For Information - Open Orientation for Individuals Interested in Volunteering
Open Orientation sessions for anyone interested in the CCHS Adult Volunteer Program are held monthly. Check the Calendar or email 2.volunteer@cuhumane.org for the location, date, and time. During the orientation you will learn about CCHS and the many ways that volunteers help the organization. At the end of the meeting, you’ll have an opportunity to speak with CCHS staff members and sign up for your first shelter tour & training session at CCHS.
Because it takes time and resources to train new volunteers, we ask that volunteers be prepared to commit to a minimum of 4 months of service. We hope that once you become a CCHS volunteer, you’ll be with us for a very long time!
Shelter Tour & Training Sessions
Shelter tour & training sessions are for volunteers that have attended the Open Orientation and are interested in working at the shelter and helping with dog, cat, and small animal care.
All new shelter volunteers work as “Kennel Assistants” for the first four weeks (minimum of one shift per week; shifts are approx. 3 hours long). During this time, new volunteers are learning about general shelter operating procedures and becoming familiar with the facility.
After four weeks, interested volunteers can begin their training as a dog, cat, or small animal socializer.
Adult Volunteer Opportunities
Kennel Assistants
Dog, Cat, and Small Animal Kennel Assistants help ensure that the animals at CCHS have a safe, clean environment in which to live. Working as a Kennel Assistant is a prerequisite to working as an animal socializer. It requires a minimum of one shift per week and applicants should be able to commit to at least 4 months of volunteering. Shifts: Dogs or Cats: 8:30-11, 2-5, or 5-7. Small Animals: 8:30-11, 2-5 p.m.
Adoption Counselor
Work at the CCHS front desk to greet potential adopters and help them find the right pet. Commitment: One 3-hour shift per week. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Dog, Cat, or Small Animal Kennel Assistant (4 weeks). Shifts: M-F: 2-5, 5-8 (except for Tuesdays); Sat: 11-2; 2-5; Sun: 11-2, 2-5.
Training and Behavior Program
Volunteers in this program provide shelter animals with mental stimulation through interactive activities (one-on-one training) and interactive toys (e.g., toys stuffed with food). Prerequisite: Successful completion of Dog, Cat, or Small Animal Kennel Assistant (4 weeks). Shifts: Weekdays, 8-11, 1-4.
Cat Socializer
Cat Socializers help provide stimulation and human socialization through positive interactions with the cats up for adoption. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the Cat Kennel Assistant program. Requires one 3-hour shift per week. Shifts: Weekdays: 8-11, 11-2, 2-5, 4-7; Weekends & Tuesdays: 8-11, 11-2; 2-5
Dog Socializer
Dog Socializers help provide physical and mental stimulation for the dogs up for adoption. There are two levels that volunteers may progress through in this program. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the Dog Kennel Assistant program. Requires one 3-hour shift per week. Shifts: Weekdays: 8-11, 11-2, 2-5, 4-7; Weekends & Tuesdays: 8-11, 11-2; 2-5
Small Animal Socializer
Small-Animal Socializers provide socialization and stimulation for the small animals up for adoption. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the Small Animal Kennel Assistant program. Requires one 3-hour shift per week. Shifts: Weekdays: 8-11, 11-2, 2-5, 4-7; Weekends & Tuesdays: 8-11, 11-2; 2-5
Fostering
Foster parents provide a temporary home for animals who need a little extra tender loving care. Animals needing foster care might be sick, injured, scared, nursing a litter, or pregnant. Some of them are too young to thrive in a shelter environment. To give them the best chance at finding a forever home we place these special needs animals with foster homes until they’re ready to come back to the shelter to be adopted. For more information follow this link.
Medical Lab Program
Medical Lab Volunteers help maintain the heath of our animal population by administering treatments and performing exams. Requires one 4-hour shift per week. Shifts: 8-12, 11-3, 12-4:30
Folding Newspapers
Something everyone can do! We use newspaper in our cat and puppy cages EVERYDAY, so we are always in need of folded newspaper. By folding the papers and removing the inserts, you can help speed up our cleaning process, allowing our staff to devote more time to animal care. See Fold and donate newspapers for the shelter to learn more.
Sometimes newspapers need to be folded at the shelter. If you’re a shelter volunteer with extra time on your hands, ask the Shelter Manager or Volunteer Coordinator if there are papers that need to be folded.
Humane Educator
Volunteer Humane Educators give tours of the animal shelter, assist with presentations in the community, and represent CCHS at education-based off-site events. Humane Educator volunteers are scheduled on an “as needed” basis.
Special Events
Special Events Volunteers represent CCHS at off-site events. Some events are held to raise money for CCHS (Mutt Strut, Fur Ball, and other smaller events). Others help raise awareness about CCHS and the animals available for adoption. And still others are aimed at educating the public about our mission and humane treatment of animals. Special Events Volunteers work on an “as needed” basis
Giant Garage Sale
Beginning with set up in mid May, continuing through the actual sale on the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and ending with final cleanup - this event is our oldest fundraiser and our single greatest need for volunteers. Follow this link to learn more. Location: Champaign County Fairgrounds
Volunteer Opportunities for Young People
Pet Pals Club for Ages 10 - 15
CCHS is proud to announce the first ever Pet Pals Club!
Volunteering at the Shelter for Ages 16 & 17
Teens of 16 & 17 interested in volunteering at CCHS should attend an Open Orientation session, along with their parents. You’ll find the date and location of upcoming Open Orientations on the calendar. At the end of orientation, you’ll sign up for a shelter tour and training session and pick-up a consent form. (Parents must sign the consent form in advance of the first tour and training session.) New volunteers are required to commit to at least two shifts per month for a minimum of four months.
Youth Kennel Assistant
All youth volunteers work as Kennel Assistants and will be expected to help the shelter staff with miscellaneous cleaning and chores. Volunteer jobs that involve animal handling are limited to volunteers 18 years of age and older.