A Message from the Volunteer Coordinator
Thank you for your interest in the San Antonio Humane Society (SAHS) Volunteer Program. We understand your time is valuable and we appreciate that you’re thinking about spending some of it with us! Volunteers are vital in helping us continue our mission to improve the lives of dogs and cats in our community by providing shelter, care, adoption, rescue, spay/neuter programs, and community education.
Due to the high number of applications received it may take up to a week to receive a response from the Volunteer Coordinator. If you do not hear from someone within 10 days of submitting your application please email volunteer@SAhumane.org.
Thanks!
Volunteer Opportunities
The SAHS offers both long and short term opportunities for individual and groups.
General Volunteer Program
The SAHS asks that general volunteers be able to commit to at least one volunteer shift per month for a minimum of six months. Our general volunteer program is open to individuals as young as 12 years of age however, anyone between the ages of 12 and 15 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian volunteer at all times. General volunteers can participate in one or more of the following teams:
Adoption Team:
Volunteers provide direct support to our Adoption Staff by helping with general admin tasks behind the front desk or learning how to process adoptions as a volunteer adoption counselor. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and commit to a minimum of four scheduled hours per month to join this team.
Animal Health Team (Fredericksburg Road)
Volunteers will provide direct support to our Animal Health Staff by helping to clean animal cages/kennels, provide socialization to animals in the clinic & special needs areas, give medicated baths & dips, and assist with intake paperwork, data entry, and wellness clinics. If approved, volunteers may also earn hours for the Palo Alto and Animal Behavior College Veterinary Technician programs. Volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years of age and commit to a minimum of four scheduled hours per month to join this team.
Animal Health Team (Brooks)
Volunteers will provide direct support to our Brooks Staff by helping to clean animal cages/kennels and clinic, provide wellness services to animals if necessary (vaccines, tests, nail trims, filling new vaccines, building e-collars, peeling syringes, etc.), assist with intake paperwork and data entry, as well as monitoring animals after surgery to ensure they are safe and healthy before going home to owner. If approved, volunteers may also earn hours for the Palo Alto and Animal Behavior College Veterinary Technician programs. Volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years of age and commit to a minimum of 6 scheduled hours per month to join this team.
Animal Care Team (Kennels B & D):
Volunteers provide direct support to our Animal Care Staff by helping to clean animal cages/kennels, provide socialization and enrichment to animals in the kennels, and provide general customer service to shelter visitors. Volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years of age and commit to a minimum of four scheduled hours per month to join this team.
Animal Care Team (Kitty Cottage & Puppy Room):
Volunteers provide direct support to our Animal Care Staff by helping to clean animal cages/kennels, provide socialization and enrichment to animals in the Kitty Cottage and Puppy Room, and provide general customer service to shelter visitors. This opportunity is open to all volunteers, including Junior Volunteer Teams. Volunteers must be able to commit to a minimum of four scheduled hours per month to join this team.
Media & Public Relations Team:
Volunteers provide direct support to our Communications Staff by helping to prepare pets for media appearances, accompany staff to media appearances when necessary, assist in writing pet descriptions, and assist with Adopt Me videos. This opportunity is open to all volunteers, including Junior Volunteer Teams. Volunteers must be able to commit to a minimum of four scheduled hours per month to join this team.
Creative Design Team:
Volunteers provide direct support to our Creative Design Staff by assisting with adoption photo shoots, event photography, and graphic design. This opportunity is open to all volunteers, including Junior Volunteer Teams. Volunteers must be able to commit to a minimum of four scheduled hours per month to join this team.
Humane Education Team:
Volunteers provide direct support to our Humane Educators by accompany staff on school visits, assisting with educational tours of the SAHS, birthday parties and girl/boy scout projects, and much more! Volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years of age and must be able to commit to a minimum of four scheduled hours per month to join this team.
Donor Relations Team:
Volunteers provide direct support to our Development Staff by assisting with donor thank you calls and special events. Volunteers should be a minimum of 16 years of age and must be able to commit to a minimum of two scheduled hours per month to join this team.
Dog Walking Team:
The Dog Walking Team helps ensure all dogs at the SAHS are provided with bathroom breaks, exercise and socialization at least twice a day. This position requires a tolerance for loud noise, and morning dog walkers are exposed to various cleaning agents. Volunteers in this position must be able to deal with adverse weather conditions, (we walk the dogs rain or shine). Volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years of age and must be able to commit to a minimum of two scheduled shifts per month to join this team.
Dog Training Team:
The mission of the Dog Training Team is to provide enrichment, assist in the development of social skills, and train obedience behaviors using positive reinforcement techniques for the canines in our care to improve their quality of life, encourage adoptions, and assist in Connecting Friends for Life. Volunteers should be a minimum of 16 years of age and must be able to commit to a minimum of four hours of direct work with our shelter dogs per month to join this team.
Enrichment Team:
Enrichment is meant to improve an animal’s environments and care based on their natural behaviors and instincts. The Enrichment Team is responsible for preparing and distributing enrichment items for the pets in our care. This opportunity is open to all volunteers, including Junior Volunteer Teams. Volunteers must be able to commit to a minimum of two hours per month to join this team.
Cat Team:
The mission of the Cat Team is to provide enrichment, assist in the development of social skills, and train obedience behaviors using positive reinforcement techniques for the canines in our care to improve their quality of life, encourage adoptions, and assist in Connecting Friends for Life. This opportunity is open to all volunteers, including Junior Volunteer Teams. Volunteers must be able to commit to a minimum of two hours of direct work with our shelter cats per month to join this team.
Bathing Team:
Bathing Team volunteers help us keep our shelter pets clean! Volunteers address the grooming needs of animals that come into the shelter matted, dirty or just in need of some good cleaning and primping. Volunteers don’t have to have any prior grooming experience, but it helps if you don’t mind getting wet. This opportunity is open to all volunteers, including Junior Volunteer Teams. Volunteers must be able to commit to a minimum of two hours per month to join this team.
Event Team:
Event Team volunteers attend a wide variety of off-site events including but not limited to, adoption events, informational booth events, and fundraising events. This opportunity is open to all volunteers, including Junior Volunteer Teams. Volunteers must be able to commit to attending a minimum of one event per quarter to join this team.
Play Group Team:
Did you know that a 30 minute playgroup session is the equivalent of a 2 hour walk for dogs? Play Group Team volunteers help us conduct weekly playgroup sessions for the dogs in our care. Benefits of playgroups for shelter dogs include:
- Better assessments of our pets
- Increased freedom and reduced stress for the dogs
- Modification of behaviors such as fear, anxiety and aggression
- Volunteers should be a minimum of 16 years of age and must be able to commit to attending minimum of one playgroup per month to join this team.
Fee:
The fee for the General Volunteer Program is $30 - $45 per person.
• $10 processing fee - The SAHS charges a non-refundable $10 processing fee for all volunteer applications. We process thousands of applications a year, and this fee is needed to help cover the costs associated with processing each applicant.
• $15 background check fee - All applicants 18 or older must agree to and pass a background check. The fee for the background check is $15 paid directly to the background check company, Verified Volunteers.
• $20 volunteer fee – Once approved, volunteers will be asked to pay a $20 volunteer fee. This fee goes to cover the cost of your volunteer insurance, shirt, badge and any other necessary supplies.
How to apply:
Please click here to apply for the General Volunteer Program: http://newvolunteer.sahumane.volunteerhub.com/
Court Ordered Community Service
Court Ordered Community Service hours are available at the SAHS. They are approved on a case by case basis by the Volunteer Coordinator. Court Ordered Community Service volunteer work revolves around cleaning and maintenance and consists of little to no animal interaction. You must meet the following guidelines to be considered for the program:
- Be able to provide court documentation stating the offence, number of hours to be completed, and the date they must be completed by.
- Submit to and pass a background check.
The SAHS will not accept those convicted of the following:
- Felonies
- Animal/Child abuse/neglect
- Sex crimes
- Violent crimes
- Theft
- Resisting arrest
Fee:
The fee for the Court Ordered Community Service Program is $30 - $45 per person.
• $10 processing fee - The SAHS charges a non-refundable $10 processing fee for all volunteer applications. We process thousands of applications a year, and this fee is needed to help cover the costs associated with processing each applicant.
• $15 background check fee - All applicants 18 or older must agree to and pass a background check. The fee for the background check is $15 paid directly to the background check company, Verified Volunteers.
• $20 volunteer fee – Once approved, volunteers will be asked to pay a $20 volunteer fee. This fee goes to cover the cost of your volunteer insurance, badge and any other necessary supplies.
How to apply:
Please click here to apply for the Court Ordered Community Service Program: http://courtorderedcommunityservice.sahumane.volunteerhub.com/
Volunteer for a Day – Groups
We love having volunteer groups visit us!
We are able to accommodate groups of at least 10 but no more than 25 volunteers, all of whom must be at least 18 years old. We call this our Volunteer for a Day program. Opportunities are available most Mondays-Saturdays, and must be scheduled at least one (1) month in advance. Scheduling is made on a first come, first-served basis.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visiting volunteer group opportunities that involve direct animal handling due to the extensive training required to handle animals. However, all visiting volunteer group opportunities allow for a behind-the-scenes tour of our campus and at least 30 minutes of animal interaction at the end of the shift!
Fee:
The fee for the Volunteer for a Day is determined by the number of participants. Please see below:
• $100 for up to 10 people
• $150 for up to 15 people
• $200 for up to 20 people
• $250 for up to 25 people
How to apply:
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator by e-mail at volunteer@SAhumane.org for more information and to schedule your visit.
Volunteer for a Day – Individuals (Coming Soon)
The Individual Volunteer for a Day program was developed to create a short term volunteer opportunity for individuals that are unable to commit to the general volunteer programs hour requirements or simply need to earn a small number of community service hours (Court Ordered Hours are not granted in this program). Participants in the Volunteer for a Day Program must be a minimum of 12 years of age. Individuals between the ages of 12 and 15 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian that will pay & participate in the program with the minor. Participants between the ages of 16 and 17 must have their parent/guardian sign a release form to participate.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer opportunities that involve direct animal handling due to the extensive training required to handle animals. However, all opportunities allow for a behind-the-scenes tour of our campus and at least 30 minutes of animal interaction at the end of the shift!
Attendees will earn a total of 4 hours per session. Right now we are offering one session per month however, we hope to offer more soon!
Upcoming Sessions:
TBA
Fee:
The fee for this program is $20 - $35 per person for the first session. Any additional sessions are $10 per person.
• $10 processing fee - The SAHS charges a non-refundable $10 processing fee for all volunteer applications. We process thousands of applications a year, and this fee is needed to help cover the costs associated with processing each applicant.
• $15 background check fee - All applicants 18 or older must agree to and pass a background check. The fee for the background check is $15 paid directly to the background check company, Verified Volunteers.
• $10 volunteer fee – Once approved, volunteers will be asked to pay a $10 volunteer fee. This fee goes to cover the cost of your volunteer insurance, badge and any other necessary supplies.
How to apply:
Please click here to apply for the Individual Volunteer for a Day Program: TBD
