Children can help shelter dogs by giving them affection and play time.
Volunteering at an animal shelter can be fun and educational for young people, but some organizations don't allow unsupervised volunteers under the age of 18. Youth animal shelter programs, designed specifically for minors who want to help pets, can be invaluable for children and teens. Young volunteers learn about responsibility, punctuality, kindness and community spirit. Most youth animal shelter programs use special training to make it possible for unaccompanied minors to safely volunteer.
Angel's Wish Youth Volunteer Program
Angel's Wish, Inc., in Verona, Wisconsin, offers a program for young volunteers ages 10 to 18. Youths wanting to volunteer through this program must complete a 2-hour training class and obtain written parental permission. Kids and teens are also required to track their volunteer hours in a log sheet. Young people participating in this program can help with adoption events, shelter cleanup, stocking shelves at the Angel's Wish retail store, foster care for pets and more.
Angel's Wish, Inc.
161 Horizon Drive
Suite 106
Verona, WI 53593
(608) 848-4174
angelswish.org
New York Animal Care and Control
Animal Care and Control of New York City offers a variety of programs for young volunteers. Shelter tours for school groups are available, while individual kids and teens can participate by helping to educate their classmates about homeless animals, volunteering to care for shelter pets or even working as part of a shelter's staff through the Summer Youth Employment Program.
Older teens ages 14 to 17 are eligible for the Animal Care and Control Summer Youth Employment Program, in which they can help to care for animals as well as perform other duties like cleaning cages and various administrative tasks. Opportunities for young volunteers are available at multiple shelters throughout New York City; call or email for specific locations.
(212) 788-4000
nycacc.org
Animal Humane Society
The Animal Humane Society offers youth programs at five shelter locations in Minnesota. Kids can join the PetSet Youth Club or attend an Unleashed summer camp session. Although the PetSet Youth Club is fun and educational, participants don't spend significant time working with shelter pets. Instead, kids learn volunteer skills, leadership and more, earning points toward PetSet Achievement Awards. They may also learn about therapy dogs, service dogs and other non-shelter animals.
In Unleashed summer camps, campers entering grades 3 to 12 have the opportunity to learn about animals and complete service projects to benefit pets waiting for adoption. Older campers in grades 8 to 12 can choose camp sessions focusing on animal-related career options.
On no-school days, shelters host mini day camps. Community service projects such as donation drives also welcome involvement from young people. Tours are available for all ages at each Animal Humane Society facility.
(763) 489-2220
animalhumanesociety.org
Tags: Angel Wish, Animal Care, Animal Care Control, Animal Humane, Animal Humane Society