The staff and animals at the Oakville & District Humane Society appreciate your interest in volunteering. We would not be able to carry out the work of the shelter without the involvement of volunteers. Please refer to the Volunteer Application Form.
Thank you to everyone who is interested in giving their time and hard work as volunteers here at the shelter. Currently, a few of our more popular programs are full and we are no longer accepting applications for them at this time. If the program that you are interested in is closed, plese check back with us in a month or two as our program availability changes.
If you have a talent that does not fit into one of the categories listed below and would like to volunteer your services, please contact the Shelter.
Your job will be to train, exercise, and groom the dogs which are available for adoption. Most of our dogs are medium-to-large sized, aged 6 months to 6 years, and have little or no training. The training and socialization provided by volunteers provides the dogs with quality time and enhances their attractiveness as a pet to the potential adopter. Volunteers also record their observations on the dogs' behavior and personalities for the benefit of the adoption staff and report any health problems to the Animal Health Technician. Dogs must be walked on a lead at all times or confined in the pen with the volunteer for running and playing.
The cat adoption rooms house numerous cats which are waiting for homes. As a cat socializer, you will let one cat at a time out of its cage to exercise. While the cat is out, you may groom, play with, or stroke and cuddle it, depending on the cat's mood and yours. You will record your observations about the cat's personality for the benefit of the adoption staff and other volunteers, and call attention to any medical problems you see. The constant socializing of the cats by volunteers keeps their spirits up and enhances their chances of adoption.
In addition to housing dogs and cats, the Oakville Humane Society shelters and places a variety of small domestic animals, such as rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, turtles, etc. Some volunteers wish to specialize in handling these animals exclusively, or in addition to other areas of volunteer work. These animals are often housed in the cat adoption rooms, so the volunteer should be comfortable around cats, and also confident in handling a diverse assortment of small creatures. Experience in handling these types of animals would be an asset. The work would include petting and playing, cleaning cages, and feeding.
The full time kennel staff begin their jobs at 8:00 a.m. The volunteer kennel assistant will be working directly with a staff member to clean the cages of the dogs, cats, and other animals in the shelter, and assist with feeding. The volunteer must be willing to commit to a specific morning each week between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. This is not a glamorous position, but it is a vital one, which enhances the quality of life of the animals and makes them more appealing to the public.
The duties of the volunteer office assistant are many and varied. They may include handling lost and found calls, following up on spay/neuter operations, filing, photocopying, handling correspondence, entering computer data, providing assistance to the public, and participating in ongoing projects. This behind-the-scenes support position is essential to the smooth functioning of the shelter and provides the volunteer with an insight into the many services of the Humane Society. You must be available for one half day per week (the same day and time each week). This position requires a committed and responsible person with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a pleasant phone manner. Computer experience is a definite asset.
This position requires a person with lots of animal experience and people skills. To volunteer in this area, you must be with the shelter in an entry level position for a period of at least six months. Courses are offered periodically; requirements include an entrance exam, approximately 24 hours of classroom work and a comparable amount of homework, a final exam, and an apprenticeship period under the supervision of the adoption staff. At the end of this, successful candidates are qualified to assist the public in choosing pets and participate in the adoption process.
The Oakville Humane Society Community Services Coordinator visits approximately 4000 children a year in accordance with the Society's Mission of promoting the human/animal relationship to teach responsible pet ownership and discuss other animal-related topics. Our ultimate goal is to let every adult and child in Oakville know about our services and the importance of the humane treatment of animals in the community. If you are a highly committed and responsible person and would like to join our team of educators, you will enjoy children and have some formal or informal teaching experience. You must be available a minimum of once a week during school hours.
On a regular basis, the Oakville Humane Society staff and pet therapy volunteers visit seniors' residences and hospitals. Our program is linked with that of St. John's Ambulance and relies on volunteers with their pets to visit. Volunteers without pets are also needed to assist the animal handlers during visits. You must be available once a week during the day. Gerontology experience would be a definite asset. This is a position of great responsibility, as the residents look forward greatly to the scheduled visits of the volunteers. Applicants undergo extensive training and testing.
*Please note: You must own your own dog to participate in this program
The Oakville Humane Society relies heavily on community support. There is an auxiliary that raises funds and a fundraising committee. In addition, staff and volunteers attend mall displays, picnics, Midnight Madness and many other community events. These events take place largely on the weekends and in the evenings and provide an opportunity to get involved for those aspiring volunteers who are not available for other programs during the week. You will be representing the shelter to the public and must have good interpersonal and communication skills. A reliable and trustworthy person is required for this position.
One of the purposes of the Oakville Humane society is to educate the public about the humane treatment of animals in general and about the services of our shelter specifically. The Oakville Humane Society is very committed to the community that it serves and ensuring that the members of the community have an accurate and positive perception of our facility and services. One of the ways we promote this is through shelter tours. These are normally offered in the evening throughout the school year, as children's groups often ask for tours, but the volunteer could be asked to guide any member of the public on a tour. This position requires a reliable person with a thorough knowledge of our operation, a strong understanding of animal behavior, and excellent communication skills. Some formal or informal teaching experience would be a great asset.
The foster home program exists to provide temporary care for an animal which is not yet ready for adoption, to protect very young animals from the risk of disease, to provide security and confidence to an animal who is undergoing a lengthy recovery period, or to provide socialization and training. The requirements for the foster home will vary with the animal which is to be placed. The Foster Program is administered by the Animal Health Technician. Interested individuals should request a Foster Program description and application form from the shelter. Click here for some valuable information on animal fostering.
For more information, please contact:
Heather White
or Rachel Silverman
Community
Outreach and Education
Oakville and
District Humane Society
445 Cornwall
Road
Oakville,
Ontario L6J 7S8
(905) 845-1551