We are frequently contacted by community members wishing to volunteer to fulfill classroom requirements or court ordered community service. This page will answer many of the questions you may have regarding completing your community service with RCHS.
Students
Students who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for our volunteer program are welcome to complete their volunteer service with RCHS. If you are volunteering to complete a school or class requirement, please indicate this on your application. Our Volunteer Supervisor will need to know what hours must be tracked for your particular program in advance of you starting your volunteer work. Please refer to the F.A.Q. below for answers to our most frequently asked questions:
- How old must I be to volunteer?
Due to liability issues, all volunteers must be at least 16 years old to volunteer. Volunteers between the ages of 16 and 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who has also undergone our volunteer application and training process.
- I just need a few hours of community service for my class, can I come play with the animals or help clean?
The animals we care for at RCHS have lost their homes and have often been through a very stressful period before they found shelter with us. In order to help all of our animals feel safe and secure, and to protect our volunteers, all volunteers receive a lot of training before they can interact with the animals. Because of this, we require all of our volunteers commit to volunteering at least once per week for six months.
- I'm a college student home for the summer and would like to volunteer during my break.
Because of the way our application/training process is set-up, it is usually not possible for us to accommodate volunteers who are available for less than six months. In certain cases, exceptions may be made for qualified volunteers who are able to commit to 8 hours a week for a minimum of three months. If you think you may be a good fit for this program, please contact our Volunteer Supervisor to discuss. As it generally takes a few weeks to get through the screening process and these spots fill quickly, it is best to contact us as early as possible before your break.
- I need to complete my volunteer hours in the next few days/weeks/month.
Our volunteer program is designed to provide our volunteers with all of the training and resources they need to succeed in supporting our community's homeless animals. In order to achieve this goal, our application and training process generally takes between one and two months to complete.
- I am not able to meet the age or minimum commitment requirements to volunteer at the shelter, is there another way I can help?
There may be opportunities for independent projects completed outside of the shelter. You can view sample project ideas here. If you are interested in completing an independent project, please email our Volunteer Supervisor with the requirements of your community service assignment and the details of your proposed project.
If you meet the above requirements for our general volunteer program, please return to our volunteer page to download and complete a volunteer application.
Court Ordered Community Service
We are currently not accepting any additional participants for this program. Please check back later to see if there are any openings.
RCHS occasionally has openings for volunteers needing to complete court ordered community service. Please read the following guidelines to see if you may qualify for this program:
- Participants must be taking part in a formal program, with a case manager we can speak with to verify the terms of the court order and who can act as a reference.
- Participants must have a minimum of 30 hours community service to complete.
- Participants may not have been convicted of any violent crime or animal abuse.
- Participants in our Community Service Program assist shelter staff in general cleaning, dishwashing, and laundry. Volunteers do not have contact with the animals.
- Volunteer hours for our Community Service Program are 8am to 11am Monday through Friday. RCHS can provide a maximum of 6 hours per week to participants in this program.
- Children between the ages of 16 and 18 volunteering as part of this program must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Stay up to date on the latest animal news and events through our paper and electronic newsletters.
Help raise money for Rock County Humane Society every time you send flowers! Fairview Florists in Janesville is teaming up with Flowers for a Good Cause to benefit local charities RCHS.
All month long, save 50% OFF the adoption fees for adult black cats! Everyone who adopts a black cat will also be entered into a drawing for a prize package valued at over $100!
Grab your clubs and a few friends for a full day of fun at Riverside Golf Course on Friday, June 1st. It's our first annual Mutt Putt charity golf event to raise funds for our community's homeless animals!
