Care for the animals kept at the shelter by feeding and giving them baths, taking them for walks or playing with them. While there are many tough chores, like cleaning up after the animals and washing their dirty beds, there are also fun ways to directly interact with the animals. So, I found a plan B: volunteering at my local animal shelter. Animal rescue volunteers come from all walks of life, generously giving their time to apply their skills and experience in response to animals in need. Many people don’t realize the importance of donations for a shelter’s survival. Ask questions; get answers. There are lots of other benefits too, such as: 1. … Our rehoming and veterinary services help 35,000 pets each year, and we couldn’t do this without the support of our dedicated volunteers. Animal Shelter Volunteer long walks that I would take with other rescue dogs. A new and meaningful volunteer experience awaits you at an animal rescue project! However, if that's not an option. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography. Check out the next section for ideas. fter all of these things are done, you'll have a chance to play with the animals. Volunteering with us is a great way to meet like minded people who share the same enthusiasm for animal welfare. Animal Shelter Volunteer @ ASPCA of Washington County. There are so many ways to volunteer your time to the shelter. You’ll likely also be cleaning up after them, sweeping, mopping, filling water and food bowls, tidying litter boxes, washing towels, etc. If you’re a high school student looking for an extracurricular activity, learn about Model UN and how to join your high school newspaper. Join us for an unforgettable summer of helping animals by participating in our Student Volunteer Experience program. This is probably the most difficult task because each dog acts differently on their walk, and it becomes hard to gauge how each dog will react in certain situations. IVHQ has more than 13 years experience working with responsible and trusted wildlife conservation organizations, animal sanctuaries and animal shelters around the world. You'll have to do menial work such as cleaning up after the animals before you can play with them. Finding an animal shelter near you should be as simple as conducting a Google Search for “[Your Town Name] Animal Shelter” or “[Your Town Name] Animal Rescue” or  “[Your Town Name] Humane Society.” That should lead you to the website for an animal shelter or, at least, the contact information for an animal shelter near you. It's challenging work, but it can also be a rewarding process. On top of the menial tasks, you may have to do as an animal shelter volunteer; you’ll also likely deal with some sadness. When I first came to the shelter, I have to admit I was terrified of cats. Photo: ian.m.phillips There are thousands of animal shelters in the United States, and you may be considering volunteering with one of them, or possibly even beginning at job there.. You may be wondering what it’s like to work at a shelter. Volunteering at an animal shelter can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for both yourself and the animals in care. There’s lots of ways you can get involved, like helping in one of our charity shops where you’ll meet like-minded people and gain valuable experience. Volunteering at a humane society will allow you to test out whether you’d like to pursue a career working with animals. Additionally, many extracurricular experiences cost money (such as volunteer abroad programs). All must attend STEPS training and accompany Junior Volunteers must be accompanied at all times while volunteering at the shelter by their Adult Volunteer Partner. It’s always a difficult decision because the dogs always get so excited to see you, and it can be hard to just pick one. You’ll likely also have to deal with some customer service work such as answering phone calls and responding to adoption questions. While volunteering at an animal shelter can be a great experience, it's not going to be fun and games all the time. It’s not always an easy job, so make sure you take all of this into consideration before committing to volunteering at an animal shelter. Hop to It! Volunteers are the heart of our shelter. It inspired me to encourage the people in my community to … So every time I came with a treat, without even giving the commands, she immediately sat and gave me her paw. Ask below and we'll reply! Getting a volunteer position at an animal shelter is possible if you write a strong resume that impresses the hiring manager. If you’re interested in working with animals (but don’t want to or can't work at an animal shelter), you could try some similar alternatives. If you have specific questions about our volunteer program, please email: volunteer@azfriends.org. If you live in a major metropolitan area (NY, LA, Seattle, etc. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. This guide will answer all those questions and more, so read on! Some people stay for an hour or a day and others return year after year. You should check out the Emory Pre-College Program and the Boston University Summer Challenge. Create My Resume It doesn’t matter if you have any experience through having pets or having worked with animals before, as long as you are willing to learn and treat the animals with the necessary respect and caution you are more than welcome to volunteer. Volunteer requirements. Experience: 3 yrs 10 mo. Animal Shelter Volunteer. I had wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter all my life, but living in South Korea where shelters are nonexistent, I had never had the chance. If you are over the age of 18, please fill out this online form. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age to volunteer independently. We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Some shelters have physical requirements too (since you might be dealing with large animals and lifting things). Volunteers help clean, build and repair houses and fences, walk and cuddle the dogs. It showed me that there are a lot of wonderful pets who are placed into shelters each and every day who really just want to be loved. All rights reserved. ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? When I heard about this, I solicited small donations from my school to allow the shelter to purchase necessities, which made the shelter extremely grateful. I always love walking around and deciding which dog to take to the training room to teach new tricks. Colleges want students who're experts in something. Working as a shelter volunteer, you'll learn so much about what it takes to take care of animals. You will get to play with animals, but that will not be your only responsibility. Babies Being Scared of Their Own Shadows Is Hilarious, and We Are All Terrible People for Laughing, Big Sky: Intriguing Characters, Horrifying Encounters, The Undoing: HBO’s Latest Thrilling Series, Starring Nicole Kidman, Chemical Hearts: A New, More Dismal Look at Love. Volunteering is a free extracurricular experience that won't cost you anything other than your time. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Volunteering with animals abroad is a great opportunity for everyone who loves animals and wants to give something back to them. Learn how your comment data is processed. Doria Leibowitz is a high school junior best known for her floor hockey goalie-ing skills, yes FLOOR hockey. Volunteering in an animal related industry means you have the chance to make friends of both the human and animal varieties. Volunteering at animal shelters can be very popular, and some shelters already have a lot of volunteers and don’t need more help. Volunteer and lend animal shelter organizations a hand by providing abandoned or ill-treated creatures a safe haven. If your passion is animals, or something similar, working at an animal shelter will look great on your application. Shifts range from 2-4 hours depending on the shelter. Now, however, my family and I were staying for a long visit in the United States, and I … Don’t be surprised if it takes you a while to get a response about volunteering or if a shelter tells you they don’t need volunteers right now. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Volunteer at a Vet Hospital. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: © PrepScholar 2013-2018. How is volunteering at an animal shelter different than other volunteer work? Overall, volunteering at the animal rescue was one f the most rewarding experiences of my life. Want to be a volunteer helping animals? Shelters are not all created equal, and volunteering can be very different from one city to the next. Another alternative is fostering an animal if you have space at your house (and your parents allow it). Two years ago, when I was seeking summer plans, all I wanted to do was work with animals. It also helps shelters that are low on labor continue their endless care of animals. Shelters often run low on basic and necessary supplies, like newspapers and towels. 64 reviews from Animal Shelter employees about working as a Volunteer at Animal Shelter. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Reach out to that person to get started as a volunteer. These shelters spend time and money training their volunteers, so they want to make sure you’re committed. Here at PrepScholar, we often recommend you try to be an expert in one field rather than well-rounded. Becoming a Volunteer Visit the shelter. Ashbourne Animal Welfare: Was established in 1988 and is dedicated to the rescue … Volunteer. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? You’ll Get Attached to an Animal, and Then it Will Get Adopted. Other shelters have online applications for potential volunteers. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Read our other article on Medical Experiences for High School Students for more details. Learn how to find their contact information in the next section. They may require you to be physically fit enough to stand and or walk for up to 3 hours and be able to lift and carry 20 lbs or more. Not all … On the volunteer page, shelters usually list a contact person for potential volunteers. Most shelters only allow volunteers aged 16 and older. My Experience Volunteering at an Animal Shelter. This unique program is open to high school students entering grades 10-12 and recent high school graduates who want to volunteer with … AHS requires a one-year commitment to volunteering. Or maybe you're just hoping to play with animals? But when I came with my friend, a cat lover, she convinced me to “socialize” the cats and interact with one of them directly. You'll learn how hard it is, how rewarding it is, and how sad it can be. The best way to understand veterinary medicine is to spend a day with … On top of a commitment to a length of time, you usually also have to commit to at least one shift every other week. What to Expect: Volunteering at an Animal Shelter. You may be able to be put on a volunteer waitlist. New shelter and event volunteers, administration helpers, drivers and foster carers are always needed to help us with our important behind the scenes tasks. Love animals? I knew I wanted to work at an animal hospital or at a facility that trains animals to work with the disabled; but, unfortunately, internships involving animals all require you to be at least sixteen, and I wasn’t. Depending on the shelter where you work, you may be assigned a specific "job." Our volunteer roles. hosting a fundraiser to build a dog park or gathering signatures to add an animal to the endangered species list). Looking for a job with dogs or other animals? Shelter Volunteering in the shelter allows you to work hands on with animals and is incredibly rewarding and inspiring. Shelters need volunteers to clean cages, fill water or food bowls, provide company to the animals, walk the dogs, play with the cats, do training and socialization, and more. I wouldn’t wear new sneakers when feeding the cats either, especially near that one black tabby who shows her displeasure of particular food by spitting it out at random targets. So, I spent the summer volunteering, and it was probably the best decision I have ever made. Thinking about a career as a veterinarian? Don't Let Animal Volunteer Opportunities Abroad Pass You by Are there alternative experiences? I remember teaching a mixed breed Collie how to sit, and when I came back the next time, another volunteer had taught her how to do paw. She also enjoys volunteering at her local animal shelter, running her own animal advocacy club at her school and writing for one of her school’s newspapers. While volunteering at an animal shelter can be a great experience, it's not going to be fun and games all the time. I can tell you from firsthand experience: Do not wear your favorite shirt when training the dogs how to sit and stay because the big slobbering kiss that the Boxer is going to give you is going all over it. Fill one out to get started. I met this cute black and white kitten … However, fostering is a big commitment, so make sure that you and your family have the time to dedicate to caring for the animal you foster. try to be an expert in one field rather than well-rounded. They may also let you volunteer if your legal guardian signs off on it or if your legal guardian volunteers with you. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. You’ll likely also be cleaning up after them, sweeping, mopping, filling water … They also may require you to be able to tolerate loud sounds and bad odors. Volunteer with Blue Cross and you could be a dog walker, cat foster or a horse groomer, alongside many other opportunities. If you’re under 16 and want to volunteer, see if they’ll make an exception. Prior experience is not essential, but a passion for animal welfare, the desire to work with others and a sense of maturity is vital. Volunteers are trained by our staff members and existing volunteers, and commit to a minimum of three months with us, in which they can help in a variety of roles. If you’re unable to find a website, use whatever contact information you can find through Google to get in touch with someone (whether through phone or email) who works at the shelter and ask about volunteering. Ultimately, plan B was a great decision! It's going to be work first, and then fun. We will contact you shortly regarding our next new volunteer orientation. After all of these things are done, you'll have a chance to play with the animals. By the end of your volunteer experience, you should have a good understanding of whether it's the work you want to do. This means volunteer abroad with confidence - knowing that your volunteer work with animals and other like-minded travelers will be rewarding and life-changing. If you don’t have the time to commit to working at a shelter, consider job shadowing a veterinarian for a day or two. The experience was as motivating and exciting as it was to teach my own Labradoodle puppy to do the same tricks. However, fostering is a big commitment, so make sure that you and your family have the time to dedicate to caring for the animal you foster. Keep in mind that, as I said before, volunteer work is not all fun. be able to be put on a volunteer waitlist. Feb 19, 2015. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. You'll help to provide veterinary care to animals that would otherwise be left to fend for themselves on the streets. Volunteering with Wood Green is incredibly rewarding. Are you interested in potentially becoming a veterinarian or doing other work with animals? Medical Experiences for High School Students. I already had 2 dogs at home. She is also a tennis player who spends most of her time trying to perfect her serve. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. Despite all this, it’s an amazing and rewarding experience. Volunteering at an animal shelter can be a great experience. However, if that's not an option, try to approach the next closest shelter in your area. 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