Anyone working in an animal shelter, please help?

Question

I'm 13, soon to be 14 in october. The shelter I wanted to volunteer in required 16+. Obviously, I'm two years short. I've sent an email asking if I could do anything to help, and that I've had experience with dogs because I used to own one. Now, to those of you working in shelters, do you think they will consider me? Please give honest answers, I don't want any guessing games or unexperienced people.

Answer 1

They have guidelines and probably are not going to set them aside to let you work in the area with animals just because you have experience with dogs.  There are liability issues...I had to sign a paper saying that I would not hold the shelter responsible if I was bitten or worse by one of the animals!  You are too young to sign something like that and have it valid.

On the other hand, the shelter where I volunteer does allow younger people to volunteer, with written permission from their parents, in a kind of club where they make things to raise money for the shelter or help older people in the booths at some community events.  They just are not allowed to work directly with the animals until they are 16.

Answer 2

i had to go to training to volunteer at the shelter, training is offered by the shelters where i live, try senior homes, they let u volunteer at 14