Volunteer & Foster

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Humane Society of Sheboygan County. We are supported by over 100+ volunteers doing more than 10 different jobs. Volunteers enable us to provide the very best care for our animals and help us provide support to the people and animals in our community.

Volunteers are essential to everything we do! Shelter volunteers provide hands-on animal care such as grooming, exercising, kennel cleaning, general housekeeping, and socializing the animals. Other volunteer opportunities include off-site events, office work/data entry, fundraising events, humane education and pet visits to local schools/organizations, and committee work.

Volunteer Opportunities

Please be aware that only applications for available volunteer positions will be reviewed.

  • Volunteer opportunities are based on openings within a program.
  • There may be a waiting list for the program you are most interested in.
  • HSSC accept volunteers looking to complete hours for school or court sentences. However, if volunteers don’t plan to continue volunteering after required hours are complete, HSSC reserves the right to select the volunteer job you do during your time with us.
  • Volunteer opportunities are typically during our business hours.
  • Age requirements differ for each volunteer position; you’ll find links to 16 and under specific projects below.
  • HSSC recognize that life is hectic and busy. While we appreciate any time you give, we ask that you try to put in at least one hour per month.
  • Training is provided for this program
  • Occurs Wednesday-Friday 12pm-6pm, Saturday-Sunday 12pm-4pm
  • Must be friendly (You are the first person visitors see)
  • Must be comfortable asking shelter staff questions
  • Provides guidance around shelter for visitors
  • Helps answer phones and visitor questions
  • Pages animal care staff for meet and greets
  • Training is required before working on your own with shelter dogs
  • Dog walking (outside) and socializing (inside)
  • Dog walking is the most flexible volunteer program
  • Continued education is offered for this program
  • Training is required before working on your own with shelter cats
  • Occurs Wednesday-Sunday 8am-12pm, Monday-Tuesday 8am-3pm
  • There are limited spots for children with adults
  • There is a waiting list for this program as of October 2023
  • Assisted living facility visits entail bringing a shelter pet to a facility to interact with residents
  • Volunteers for this program are required to be friendly and outgoing
  • This program has more flexibility than others
  • Training and support is provided for this program
  • Volunteers provide care from their own homes for dogs in need
  • Dogs in foster may be young puppies or could be adult dogs with special needs
  • All supplies are provided by HSSC
  • Training and support is provided for this program
  • Volunteers provide care from their own homes for cats in need
  • Cats in foster are most often kittens under eight weeks old, but sometimes there are also adult cats with special needs
  • This program is busiest from April through October each year
  • All supplies are provided by HSSC
  • Volunteers work with staff to clean dog kennels (wash, reset, etc.)
  • This is the easiest volunteer program to be trained in
  • Volunteers work with staff to clean cat cages (wipe out, feed, scoop litter, etc.)
  • Typically this program is one day per week unless volunteer is acting as a fill in
  • Volunteers help at either the Sheboygan Falls or Grafton Petsmart location
  • Volunteers in this program clean cat cages and provide one-on-one time with cats for socialization
  • Typically this program is one day per week unless volunteer is acting as a fill in
  • Occurs on Monday and Tuesday evenings
  • Assist with running and monitoring the Rescue Readers program
  • Volunteers for this program must be comfortable working with children
  • Volunteers for community events must be friendly and outgoing
  • Set up information table and be available at table to answer questions from public
  • Assist animal handlers as needed

Under 16 Volunteer Opportunities

We understand that most youth have varying maturity levels. Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to appropriately assess these difference and thus our policy is to limit our volunteer program to those 16 years of age or older. Young people can engage in animal welfare issues and the work of HSSC through other activities.

Click either of the buttons below for activity ideas!

Fostering Process

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!

Pre-Surgery Instructions
  • Cats/dogs over 4 months old: Do NOT feed after 10:00pm the night before surgery (limited water intake is OK) no food or water the day of surgery.
  • Kittens/puppies under 4 months old: DO NOT withhold food or water prior to surgery.
  • Dogs must arrive with a collar and on leash (no retractable leashes). Cats and rabbits must be in a carrier.
  • Pets must be dropped off between 8:00am – 8:30am the day of surgery at the Admissions Department. (South side of the building near garage, door is labeled)
Important Notices

*The Following animals and conditions are excluded from the SNAP program:

  • Any animal that is actively showing signs of illness
  • Any animal that is revealed to have a health condition during their pre-surgery exam (example: heart murmur)
  • Any animal over 7 years of age
  • Any animal that is deemed to be obese
  • Any animal weighing over 100lbs or under 2lbs
  • Any female that has given birth within the previous 6 weeks
  • Animals that are too fearful or aggressive to be handled safely.

 

  • We will spay female animals that are “in heat” at the time of surgery, but they are at a higher surgical risk for bleeding during surgery and post-operatively. It is strongly recommended that you reschedule the surgery for 4-6 weeks post-cycle.
  • SNAP is not a feral or barn cat program. If you have feral or barn cats to be spayed or neutered, please utilize a TNR / Return to Field application.
  • ALL FEES MUST BE PAID IN ADVANCE. HSSC accepts cash and credit/debit cards only – NO personal checks. If you do not show up for your appointment at the scheduled time, you will forfeit the fees you paid. In the case of a shelter emergency, severe weather, or staff illness, we reserve the right to reschedule your appointment.
  • You MUST drop off and pick up your pet at the times scheduled. Your appointment will be cancelled if you do not drop off your pet during the allotted time. Boarding fees will be charged if you do not pick up your pet on time.
  • City of Sheboygan residents: You are required, by law to have your dog or cat licensed with the city. If your pet is not currently licensed, HSSC can assist you with licensure for an additional cost.
  • Applicants must supply all vaccination records for their pet, including licensing information, if current prior to service.
  • Our on-staff veterinarian performs the SNAP surgeries. No other surgical or medical services other than what is listed will be provided under the SNAP program. For follow-up preventive care or for services other than spay/neuter, please contact your primary veterinarian.
  • Animals brought in for surgery that have fleas will be charged $12.00 for flea treatment, plus an additional $12.00 for every other SNAP animal also on the schedule that day.
  • All spays/neuters will have a small tattoo placed near their incision to mark that they have been sterilized.
  • You are welcome to call to check up on your pet, but visits are not allowed.
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