Online Volunteer Classes

The Orientation Class is required to be taken by all volunteers regardless of desired area of interest. This class educates volunteers on the history, the programs and services, the staff and personnel, and the volunteer opportunities available. Approximately 45 minutes. To sign up for this class email volunteermanager@halifaxhumanesociety.org.

Orientation Class- (Required to be taken by all volunteers)
Quiz- Complete the quiz to verify understanding

Dog Enrichment: We work to make sure all our animals, including cats, dogs, and critters, have toys and activities in their kennel outside of human socialization. This type of enrichment is crucial to keeping the animals occupied during their time in their kennels, and research has shown it event helps to improve their behavioral and general health, as well as improve adoptions! As a member of the enrichment team, you will help to put together and distribute enrichment items to our dogs between 11am-1pm on one day, Monday-Sunday, of your choosing and given availability on the enrichment schedule. These often include peanut butter on the frisbees, distributing Kongs and PVC pipes, and other toys and treats to keep the dogs busy

Dog Enrichment
Quiz - Complete the quiz to verify understanding.

Dog Walking: While HHS strives to make our shelter as comfortable as possible before they move on to their forever home, long-term stays in the kennels can be detrimental to our animals. In particular, we work to make sure our dogs – in both our Large Dog and Small Dog kennels – get exercise, one on one time with a person, and a walk each and every day, at least once a day. As an HHS dog walker, you will work to take out dogs, as trained, for walks and exercise in the play pens behind the Large Dog kennels. Dogs will be taken out 1 at a time, and all volunteers must be trained prior to beginning to walk our dogs.

Dog Walking 101
Quiz - Complete the quiz to verify understanding.

Cat Socialization: Like our dog enrichment team, our cat socialization volunteers work to give the cats one on one time with people, enriching their time spent at the shelter. As a cat socialization volunteer, your job is both to spend time with the cats, giving them enrichment to play with and time with people, as well as speak to potential adopters. We encourage all volunteers to take initiative to speak with potential adopters and help pair them with their perfect cat!

Cat Socialization
Quiz - Complete the quiz to verify understanding.

Special Events: As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, HHS relies heavily on fundraising events to help cover the cost of care for our animals. We have a number of large events each year, on an annual or biannual basis. These include: Mutt Strutt, Fur Ball, Dog Park on Ice, Ruff Ride, Island Party, and our Yappy Hours. We are in constant need of volunteers to help us both during the events themselves, as well as with prep for our larger events. This includes day-of help, collecting donations, auction items, and distributing posters. In addition, HHS participates in a number of adoption events throughout the year, in the Volusia County area. During these events, we transport our shelter animals to offsite locations, exposing them to a new community and hopefully getting them adopted. We need volunteers to help run these events, with help from staff, as well as help handle the animals as qualified.

Events - Special, Adoption, and Third Party
Quiz - Complete the quiz to verify understanding

Sales Guest Services Associate training
Quiz - Complete the quiz to verify understanding

Sales Guest Services Associate:

Part-time Volunteer Position.

Prefer Saturday and Sunday coverage. (noon to 5 on Saturday, noon to 2 on Sunday)

If weekdays, Mon – Fri noon to 5 pm.

Qualifications:

Prefer someone with sales and customer service experience. Must be willing to learn and be teachable. Animal lovers encouraged to apply. Good with details and acts now instead of waiting until later. Knowledgeable and always learning. Must be able to juggle many tasks at once.

Duties:

Will be stationed at the greeter desk and offer to assist guests as they enter the shelter. The Sales Guest Services Associate (SGSA) will assist guests with-

Retail item purchases
Animal adoptions
Education of available services
Assist at checkout if needed

Responsibilities:

Attend training classes
Self-educate on all retail items (web research, watching videos, etc.)
Visit with all adoptable animals
Research and learn about each animal via PetPoint and Kennel Cards
Be friendly and responsive to guest needs
Offer assistance for available services
Help guests load their vehicles or find a care worker to assist

How to Make Cat Toys:

This video is more of a "how to" video than it is a volunteer training video, however if you are interested in Cat Enrichment and Socialization, then this video is a must see!

Thanks to the ladies at the Port Orange Regional Library for producing this video.