Questions concerning volunteering at the humane society?

Question

Someday I'd love to volunteer at a humane society when I move into a city.

I am wondering if you can answer my questions:

What is it like working there?

Someone said that since I don't have a sense of smell, I wouldn't mind working there. are they correct?

What do the volunteers do?

Do they get to spend one on one with some of the animals?

Do they get to play with and walk the animals?

What else do I need to know?

Answer 1

Not every animal shelter is run by a Humane Society, and not every Human Society chapter runs an animal shelter.

Every animal welfare organization is different in terms of how it involves volunteers. There are no universal answers to your questions. Shelters that are "no kill" will probably have more opportunities to interact with animals than the majority of other shelters. However, shelters don't need people to play with animals as much as they need people to help with their housing and feeding, educating the public about the importance of spaying and neutering pets, etc.

Contact your local Humane Society, ASPCA and breed rescue organizations to find out what volunteering opportunities they might have, and which organization, if any of these, manages the local animal shelter. Tell them when you would be available for volunteering and ask if they have an orientation you can attend to learn about all of the different ways you could help.

And be sure to encourage your family and friends to spay and neuter their pets, and to get their pets from shelters and breed rescue groups, NOT from pet stores.