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  Volunteer Program

A Few Good Volunteers Needed

Thank you for your interest in helping homeless animals at the Delaware Humane Association! The Delaware Humane Association is always interested in volunteers to work and help us carry out the mission of the agency.

Volunteers are needed at Delaware Humane’s shelter, as well as our PetsMart satellite cat adoption center, seven days a week, including evenings and weekends.  Schedules are flexible and opportunities vary, but all require a sincere commitment to meeting the needs of the organization. Additional specialized training beyond the general orientation is required for each department prior to volunteering. 

All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. We are aware that there are many bright and caring young people who wish to assist at a shelter like ours, but due to insurance requirements and liability factors we cannot take on volunteers who don't meet the above requirement. If you're too young to volunteer now we hope you will think of us when you're old enough to qualify as a volunteer.

You should know that among the factors used to choose volunteers to work at the shelter, the match between the volunteer's available time slots and the needs of the shelter is very important. Some volunteers aren't available during those times for which the shelter needs assistance.

The Delaware Humane Association needs a few good volunteers…

Animal Care Department

Cat Cuddler – Cat cuddlers are responsible for improving the quality of life for the cats at DHA. They can cuddle, play with and give attention and affection to cats during their stay, making them more comfortable on the adoption floor.

Requirements: Must participate in cattery training.

Dog Walker – Dog walkers take adoptable dogs for walks on DHA’s shelter grounds. These walks serve to exercise, socialize and keep dogs behaviorally healthy during their stay at the shelter. Walkers are responsible for leashing the dog, removing the dog from the kennel, maintaining control over the dog for the entire walk and putting the dog back in its kennel in accordance with DHA’s handling protocols.

Requirements: Must participate in kennel training.

Basic Cat and Dog Caretakers – Animal caretakers participate in the feeding and cleaning of the animals, as well as monitoring the kennels and/or cattery to insure a clean, healthy and welcoming environment for the animals and potential adopters.

Requirements: Must participate in kennel training and/or cattery training.

Animal Adoptions Department

Adoption Events – DHA regularly holds special adoption events at PetSmart, PetCo and other off-site locations. Volunteers are always needed to help set up, clean up, run errands and assist with the processing of adoption applications.

Requirements: Must participate in appropriate animal department trainings and be instructed in the adoption process.

Petsmart Satellite Adoption Center – DHA maintains a small satellite adoption center at the PetSmart store located in the Brandywine Towne Center in north Wilmington. Volunteers are needed seven days a week to clean and maintain cat cages, process adoption applications and spend time with the cats available for adoption. Specially trained volunteers may also perform adoption counseling.

Requirements: Must participate in cattery training, additional training at the PetSmart location is scheduled on an individual basis.

Administrative Department

Administrative Office – Administrative volunteers can help stuff envelopes and assist with filing and copying in our business office.

Requirements: Must have clerical or customer service experience and be available Monday to Friday. (The business office is closed most weekends.)

Front Desk – Front desk volunteers assist with answering phones, routine paperwork, processing adoption applications and scheduling appointments. This is a fast-paced work environment where multi-tasking ability is a must.

Requirements: Must have previous customer service experience and participate in individualized training with DHA’s existing customer service / front desk team.

Foster Care Department

Foster Care – These dedicated volunteers provide temporary care for long or short periods of time for young animals (and in some cases their mothers), as well as sick and injured animals, until they can be safely returned to the shelter for adoption.

Requirements: Must participate in kennel and/or cattery training and be advised and/or trained on how to care for each special foster case. Volunteers must also have an appropriate, separate area of their home where they can keep foster animals away from resident pets.

Community Relations Department

Community Outreach Events – Community outreach volunteers perform a variety of tasks, from manning tables at special events and satellite adoption days to helping out with educational talks and school visits.

Requirements: Must have some community relations or educational experience and receive relevant instruction for the specific event.

Wellness Clinics – DHA sponsors “wellness” vaccine and microchipping clinics at local pet stores and fire stations one Sunday a month throughout the year. Help is needed with set up and the processing of paperwork at the clinic.

Requirements: Must participate in wellness clinic training.

Volunteers are needed 7 days a week and evenings. Interested persons should download the Volunteer Application Form, Liability Waiver and Volunteer Description List and bring the completed form to our next available orientation. If you cannot download the Volunteer Application Form, you may obtain one at the orientation.

Check the upper righthand corner of this page for dates and times of upcoming Volunteer Orientations.

Please call the Volunteer Information Line at:
      571-0111 ext 305

Delaware Humane Association

701 A Street
Wilmington, DE 19801

Shelter
(302) 571-0111

The Delaware Humane Association (DHA) is Delaware’s premiere non-profit, lifelong care animal shelter and adoption center. The DHA is committed to providing for the needs of homeless and abused dogs and cats in our community. Serving over 5,000 companion animals annually through direct intervention and many more through advocacy, the Delaware Humane Association continues to promote the humane values of protection, care, and compassion for all living things by providing Special Programs, Humane Education and Outreach. The DHA envisions a future where all people and their pets live healthy, happy and long lives together.