticipate opening any youth opportunities this summer.
Those under 18 can still contribute and earn service hours by fostering animals with their families and/or crafting rice warmies and blankets at home to be donated to the shelter. Please refer to the section below for more information.
Please find some commonly asked questions and answers below.
HOW OLD SHOULD I BE TO VOLUNTEER?
Students 13-17 years old are allowed to volunteer at HSSV for limited roles.
HOW MUCH TIME WILL BE REQUIRED?
The shift times vary based on the needs of the shelter. We ask students to come in for a recurring shift once a week or once every other week. Student Volunteers may be asked to commit to three months of volunteering.
WILL I BE OFFERED TRAINING? DO I NEED EXPERIENCE?
No experience is needed for most student volunteer roles at HSSV. All volunteers at HSSV are offered training for their role and also have a point of contact onsite in case questions arise while you are volunteering. All student roles at HSSV are defined in a written role-description and these will include information about the role and whether prior experience of any kind is required for applicants.
DO YOU OFFER BIRTHDAY PARTIES OR SCOUT WORKSHOPS?
HSSV is not able to provide birthday parties and scout workshops.
WHEN DOES HSSV RECRUIT FOR STUDENT ROLES?
We recruit based on the needs of the shelter and do not currently have any openings.
WHAT KIND OF ROLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS?
Students complete roles in many departments. Primarily though, our student volunteers help in our Animal Care and Enrichment department creating enrichment toys and tools for our animals. They also help us do laundry and wash dog and cat dishes.
HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT HSSV AND EARN SERVICE HOURS?
Please visit our foster page to learn more about fostering animals with us.
We are always in true need of Puppy and Kitten Rice-Warmies. Follow this link for instructions: Rice-Warmies. These warmies help the separated neonatal puppies or kittens regulate their body heat which is usually what the mom dog or cat does. If kittens or puppies come to our shelter without their mother, for whatever reason, we use rice-warmies to keep them warm. For our littlest visitors at the shelter, these are life saving items. Each litter needs it’s own set, so we use a lot. Three Rice-Warmies are good for 1 service hour, if you are keeping track.
We also always need fleece blankets. They are a simple no-sew option that help us keep our furry friends warm. Here are the instructions for making fleece blankets. You can purchase fleece at any craft store (Michael’s, Joann’s, etc.); feel free to choose whatever fun prints/patterns you like! Be sure to check the clearance fleece for great deals. Five blankets are good for 2 service hours. Feel free to reach out to Volunteer@hssv.org if you have questions about these projects.
Testimonials
“My interest in animals has increased and I’m not nervous around cats anymore!” —Nallely N.
“I have had such an amazing experience. There’s so much I can share now, with my friends and family and I hope all the animals I have come to love at HSSV will find a loving home.” —Katrina S.
“Overall, everything I learned gave me more of an understanding of why pets do the things they do.” —Gabriella Z.