Volunteer Dog Walker

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The majority of WCHS dogs live in spacious indoor-outdoor runs, but they still need time being walked on a leash and running freely in our shelter dog park. WCHS Dog Walkers will have a special volunteer orientation in addition to our general orientation to meet our current canine residents and learn about the animal handling equipment and positive-reinforcement training methods we use.

Dog Walkers will be able to provide us and our potential adopters with valuable information about our dogs' personalities, habits and training needs. During extremely poor weather, volunteers can spend time inside the dogs' enclosures playing with toys and providing gentle handling and quiet time. We hope you join us!

Previous professional animal and/or infectious disease handling background is valuable, but not required.

1. Assist shelter staff to fulfill the organization’s mission & provide for the welfare and care of animals in its charge

2. Assist shelter staff in ensuring the facility is maintained in a sanitary & safe fashion to protect the health of animals, staff, other volunteers & visitors

3. Follow established standard operating procedures for providing basic animal care including cleaning and sanitizing of animals’ enclosures & items used by animals

4. Report signs of disease, injury and abnormal behavior to shelter staff

5. Follow shelter staff’s established guidelines for providing exercise, enrichment & socialization to shelter animals

6. Work respectfully & cooperatively with shelter staff and fellow volunteers to fulfill all assigned tasks

Volunteering Opportunities:

Days Available: 7 days a week

Hours Available: From 8:30 am to 11:00 am

To Know:

Machines, tools or other equipment that may be used:

Cleaning & sanitizing equipment including but not limited to non-hazardous and hazardous detergents & disinfectants, scrub brushes, hoses, brooms & utility sinks. Potential exposure to infectious and zoonotic disease, injuries including but not limited to animal bites and scratches. Training is provided & procedures must always be followed to decrease these risks.

Skills you will acquire or improve while volunteering:

Animal handling, disease control, facility maintenance, teamwork & leadership skills.

Physical activities involved: ( all are not required) Lifting up to 20 pounds, Standing for periods of one hour or more, Frequent crouching or bending at the knees, Handling of animals weighing up to 100 pounds, Potential exposure to noxious or irritating fumes & smells, Frequent use of hands, wrists & arms in cleaning & animal handling

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Whitman County Humane Society!

If you haven't already, please submit a volunteer application. Pick up an application at the shelter or fill it out online at www.whitmanpets.org/volunteer/

Our age requirements are as follows:
Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

Once you've completed the application you will need to attend an orientation. Before you attend orientation, please review the Orientation Packet and WCHS Cleaning Procedures (http://www.whitmanpets.org/volunteer/).

Our orientations are held Sundays from 9:00 - 11:00 am, 1:00 - 3/3:30 pm, and 3:30 - 5:50pm. We suggest showing up 5-10 minutes early to make sure we have your application on file. We do not have a sign-up sheet for orientation; you can just show up to whichever one works for you. Our orientation lasts about 40 minutes and includes a tour of the shelter and an introduction to our volunteer opportunities, staff and shelter pets. Once you have completed your orientation you can start signing up for volunteer shifts.

After you attend the "general" orientation please let a staff member know if you're interested in dog walking and socialization; this volunteer opportunity requires an additional orientation, which we hold on the Sundays at 2:15 pm.

Before you attend the dog walker orientation, please review the Dog Walker Orientation Packet (http://www.whitmanpets.org/volunteer/). We'll need you to email us your answers to the survey questions before you come in for orientation.

If you have any questions please let us know.