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Volunteer at the Kenosha Campus

Thanks for your interest in volunteering at the Wisconsin Humane Society Kenosha Campus! Volunteers play a critical role in making a difference for animals and the people who love them. We are grateful for your interest in forwarding our mission! 

Requirements & Guidelines for Volunteers

  • Volunteers must follow shelter rules.   
  • Most roles require that volunteers read and comprehend policy and protocol information. 
  • Volunteers must be able to understand and fulfill all responsibilities of their role independently.  If an individual cannot volunteer on their own, we require that someone come with them to assist.   
  • Volunteers must be able to meet the physical requirements of their volunteer role. Most volunteer roles require volunteers to be able to stand and/or walk for up to 3 hours; and lift and carry up to 20 pounds. Some positions require being able to lift up to 40 pounds. 
  • We ask that volunteers have an email account that they routinely check and be able to access the internet for training and scheduling. 
  • All volunteers need to purchase a volunteer T–shirt and name badge. The total cost is $10+tax. 
  • Due to the amount of training required for most of our volunteer positions, we prefer at least a six-month commitment, but limited opportunities are available if you are unable to make that commitment.  Some positions may require a weekly commitment, as well.  Please include the time you’re able to commit on your volunteer application. 
  • Volunteer opportunities are available for those 13 years and older.  
         - Volunteers aged 13 through 15 must volunteer with an adult. If the accompanying adult is not the child’s legal guardian, we require permission to be given from the legal guardian. The adult/child pair complete orientation and training together and work as a team on every shift.  
         - Volunteers aged 16 and 17 can volunteer on their own in most positions. A parent or guardian needs to sign a consent form so they must be present when submitting the application online. 
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Volunteer Positions

The Wisconsin Humane Society Kenosha Campus relies on volunteers for support across our entire shelter. On any given day, you’re likely to find volunteers walking dogs, facilitating adoptions, doing laundry, assisting with veterinary prep work, taking photos of the animals, assisting customers in our store, completing administrative tasks, and so much more. Our needs are constantly changing – to find out what positions are currently open, be sure to watch our Volunteer Info Session video! 

Want to make a difference from home? Consider becoming a foster parent to an animal in need!

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How to Become a Volunteer

 Step 1: Watch the Volunteer Information Session video below. It will give information about our organization, our volunteer program and expectations, and our current needs. 

Step 2: Contact our volunteer coordinator indicating that you have watched the video and would like to receive the list of current volunteer opportunities and the volunteer application. Contact information will be provided at the end of the video. 

Step 3: Apply! Once we receive and review your volunteer application, we will contact you to schedule a Meet & Greet where you'll get a tour of the shelter, schedule further training, select your volunteer shift, and pay for your volunteer t-shirt and name badge ($10+tax). If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Connie Ader at cader@wihumane.org. (If your business or group is looking to get involved, please see our FAQ section below!)

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

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Do you offer group/corporate volunteer opportunities?
We do not offer large group volunteer opportunities; however, we have many ways for your company to get involved with WHS. Click here to get started!

Young people or school groups interested in doing service projects to benefit animals can find additional resources here.  


Do you offer short term volunteer opportunities?
We prefer a minimum commitment of six months for most volunteer positions due to the training involved, but we do have limited opportunities available for those unable to make that commitment. Please indicate the time you are able to commit on your volunteer application. 


Can I volunteer if I need school service hours? 
Yes! We offer school community service hours for students aged 13 and up. Students ages 13-15 year must volunteer with an adult, and students 16 years or older may volunteer on their own, depending on the position. Most positions require a weekly commitment, and we may not be able to support requests for fewer than 15 hours of service. 


Can I volunteer if I have a criminal background or need court-ordered community service hours?
We support volunteers with a criminal background or who need court-ordered community service if all convictions are:
- Non-violent; and
- Do not include theft or any conviction related to sale or intent to sell controlled substances in the past 7 years. 
In addition, we may not be able to accommodate some weapons, threats of violence, and animal-related charges. We will determine eligibility for our program once pending charges in the mentioned categories are resolved. We may not be able to support requests for fewer than 15 hours of community service. 
We do not provide in-shelter court-ordered service for minors or those whose crimes they are seeking community service for occurred when they were a minor. We may be able to provide limited opportunities for volunteer hours to be completed from home.  Contact the volunteer coordinator at your campus for more info.


How old do you need to be to volunteer? 
For the safety of our volunteers and animals, volunteers must be at least 13 years old. We have specific positions for young people ages 13 to 15 to volunteer with an adult, and 16- to 17-year-olds can volunteer on their own in most positions. A parent or guardian needs to sign a consent form so they must be present when submitting the application online.


Do you make exceptions to your volunteer age requirement? 
No. For the safety of our volunteers and animals, volunteers must be at least 13 years old. 

Kids of all ages can support animals through service projects and more! Click here for fun ideas like making toys for animals, holding your own fundraiser, or collecting items from our wish list. We also offer youth programs for animal-loving kids ages 4-18. From camps and birthday parties to field trips and Kids Night Out, these engaging programs provide young people the opportunity to get involved at WHS and, of course, a chance to meet animals! To learn more about our youth program offerings, click here. 

Guardians can also become a foster volunteer. Although the primary volunteer must be at least 18 years of age, the entire family can participate in the fostering experience. 


Will I receive training before I start volunteering?  
Yes. Each role has training sessions that cover all aspects of the volunteer role. Training is conducted by both staff and volunteer mentors. The time it takes to complete training varies based on volunteer availability, training schedules, and the training needs of the volunteer role. 


What if I am going on vacation or have another conflict with my volunteer shift? 
We understand that life can bring unexpected events or conflicts. To accommodate such situations, our scheduling process is designed to be as flexible as possible. Most volunteer positions have a consistent schedule, with the same shift and day each week. Volunteers have the ability to manage their own schedules online, allowing for pre-arranged shift adjustments and accommodating vacations. While it is not required, volunteers are welcome to select a make-up shift if they are unable to attend their scheduled shift. 


Can I fill out a paper application?
To streamline our volunteer application process and manage the high volume of applicants we receive each year, we do not offer paper applications. We communicate with volunteer applicants and current volunteers through email.

 

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