Volunteer
 |
Why Should I Volunteer?
Every year more than 90,000 animals are helped by the Humane Society of Missouri. We have many dedicated staff members, but we cannot do it alone! Become a Humane Society of Missouri Volunteer and help give animals a second chance!
Volunteer Resources |
|
What volunteer opportunities are available?
Where can I volunteer?
What do I need to do to become a volunteer?
Can my child volunteer?
The Humane Society of Missouri offers volunteer opportunities to children as young as ten. In order to volunteer, he/she must go through Volunteer Orientation and Training and have a parent or guardian with him/her at all times while volunteering at the Humane Society of Missouri.
Do you offer community service hours?
Why does it take so long to become a volunteer?
One of the goals of the Volunteer Program at the Humane Society of Missouri is to ensure that each volunteer has a positive and meaningful experience with us. Our way of doing that is to provide all new volunteers with training and mentoring by our experienced staff and volunteers. In order to provide this specialized training, we must limit the number of new volunteers each month so that we can devote the appropriate amount of attention to get everyone settled into their new volunteer roles.
Doesn’t the Humane Society of Missouri have enough volunteers?
We are always in need of new volunteers to assist us in caring for Missouri’s animals however volunteering at the Humane Society of Missouri can be an emotional experience which requires a strong commitment. While we do have a large number of people who go through our Orientation and Training process, not everyone will be able to continue volunteering with us. Some may not be able to commit the necessary time while others may decide that they are unable to deal with emotions that come from spending time with animals that have been abused, neglected, and abandoned. |
How Can I Help?
The Humane Society of Missouri offers volunteer opportunities for children as young as 10. We also offer service hours for students who need them for graduation or class requirements.
Opportunities are available at all four of our locations:
St. Louis City Headquarters
1201 Macklind Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110
Westport Area Center
2400 Drilling Service Drive Maryland Heights, MO 63043
Chesterfield Valley Center (Boone’s Crossing)
17357 Edison Avenue Chesterfield, MO 63005
Longmeadow Rescue Ranch
Union, MO
How Do I Get Started?
Step 1: Attend Volunteer Orientation
At Orientation, we will discuss the history and mission of the Humane Society of Missouri as well as introduce you to the various volunteer opportunities we currently have available. The session is free and will last 45 – 60 minutes.
Space is limited, please register in advance by completing the Registration Form.
For those wishing to volunteer at the St. Louis City Headquarters or Westport Area Center, orientation is offered at the following times. Orientation will be held in the Lecture Hall of the St. Louis City Headquarters.
| ST. LOUIS CITY and WESTPORT AREA CENTERS |
|
DATE |
TIME |
DATE |
TIME |
Volunteer Orientation*
|
10/7/09 |
7 pm |
|
|
| |
11/14/09 |
9 am |
|
|
*Orientation will be held in the Lecture Hall of the St. Louis City Center on Macklind Avenue.
For those wishing to volunteer at the Chesterfield Valley Center, orientation is offered at the following times. Orientation will be held in the Training Room of the Chesterfield Valley Center.
| CHESTERFIELD VALLEY CENTER |
|
DAY |
TIME |
Volunteer Orientation*
|
9/14/09 |
6:30 pm |
| |
11/2/09 |
6:30 pm |
*Orientation will be held in the Training Center of the Chesterfield Valley Center.
Those interested in volunteering at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch may attend Orientation at either St. Louis City Headquarters or Chesterfield Valley.
Step 2: Stay for HSMO Training
If you decide that you would like to become a volunteer, additional training will be held immediately following Orientation. During HSMO Training, we will review the policies and procedures of volunteering as well as learn more about animal behavior. This training is required to become a volunteer and will last approximately 90 minutes.
A $10 training fee is requested for which you will receive a Humane Society of Missouri Volunteer t-shirt and your printed training materials.
Step 3: Complete Additional Orientations as Required
Those volunteering at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch will need to attend a Ranch Orientation. You will be contacted by someone from the Ranch to schedule a day and time.
Those wishing to become Foster Parents must attend Foster Care Orientation at one of the following times. You do not need to register in advance to attend Foster Care Orientation.
LOCATION
|
DAY |
TIME |
St. Louis City Center
|
4/16/09 |
6:30 pm |
| |
6/11/09 |
6:30 pm |
| |
9/16/09 |
6:30 pm |
| |
11/18/09 |
6:30 pm |
| |
|
|
| Westport Center |
3/19/09 |
7 pm |
| |
5/19/09 |
7 pm |
| |
8/15/09 |
10 am |
| |
10/15/09 |
7 pm |
For more information on becoming a Foster Parent, call Sue Alkire at 314-802-5710.
Step 4: Complete Mentoring Sessions
To help make your introduction into the world of the Humane Society of Missouri a smooth one, you will complete mentoring sessions with another volunteer or staff person in your area. You will either sign up for these sessions at HSMO Training or will be contacted shortly there after to schedule a session.
Step 5: Complete Additional Training as Required
Certain volunteer opportunities require additional training classes be completed. These include Pet Pal, Shelter Assistant, Adoption Counselor and Foster Parent. Information regarding the additional training will be discussed at Volunteer Orientation.
Can I Complete Service Hours with the Humane Society of Missouri?
We currently offer service hours to students completing graduation or class requirements. We do not offer court ordered community service hours at this time.
Volunteer opportunities for service learning students vary from those of a traditional volunteer. Opportunities will be based on the age, availability, and required number of hours the student needs to complete. Each student will need to complete a phone interview with the Volunteer Manager prior to being accepted into the volunteer program.
While we will make every effort to accommodate as many students as possible, space is limited and participation will be granted on a case by case basis at the discretion of the Volunteer Manager.
Volunteer Opportunities
| Foster Volunteer- See Foster Care Orientation Dates Below |
| Description: |
| Open your home to orphaned or young puppies or kittens, animals with minor behavior concerns and sick/injured animals. |
 |
| Location: Foster animals are housed in your primary residence. |
| Age: Must be at least 18 years old. |
| Adoption Counselor |
| Description: |
Assist potential adopters in selecting the best pet for their lifestyle.
Explain the adoption process to potential adopters; interview potential adopters to determine the best possible match with their lifestyle. |
 |
| Location: Westport Area Center |
| Age: Must be at least 18 years
old. |
| Shelter Assistant |
| Description: |
Help care for our shelter animals by assisting shelter staff in caring for their daily needs. |
 |
| Location: St. Louis City Center and Chesterfield Valley Center |
| Age: Must be at least 14 years
of age. |
| Behavior Department Volunteer |
| Description: |
Help pet owners better communicate and work with their pets by assisting in the Program and Behavior Department. |
 |
| Location: St. Louis City Center |
| Age: Must be at least 18 years
of age. |
| Administrative Volunteer |
| Description: |
| Help our organization run more efficiently by assisting the administrative staff in data entry, mailings, copying, scanning and filing. |
 |
| Location: St. Louis City Center, Longmeadow Rescue Ranch |
| Age: Must be at least 10 years
of age. |
| Humane Educator |
| Description: |
| Educate adults and children about the Humane Society of Missouri, the need to treat animals with kindness, and responsible animal care. |
 |
| Location: St. Louis City Center and Longmeadow Rescue Ranch |
| Age: Must be at least 18 years
of age. |
| Gift Shop Volunteer |
| Description: |
| Assists new pet owners in choosing items for their new family member as well as provide courteous service to all who shop at our Gift Shop. |
 |
| Location: St. Louis City Center and Chesterfield Valley Center |
| Age: Must be at least 18 years
of age. |
| Greeter |
| Description: |
Welcome the public to our Adoption Centers and answer questions about the organization and our adoption process. |
 |
| Location: St. Louis City Center and Chesterfield Valley Center |
| Age: Must be at least 10 years
of age. |
| Pet Pal |
| Description: |
Exercise and socialize the dogs our shelter dogs. |
 |
| Location: St. Louis City Center, Westport, and Chesterfield Valley Centers |
| Age: Must be at least 16 years
of age. |
| Ranch Volunteer |
| Description: |
| Assist in daily needs of the animals at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch including cleaning stalls, cutting grass, feeding and watering the animals and educate visitors on proper large animal care. |
 |
| Location: Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, located
near Union, Missouri, is approximately a one-hour
drive from St. Louis. |
| Age: Must be at least 16 years
of age. |
| Special Events Volunteer |
| Description: |
| Help raise money to help the animals and educate the community about the Humane Society of Missouri. |
 |
| Location: Varies by event |
| Age: Must be at least 14 years
of age though some events will have specific age restrictions. |
| Bark in the Park Volunteer |
| Description: |
| Help out on our largest fundraiser! Volunteers are needed for both the day of and prior to the event for set-up. For more information on Bark in the Park, click here. |
 |
| Location: Pre-event opportunities at St. Louis City Center. Set up and day of opportunities at Cricket Field in Forest Park. |
| Age: Must be at least 16 years
of age. |
| Wish List Drive Coordinator |
| Description: |
| Collect items for use in our Adoption Centers, Veterinary Medical Centers and Animal Cruelty Task Force. |
 |
| Location: Location of your choosing. |
| Age: Must be at least 10 years
of age. |
| Emergency Response Team |
| Description: |
| Assist the Animal Cruelty Task Force in responses to disasters and other rescues. |
 |
| Location: Disaster sites or St. Louis City Center in the cases of rescues. |
| Age: Must be at least 18 years
of age. |
