We Need Your Help!
The volunteer team at the Licking County Humane Society is a critical part of the success and operation of the shelter. LCHS volunteers contribute in numerous and various ways to the Licking County Humane Society programs, services, and shelter operations. In order for LCHS to touch the lives of over 5,000 pets and 10,000 people each year, we need generous folks like you to volunteer your time to further our mission.
Excited to start making a difference in the lives of homeless cats and dogs? Begin your volunteer application process today by clicking on the link below!
For more information, please contact our Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator, Stacey Wilson, at volunteer@lchspets.org
Requirements
In order to become a volunteer you must:
- Complete and sign a volunteer application and liability waiver at LCHS. A public record check will be performed by LCHS to ensure there is no history of violence toward animals or people.
- All volunteers under the age of 18 will need their legal guardian to also sign their liability waiver.
- Attend volunteer orientation led by our Volunteer Coordinator.
- Volunteers at the LCHS shelter must be at least 12 years old. Volunteers at Sophie’s Thrift Store must be at least 16 years old.
- NOTE: Volunteers under the age of 16 need to be accompanied by their legal guardian when they come to the shelter to volunteer.
- NOTE: Volunteers under the age of 16 also need to be supervised at all times by a current volunteer (who is age 18 or older).
- Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to walk and directly interact with dogs.
Opportunities
You Can Work WITH the Animals:
Direct Animal Care: Daily morning cleaning in the canine kennels * and free-roaming cat rooms **—providing excellent care for LCHS pets as they wait for their forever homes.
Dog Walking: Exercising our dogs up to three times a day and spending one-on-one time with them. *
Cat Socialization: Spending time playing with and brushing our adult cats and providing individual attention to those that are more shy/fearful. **
Low-Cost Clinics: Volunteering at LCHS low-cost vaccine clinics and spay/neuter clinics to provide excellent customer service to owners who are utilizing our low-cost medical services and to monitor and clean up after animals in the clinic environment. *
Community Outreach Events: Accompanying and transporting animals to events/outings to increase their visibility in the community. Providing the community with information on adoption, wellness clinics, and volunteering opportunities. Examples include festivals, parades, fundraisers, pet therapy visits and more. **
In-home foster: Fostering litters of puppies, kittens, or special needs animals for an agreed upon time period. As a foster parent, you open your home and heart to animals that need time to grow or need a little extra attention, or as a companion for those recovering from an illness or injury. *
Pet Transport: Picking up pets from other rescues and transporting them to LCHS. *
You Can Work FOR the Animals:
General Volunteering: Helping with laundry, dishes, restocking, cleaning the lobby, and administrative tasks as assigned. **
Welcoming Crew: Greeting visitors as they arrive at the shelter and directing potential adopters to the canine or cat areas and assisting the office staff as needed. **
Donation Transport: Picking up donations of pet food from our community partners to be used for our pet food pantry at LCHS and for the Newark Food Pantry Network and Licking County Aging Program Meals on Wheels. *
Technical, Professional, Skilled Trades: e.g., clerical work, photographers, house painters, gardeners/landscapers, woodworkers, electricians, plumbers, and other special talents. Your handy skills are always needed, and appreciated, at LCHS. There is always something that needs to be done, whether it’s planting flowers, mulching, or other miscellaneous tasks.
Committees: LCHS has several committees under the Board of Directors. If you are interested in committee work, please contact the Executive Director, Lori Carlson, at 740-323-2100 ext. 204 or loricarlson@lchspets.org
YOU can work for the animals at Sophie’s Thrift Store:
Sorting donations: Deciding what to sell and what to get rid of, then organizing by item type. +
Pricing: Determining the value of donated items. +
Tagging: Placing price tags or stickers on items to sell. +
Donations Help: Grabbing donation drop-offs from vehicles (12-3pm daily). +
Merchandising: Setting up displays in the store by theme. +
Stocking: Putting processed items out on the store floor. +
Greeter: Welcoming customers as they enter the store and answering directional questions. +
General Cleaning: Straightening merchandise, sanitizing, sweeping, mopping, dusting, etc. as needed. +
NOTE FOR all asterisks:
* = Opportunities for those 18+
** = Opportunities for those 16+ or 12+ with a guardian
+ = Opportunities for those 16+
FAQ
I want to volunteer, where do I start?
In order to become a volunteer at the Licking County Humane Society, please first complete the online volunteer application. Once you submit an application, the Volunteer Coordinator will email you with the next steps.
Do I need to commit to a certain schedule every week?
While committing to a regular weekly volunteer shift is very helpful to LCHS staff and pets, it is not required. It is recommended that volunteers come in at least twice a month to help. Volunteers self-schedule for all volunteer opportunities online on a website called Volgistics. That way, volunteers can choose what opportunities best fit their schedule.
Do I need a background check or reference check?
LCHS completes a public records check as part of the volunteer application process. You will be asked to provide your photo ID so this check may be performed.
Will I receive an Orientation?
Volunteers must complete a New Volunteer Orientation before they begin volunteering.
During the Orientation scheduled by our Volunteer Coordinator, you will…
- Learn about LCHS’s organizational history and operations
- Learn about the numerous volunteer opportunities that are available
- Sign important documentation and acquire the LCHS Volunteer Handbook
- Tour the shelter
- Complete dog walking training (for those interested and aged 18+)
After orientation, volunteers will receive their login information for our Volunteer self-schedule website, Volgistics.
If you are an approved volunteer wishing to schedule for volunteer orientation, please email volunteer@lchspets.org for the upcoming offerings.
Will I receive Training?
After you complete the Orientation, you are free to sign up for a variety of volunteer opportunities. Your first shift of a new volunteer opportunity is when you will receive hands-on training from staff and/or the Volunteer Coordinator. Print training materials and standard operating procedures will be provided to you upon request.
How old do you have to be to volunteer?
While children under 12 years of age are welcome to visit the shelter, we ask that adult volunteers do not bring children under 12 years old for their volunteer shifts.
At the LCHS shelter, we do allow volunteers who are 12-15 years old. Please note that all volunteers who are 12-15 must be supervised by an adult (parent or legal guardian) while they are volunteering at the shelter.
At Sophie’s Thrift Store, volunteers must be at least 16 years old.
Volunteers who are 16 and 17-years-old (at either the LCHS shelter or Sophie’s Thrift Store) may volunteer without adult supervision if their volunteer application is signed by their legal guardian.
Volunteers must be at least 18-years-old to directly interact with or handle LCHS dogs.
What kinds of activities can I volunteer to help with?
LCHS relies on volunteers 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and there are many different volunteer opportunities available:
- Direct Animal Care: Cleaning (Canine Center and Cat Rooms), Daily Feeding, and Dog Walking.
- Administrative: Low-Cost clinics (Spay/Neuter and Vaccine Clinics), Front Desk Support, and more.
- Community Events: Represent LCHS at local businesses, schools, and Senior Living Communities.
- Foster Care: foster LCHS pets and Pet Respite pets.
My company or organization would like to volunteer as a group, how can we get started?
Volunteer groups are welcome to volunteer at LCHS! To get started, please email the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@lchspets.org. Please note that for dog kennel/cat area cleaning, the maximum number of volunteers we can accommodate at one time is three (3). At Sophie’s Thrift Store, the maximum number of volunteers we can accommodate at one time is five (5) on Mondays.
I didn't see my question in the list, what do I do?
Contact the LCHS Volunteer Coordinator, Stacey Wilson, at volunteer@lchspets.org
I want to see more people volunteer and give back to their communities and help save animals. Please RESCUE AND ADOPT!
Volunteering has opened my eyes to the many multifaceted things LCHS does and how well they do it, especially taking care of vulnerable animals and connecting them with forever homes. I'm grateful to be a volunteer at LCHS!
Volunteering at LCHS is so rewarding and I’m happy to help make a difference.
Thank you LCHS for allowing me to be just a small part of your operation. Take time out to give your pet a big hug.
I am so appreciative that the LCHS exists to help all the critters (including the piggies last summer). And it is wonderful to see the support that the community gives to this organization and the outreach that LCHS gives back. Thanks so much for allowing me to be a part of it.
Thanks for everything LCHS does to find homes for the lost and forgotten.
I would encourage anyone out there who loves animals to come join us in volunteering with this great organization and of course…ADOPT don’t SHOP!
A big thank you to LCHS for the amazing work that is being done each day to give a second chance to all these animals in need. LCHS is so organized and so very appreciative of all their volunteers and makes it a wonderful place to foster and volunteer!
We appreciate the opportunity to help animals at the humane society!
I am really enjoying my time volunteering at LCHS. It is a wonderful place with many wonderful people and animals!
There are so many awesome, dedicated volunteers here!
2023 By The Numbers
Adoptions in 2023: 1,533
Spay/Neuter in 2023: 2,562
Volunteer Hours in 2023: 9,960
A typical rule of thumb is to determine whether a shelter saves more than 90% of its animals. That is its Live Release Rate. The annual Live Release Rate is calculated by dividing the total live outcomes (adoptions, outgoing transfers, and return to owner/guardian) by total outcomes (total live outcomes plus euthanasia not including owner/guardian requested ethanasia or died/lost in shelter/care). Today, many leaders are raising the bar and stating that the real No Kill Live Release Rate should be 95%.
Licking County Humane Society is a non-profit organization devoted to the humane treatment of animals.