Thank you for considering volunteering your time and talents to help the homeless animals of Rock County! Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to volunteer on their own or 16 years old with a parent or guardian present.
Most volunteer positions will require a minimum commitment of four hours a month for six months. Please consider whether or not you are able to honor this commitment before submitting an application.
Please review and complete our volunteer application and read and sign the release as well.
Our Volunteer, Adoption, and Development Supervisor is available at (608) 752-5622 , or email at volunteers@rockcountyhumanesociety.com, to answer any questions or further discuss our program. We place volunteers based upon current needs of the shelter and volunteer's abilities, strengths, and availability.
If you are a student seeking to volunteer for class credit or to volunteer over a college break or someone volunteering to complete a court order please click here for more information on our volunteer program.
Current needs include:
- MSAC Assistants for the following shifts (shifts are every other week):
- Monday 10am-noon
- Saturday 11am-1pm
- Saturday 1-3pm
- Saturday 3-5pm
- Sunday 10am-12:30pm
- Feline Friends
- Canine Companions
Volunteer Opportunities:
Feline Friends: Assist with the overall care of our adoptable cats by helping staff provide a clean and enriching environment during their stay. Must be able to commit to a regular weekly schedule. Hours available are from 11:30am to 4:30pm or 6:30pm depending on the day of the week.
Canine Companions: Assist with the overall care of our adoptable dogs by helping staff provide a clean and enriching environment during their stay. Must be able to commit to a regular weekly schedule. Hours available are from 7:30am to 5pm or 7pm depending on the day of the week.
Animal Transport: Transport animals safely between RCHS and veterinary clinics or rescue organizations. Must be at least 21 years of age and the commitment varies depending on need.
Bather/Groomer: Give animals a fresh clean start by attending to their grooming needs. Commitment varies based on need. This position is for applicants with professional grooming experience.
Administrative Assistant: Assist with daily administrative activities including data entry, mailings, and special projects. Flexible commitment based on need.
Photography Assistant: Help us reunite lost pets with their owners and find new homes for our homeless animals by taking high quality, engaging pet photos. A weekly scheduled commitment is required.
Mobile Adoption Animal Handler: Provide care to adoptable animals away from the shelter at mobile adoption and special events. Must be willing to commit to at least one weekend day per month.
Bake for a Cause: Bake homemade goodies throughout the year to support RCHS at bake sales at our many events.
Animal Resource Specialist: Provide friendly and efficient customer service to RCHS clients who visit or call the shelter. A regular weekly commitment is required.
Mounds Satellite Adoption Center (MSAC) Assistant: Keep our satellite adoption center running smoothly and help our adoptable cats find new homes. A regular weekly commitment is required. This position requires strong customer service skills, attention to detail, and expert knowledge of cat care, health, and behavior.
Building Maintenance/Grounds Assistant: Help with upkeep and maintenance of our shelter and grounds. A regular weekly commitment is required.
Foster Homes: Care for special needs animals in your home to help them become adoption ready. Animal handling and behavioral and medical expertise required. If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete both our Volunteer Application and the Foster Home Addendum.
For more information on these volunteer opportunities, please download our volunteer application.
Volunteer Benefits:
Training: RCHS volunteers receive training in animal handling and care pertinent to their position Additional opportunities for training are available throughout the year to current volunteers on a variety of topics.
Lending Library: RCHS maintains a free lending library accessible to all volunteers on a number of animal related topics.
Volunteer Portal & Forums:Active volunteers may access our online volunteer portal, with up-to-date shelter information, animal health & behavior resources, volunteer program news, and online forums to communicate and share with other volunteers.
Discounted Microchipping: Active volunteers are eligible to have their pet cats and dogs microchipped at a reduced rate! Microchips help reunite lost pets with loving owners if they are ever lost.
Discounted Pet Health Insurance: ShelterCare Pet Insurance offers discounted rates on a variety of plans to RCHS volunteers.
The Process
1. Please review and complete our volunteer application and read and sign the release as well.
2. Our Volunteer, Adoption, and Development Supervisor will contact you to set up an initial interview. If you have provided an email address, you can expect to receive an email within 2-4 days of our receipt of your application. Email is our preferred method of communicating with incoming and current volunteers. If you don't have an email address, you will be contacted by phone. Interviews are conducted by phone and are a brief opportunity to discuss our volunteer program and have your questions answered.
3. Following the initial interview, volunteers who match our current needs will be invited to an orientation. Orientations are held on the 2nd Saturday from 10am-12pm and 4th Tuesday from 5:15-7:15pm each month. Our orientations are your introduction to the shelter, our programs, and services. They include a shelter tour and more information on all of our volunteer opportunities and our role in the community.
4. Once you've attended an orientation, you're ready to be trained in your program and start volunteering! The entire process generally takes between one to two months to get new volunteers fully trained.
Stay up to date on the latest animal news and events through our paper and electronic newsletters.
We only have a few of our 2012 Calendars left! Each calendar is chock full of beautiful photos of our community's beloved animals & now they are only $10!.
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.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 18th for the 2nd Annual canine weight pull event hosted by RCHS and Alaskan Malamute Club of Wisconsin.
