Volunteer

Volunteer opportunities at the Adoption Center & Shelter come in lots of shapes and sizes. Whether you're interested in working directly with the animals or supporting our work in other ways, there's a place for you here. We currently have the greatest need in the following areas:

• Dog Walking
• Cat Care (New cat care volunteers accepted during spring and summer.)
• Laundry and Dishes

More Opportunities

Not sure if the positions above are the right fit for you? No problem! There are more opportunities available - click the link below to register and learn more.

Register Now

When you open your home to foster a pet, you offer the special support that pet needs, help preserve extremely strained shelter resources, and create space for other animals in need. Our greatest need is fosters to help with large dogs and litters of kittens. 

If you think fostering might be the right fit for you, click the link below to learn more.

Foster a Pet

ReTails is more than just a thrift store, it's an experience! ReTails is the destination for clothing bargains, vintage items, home furnishings, holiday decor and so much more. But we can only do it with the help of our incredible volunteers! 

We have immediate openings in the following volunteer positions:

• Department Specialists provide customer service and assist with sorting, repairing and organizing merchandise in one of ReTails many departments which include Apparel, Books, Linens, Electronics, Kitchen, Garden, Holiday, Jewelry, and more.
• ReTails Greeters ensure customers feel welcome, answer questions, and provide directions and information.
• Merchandising Volunteers assist with merchandise intake, sorting, and pricing. Volunteer shifts and qualifications vary based on the assignment.

To lend a hand at ReTails, click the link below to register!

Register Now

Loving animals is only part of the job - like all volunteers at HSSW, teen volunteers need to love working with people and enjoy being part of a team. HSSW is now accepting applications for teen volunteers, age 16 and older.

If you are interested in being a teen volunteer, you must: 

• Be over the age of 16 
• Commit to one two-hour shift per week for six months, or five two-hour shifts per week for two months
• Have approval from your parents to participate

If you're interested in becoming a teen volunteer at HSSW, you can begin the process here

Apply Now

We cannot accept any volunteers under age 16, even with parental supervision. Teen volunteering may not be used to complete required service hours for school or community service. 

Group volunteers can make a big impact for the animals! We can accommodate groups of up to 40 individuals. Opportunities are limited, and must be scheduled in advance. Learn more below. 

Group Volunteer Activities

ReTails Thrift Store

With more than 30,000 square feet of space, there's always room for group volunteers at ReTails. Owned and operated by HSSW, ReTails sells donated clothing, books, electronics, housewares, and appliances to benefit the animals. We love to invite groups to help us price sort and tidy up our store (and you can finish your day with some great shopping)!

Gardening and Yardwork

Our facilities team is always looking for teams to help with power washing, landscaping, and distributing wood chips. Volunteers must provide their own gloves. Depending on the project, providing additional equipment for the project is helpful.

Special Events

Events like Walk/Run (the first weekend in May) and our Gala (the first weekend of October) are excellent opportunities for groups to lend a hand. There are opportunities to help with a variety of tasks and roles.

Fundraising and Supply Drives

Fundraising and supply drives can be a great way to unite your team to support a good cause! Learn more about supply drives. If you would like to host a fundraiser, you can contact us to learn more.

Requesting a Group Volunteer Opportunity

Space is limited for Group Service opportunities, so Group Service dates must be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance, between 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Email volunteer@southwesthumane.org with your group type, group size, the activity you're interested in, and 3 ideal dates for service.

Youth Group Volunteers

HSSW is not able to supervise children, any youth groups with volunteers under the age of 16 must provide a their own adult supervision. Groups should have one trusted adult present for every five youth participants. Adults must accompany children at all times. There are always risks of scratches, bites, or other injury when working in a shelter environment. Anyone under the age of 18 (or otherwise ineligible) must have a waiver of liability signed by their parent or legal guardian in order to participate in group volunteer opportunities at the shelter or ReTails.

• We welcome individuals of all abilities to contribute to our work supporting the animals at HSSW including volunteers who require the support of a job coach, guardian, or paraeducator. All HSSW volunteers, regardless of their capacity, are expected to perform their assigned tasks safely, efficiently, and independently. Volunteer Services may provide reasonable modifications and accommodations to assist volunteers in serving independently.

  Volunteer roles at HSSW provide direct care and service to the animals, and we are unable to create projects or provide therapeutic experiences solely for the benefit of volunteers or organizations.

  To learn more, please review our Job Coach Policy.