Volunteer & Foster

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Humane Society of Sheboygan County! Our volunteers are essential in providing the best possible care for the animals who rely on us every day.

From hands-on care like grooming, exercising, and socializing animals, to helping with cleaning, laundry, office tasks, events, and humane education—there’s a role for every skill set.

Another way to get involved is fostering shelter pets in need. While caring for one, fosters help save many by freeing space for others in our shelter. Even a short stay has a great impact! All supplies are provided.

No matter how you choose to help, your time and compassion change lives. We can’t wait to welcome you into our volunteer family!

Joining Our Team

Every role impacts animals in a meaningful way–but the path to join us looks a little different depending on how you want to help.

Before you start the application process, take a moment to decide which experience is right for you.

Fostering

Fosters play a vital role in caring for our most vulnerable animals—tiny kittens, pets recovering from medical care, or animals who may just not do well in the shelter environment, but are still looking for their forever families.

HSSC provides all medical care and supplies for animals in foster care, and volunteers provide a safe, loving environment for them.

To get started:

Submit the Foster Application

Once approved, we’ll walk you through the foster onboarding process and help match you with animals who need you most.

Because fosters care for animals off-site, they do not attend the same orientations or trainings as shelter volunteers.

For questions about fostering, please contact Kayla Becker at KaylaB@scadopt.org.

Volunteering in the Shelter

Shelter volunteers support animals and keep our daily operations running smoothly. They help behind the scenes by folding laundry, sharing our mission with the community, cleaning kennels, and socializing with our animals.

To get started:

Submit the Appropriate Volunteer Application

There are two types of volunteer applications:

-Adult volunteers
-Youth volunteers

**Applications for volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult volunteer application. See the position descriptions below for age guidelines.

Check your email

You’ll receive an automated email once your application is submitted, and another as we move through the review process. Please be patient — it can take about 2–4 weeks for us to review your application and get in touch.

When you hear from us, be sure to read the email carefully for your next steps!

Attend a New Volunteer Orientation

These sessions are typically offered twice a month — one in the morning and one in the evening — so you can choose the time that works best for you. During orientation, you’ll get a tour of our facility, learn about the onboarding process, and get a quick overview of our Volunteer Handbook.

If you decide you’d like to join our team (we hope you do!), there’s a $25 registration fee per volunteer. This helps cover the cost of your volunteer shirt and the supplies you’ll use while helping out.

Complete 12 hours of Essential Operations Training

Before jumping into any animal socialization programs, new volunteers complete 12 hours of Essential Operations Training. This training helps you get comfortable with our day-to-day operations, the shelter layout, and our staff. You’ll also get hands-on experience with the behind-the-scenes work that keeps our animals happy and healthy—like kennel cleaning, laundry, events, housekeeping, grounds care, and youth programs.

For questions about volunteering, please contact Darlyn Summers at DarlynS@scadopt.org.

Bringing a Group to the Shelter

The Humane Society of Sheboygan County would love to welcome your group for a volunteer project!

Groups from schools or other youth programs will include a tour and an educational activity or service project that is tailored to your goals, as well as a visit from one of our adoptable animals. All children must be in kindergarten or older, and these groups can go all the way through high school. If you are interested in bringing a school group or youth program, please complete a Youth Program Request Form.

Adult group experiences will include a tour and approximately 2.5 hours of volunteer work. Tasks vary based on shelter needs at the time of your arrival, but may include things like cleaning kennels, organizing items in storage, weeding or other grounds keeping, or making treats or toys. Your visit will conclude with a visit from one of our adoptable animals. If you are interested in bringing a group of adults (whether from a workplace, group home, social organization, etc), please complete a General Program Request Form.

Please note that volunteer groups do not directly assist with animal socialization. If you are interested in spending extended time with our adoptable animals, we encourage you to complete a general application and become a regular volunteer!

We kindly suggest that adult volunteer groups contribute a monetary donation based on your group size. This helps support the cost of supplies and program facilitation for your visit. While we do not request the same from youth groups, we always welcome financial contributions or donations of items from our wish list to support our ongoing efforts.

For questions about group volunteer opportunities, please contact Darlyn Summers at DarlynS@scadopt.org.

Volunteer Opportunities

Explore our current volunteer roles below to see how you can make a difference for animals in need! Each listing includes details about age requirements and responsibilities.

***A note about community service requirements:

While we may accept volunteers looking to complete community service hours, this is up to the discretion of HSSC staff and opportunities may be limited. Community service hours will consist of laundry, kennel cleaning, housekeeping, administrative work, etc. and will not entail any animal socialization.

All volunteers seeking community service hours must complete an application, complete with supervisor’s contact information.

Please note that we are not able to guarantee hours and will not provide opportunities on short notice. Applications may take 2-4 weeks to process and we recommend planning for no more than 3 hours of service per week.

Animal Transport

Members of this team are tasked with transporting vulnerable animals to and from the shelter. This could be for situations like transfers, medical situations that require supplementary veterinary care, or community emergency situations. This team is often called on short notice, as many scenarios that require transport are urgent and unplanned.
Age: 18 with a clean driving record to transport, 10 with a guardian or 16 independently to help with prep or cleanup

Canine Foster Program

Canine fosters provide temporary care and support for dogs in their own homes, allowing them to have a more natural environment to spend their time waiting for their forever families. This allows them to relax and show their true colors, since snoozing in a home is much more comfortable than snoozing in the shelter! By placing dogs in foster homes, we can open our shelter doors to more animals and increase our impact in the community. All necessary supplies, including food, are supplied by HSSC.
Age: 18 for primary caregiver, but great for families of all ages

Cat Cage Cleaning

Cleaning the cat cages is a critical daily task. Volunteers clean litterboxes, refresh water, place new blankets and toys, and feed the cats—all while the cats remain inside! These volunteers observe the cats and report any health issues.
Age: 18

Community Events

HSSC participates in events throughout the community to share our mission and promote our adoptable animals. Volunteers act as representatives for our organization and occasionally bring adoptable animals. When opportunities arise, the Community Engagement Coordinator will contact all volunteers interested in community events, as they do not have a regular schedule.
Age: 10 with a guardian, 16 independently

Cat Enrichment

Many cats who find themselves here at the shelter are nervous and frightened. Volunteers move cats to a space where they can spend one-on-one time with them. They play, groom, and snuggle with our feline friends in a non-threatening setting, which helps their personalities shine!
Age: 10 with a guardian, 18 independently

Customer Service/Reception Assistance

The greeting someone receives when they walk through the doors is an important first impression! Reception assistants spend time at the desk and direct guests when they arrive. They give information about adoptions, volunteering, community events, and more.
Age: 16

Digital Media Support

The main method of advertising our adoptable animals is through our website and social media pages. That means we need photos and videos that really highlight their personalities! We utilize the skills here of not only professional photographers, but also those who might just be handy with a cell phone. If you enjoy making videos on social media or taking photos as a hobby, we’d love for you to help out.
Age: 10 with a guardian, 18 independently

Dog Socialization

Dog socializing happens within the shelter, either in an adoption room or an outdoor kennel. Socializing volunteers brush, snuggle, play, and love on the dogs in a small setting. Volunteers can train in each area. Training is required prior to being allowed to walk or socialize on your own.
Age: 10 and up with a guardian present

Dog Walking

Dog walkers take the dogs out for walks in the neighborhoods around the shelter for exercise and mental stimulation. While walking, volunteers work on training and socialization.
Age: 10 and up with a guardian present

Facilities, Maintenance, & Grounds Support

Our facilities and grounds support crew help keep our shelter looking its best! Volunteers assist with maintaining outdoor spaces, cleaning and organizing facilities, and ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for animals and visitors. Their efforts make a big difference in creating a comfortable space for our animals and their potential adopters.
Age: 8 with a guardian, 16 independently

Feline Foster Program

Our feline fosters provide loving, temporary homes for cats in need. Fosters may care for fragile newborn kittens, hospice cats, or behavioral cases, depending on your comfort level. By becoming a foster, you play a crucial role in transforming the lives of these special cats and preparing them for their forever homes. All necessary supplies and training are provided by HSSC.
Age: 18 for primary caregiver, but great for families of all ages

Dog Kennel Cleaning

Kennels are our dogs’ temporary homes, so we try to make them as comfortable as possible! Volunteers assist staff in cleaning individual kennels and cozying them up with fresh beds, blankets, toys and dishes. In the outdoor kennels, volunteers help hose down and scrub the pavement and clean the doggy pools. This is often a great opportunity for teen volunteers or pairs of people, as you can work alongside someone else if you wish.
Age: 16

Office Support

Tasks in this category span multiple areas of the shelter, depending on the volunteer’s comfort level. Volunteers may help staff in the office doing things like scanning/filing, assembling donation boxes, data entry, or organizing. They could also be making adoption follow-up phone calls or assisting in admissions.
Age: 16

PetSmart Caregiver (available at Grafton and Sheboygan Falls locations)

This team cares for the cats in our PetSmart locations. Volunteers clean cages and litter boxes, feed and provide fresh water, and socialize with cats while they wait for their forever homes. Once volunteers are established and comfortable, they have the option to be trained to process off-site adoptions.
Age: 14 with a guardian

Shelter Upkeep Support

The shelter upkeep support team helps create a welcoming space for our furry friends and their future families! Volunteers clean public areas, making the lobby and adoption spaces shine. They can wash cozy bedding and towels, giving animals a comfy place to relax, and tackle dishes and feeding equipment to keep everything fresh. This is one of those behind-the-scenes opportunities that’s truly critical for our operations!
Age: 13 with a guardian, 16 independently

Small Animal Enclosure Care

Volunteers clean the enclosures of rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, or other small animals. They refresh bedding, feed, refresh water, and interact with critters, as well as observe them and note any health issues.
Age: 10 with a guardian, 16 independently

Small Animal Socialization

Volunteers spend time playing and interacting with the small critters, providing valuable time outside of their enclosures.
Age: 8 with a guardian, 16 independently

Youth Programs

Today’s kids are tomorrow’s leaders, and volunteers in this area have the opportunity to help form those leadership skills! Volunteers in this role helps facilitate classroom field trips, scout groups, tours, or other programs for our youngest community helpers. This is a great opportunity for high school students.
Age: 16

Fostering

Foster care continues to be a critical piece of our lifesaving efforts. When an animal is too young, sick, injured or just needs someone to teach them basic manners, foster parents help fill the gap between the time the animal is brought to the shelter and the time they are adopted. Our foster program helps us save more lives!

To start your foster journey, click here to complete an application.

Our staff will reach out to you with next steps. Fosters are not required to complete the general volunteer onboarding process.