Opportunities From: United Way of Dane County

Whether you choose to donate monetarily, purchase items from our wish list or donate gently used items, your kindness will ensure that animals at DCHS receive the care they deserve. Thank you! Check below for our most needed items: 

 

1. Monetary Donations

DCHS is always in need of monetary gifts to help us best meet the needs of animals in our care. Because we never know what animals may come through our doors, your monetary donations allow us the flexibility to meet those ever-changing needs. We encourage you to let us do the shopping! We have many partner organizations that help us get the best 'bang for our buck' by offering great discounts.

You can make a monetary donation here.

 

2. Soft, Dog Treats / Training Treats 

3. Rolled Rawhides 

4. Large / XL Kongs 

5. Squeeze Cheese 

6. Creamy Peanut Butter 

7. Paper Towels 

8. Unscented, Clumping Cat Litter 

9. Liquid Laundry Detergent 

 

These item donations can be delivered to the Main Shelter, 5132 Voges Road, Madison, WI 53718. You do not need to call ahead. A no-contact drop off bin is outside the main entrance during business hours.

 The Canine Companion helps staff with the overall care of shelter dogs by providing a clean and enriching environment

Care for shelter dogs labeled ‘Purple’ who are generally friendly to strangers, by participating in specifically outlined duties including spot-cleaning kennels, enrichment activities, dishes and laundry, potty breaks and other care duties as needed Spend quiet time with specified dogs in their kennels, in the dog yards or on dog trails after initial care responsibilities have been completed for all dogs Help facilitate best practices for dogs by sharing information on your interactions with and observations of specific dogs with staff and other volunteers, both verbally and in writing

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum age of 18 years old Reliable attendance and ability to work independently required Have high-level English reading, writing, spelling and communication skills Have the ability to understand, remember and follow instructions and procedures; and the ability to ask questions when appropriate Ability to take direction from staff Ability to hear and see the communications from the dogs you interact with in the shelter for safety purposes  Friendly and positive attitude Ability to squat, bend, twist, lift or stand for up to three hours, and to move quickly if needed

URL: www.giveshelter.org

The Reception Assistant also assists staff in general office maintenance to create a great working environment for staff, volunteers, and customers.

Greeting customers with a friendly, positive attitude Helping to guide customers through the shelter as well as answering general questions Receiving, and providing receipts for, donations while making donors feel appreciated Writing down voicemails and responding to some, when appropriate Filing contracts and other paperwork General cleaning and tidying of the office area Making copies, scanning and uploading documents Assisting reception staff with other daily tasks, as needed Qualifications and Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old Friendly and positive attitude, and excellent customer service skills General understanding of DCHS’s policies and goals as a whole, as well as specific to reception (can be learned in training) High-level English reading, writing, spelling and communication skills Must have basic computer skills and ability to learn how to use our data system, PetPoint (training on this system will be provided) Ability to understand, remember, and follow instructions and procedures; and the ability to ask questions when appropriate Required to have reliable attendance and ability to work independently

The Thrift Store volunteers manage the inventory of thrift store donations and assisting customers and donors.

Assist donors with incoming donations Clean, sort and price donations Greet and assist customers, answer phone and operate cash register Stock merchandise, set up product displays and clean retail area Pull out-of-date merchandise to sell in DCHS garage sales

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum age 16 years to volunteer solo; minimum age to volunteer as a youth/adult volunteer team is 10 years Reliable attendance and ability to work independently required Have high-level English reading, writing, spelling and communication skills Have the ability to understand, remember and follow instructions and procedures; and the ability to ask questions when appropriate Friendly and positive attitude Ability to squat, bend, twist, lift or stand for up to two hours

SCHEDULE, TRAINING AND COMMITMENT:

Training is hands on during your assigned shift Participate in ongoing evaluation program Shifts available: Monday thru Friday: 10am-1pm, 1-4pm and 4-7pm Saturday and Sunday: 10am-1pm, 1-3pm and 3-5pm Consistent attendance required. There are procedures in place if you need time off due to illness, vacation, work or other causes. Our expectation is that you will make up any missed time. Commitment of a two or three-hour shift worked per week for a minimum of six months.

The Admitting Assistant - assists staff with moving animals from intake into the shelter. All animals begin their time at DCHS in Admitting. They are provided a Wellness Exam and are dewormed and given vaccinations and flea and tick treatments. There is no animal handling associated with this position.                    

Clean Admitting Cages/Rooms Restocking of needed supplies Preparation of needed supplies (work with needles may be needed) Other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum of 18 years of age Have the ability to understand, remember and follow instructions and procedures; and the ability to ask questions when appropriate Reliable attendance and ability to work independently required Friendly and positive attitude Ability to squat, bend, twist, lift or stand for up to two hours Position is shift based with one (1) two-hour shift worked per week for a minimum of six (6) months.  Shift availability: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 4pm – 6pm Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday: 2-4pm

URL: www.giveshelter.org

Assisting in the daily care of wild animals for eventual release back into the wild.

Duties

Provide care for wildlife patients including Diet preparation and feeding Cage set-up and maintenance Observing for and reporting signs of illness Maintain complete and accurate medical records Follow all established protocols and guidelines established by FLWC General facility clean-up

RESTRICTIONS:

Minimum age is 18 Recruitment LIMITED to Jan 1 thru March 30. Must be able to commit through end of peak season - mid-October Position is shift based and shift length changes with the season. Between mid-April to mid-October, volunteers must commit to one of the following weekly four-hour shifts available seven days a week: 8:00am-12:00pm, 12-4pm or 4-8pm  Operating hours reduce during the winter, when weekly shifts are 2 hours.

 

URL: www.giveshelter.org

Assisting with public phone inquiries and admitting of wildlife for eventual release.

Assist the public

Answer phone calls Check and return phone messages Greet people and have them start filling out paperwork for new admissions

Administrative tasks

Enter wildlife patients into our database Record keeping and filing Photocopy wildlife forms

Housekeeping

Maintain cleanliness of wildlife office and public admitting area Keep brochure racks stocked and organized

RESTRICTIONS:

Minimum age is 18 Position is shift based with a minimum of one (1) 2 hour shift worked per week for a minimum of six (6) months. Shifts run from 8 am until 8 pm daily. Peak of season is April through October - operating hours reduce during the winter. Recruitment LIMITED to Jan 1 thru July 1.

URL: www.giveshelter.org

Provide care for cats being treated for ringworm in our nationally renowned Feline in Treatment facility (FIT) while helping assure they have a clean environment in which to recover.

Duties:

Feed, medicate and socialize cats/kittens being treated for ringworm in our FIT facility Update each cat's daily behavior log Clean cages, do laundry do dishes, take out trash, and sweep floors Provide TLC to animals in treatment

RESTRICTIONS:

Minimum age of 18 years old Basic handling of cats, desired Able to take direction and follow implemented guidelines Ability to squat, bend, twist, lift or stand for long periods Position is a shift based position with a minimum of one (1) one to three-hour shift worked per week for a minimum of six (6) months. Shift start times are flexible and shift may exceed two hours depending on number of cats at facility. Available shifts: Morning shift begins between 8:00am-10:00 am Afternoon shift begins between 3:00pm-5:00 pm

URL: www.giveshelter.org

Care for shelter critters (including but not limited to Guinea Pigs, Ferrets, Rats, Rabbits, small reptiles snakes, turtles and birds) by participating in specifically outlined care duties including critter socialization, cage cleaning cleaning, feeding, as well as dishes and laundry. Help facilitate quick placement of critters into forever homes by sharing critter-specific knowledge through volunteer comment sheets. Help to direct visitors to the Adoption Center for adoption inquiries

RESTRICTIONS:

Age: 16 years or older to volunteer alone, or with parent or guardian if 8-15 years. Schedule: Position is shift based with one (1) two-hour shift worked per week. Youth volunteers between the ages of 8 and 17 years old have restricted hours at the main shelter due to our employment of Oregon correctional crew non-violent work release inmates. Shift openings are variable but would occur between the hours of: 3:00pm and 7:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 3:00pm and 5:00pm Wednesday noon and 5:00pm Saturday and Sunday if volunteer is 17 years or younger 8:00am and 5:00pm Saturday and Sunday if volunteer is at least 18 years old. Commitment: Minimum of six (6) months Skills: Basic handling of small animals. Training will be provided.

URL: www.giveshelter.org

Care for shelter cats by participating in specifically outlined care duties including socialization, condo cleaning, feeding, and restocking of supply area, as well as dishes and laundry. Help facilitate quick placement of cats into forever homes by communicating with staff and fellow volunteers regarding cats' medical & behavioral health. Help to direct visitors to the Adoption Center for adoption inquiries

RESTRICTIONS:

Age: 16 years of age or older Schedule: Position is shift based with one (1) two-hour shift worked per week. Commitment: Minimum of six (6) months Skills: Basic handling of cats. Training will be provided.

URL: www.giveshelter.org

AMS Assistants help our veterinary staff on weekdays care for animals recovering from illness, in addition to helping with surgical prep/clean-up, sterilizing equipment, recovering animals from surgery, and performing various lab duties. Feeding, cleaning, laundry, and providing animals with TLC are included in this position.

8:00am-10:00am shift:

Cleaning cages, daily feeding and providing TLC to animals housed in AMS ICU areas Restock ICU and surgical prep areas Clean, pack and sterilize surgical equipment Care for animals recovering from surgery (9:30-10:00am)

10:00am-12:00pm shift:

Clean, pack and sterilize surgical equipment Laundry Surgical clean up Care for animals recovering from surgery

12:00pm-2:00pm shift:

Enter daily surgical data including spay/neuter, special procedures, tests, vaccines, and microchips Provide TLC to animals housed in AMS ICU areas Stocking, cleaning and general clinic assistance

2:00pm-4:00pm shift: (tasks will vary based on veterinarian availability in the afternoon)

Assist veterinarian by moving animals between their cages and AMS for medical exams Provide TLC to animals housed in AMS ICU areas Stocking, cleaning and general clinic assistance

RESTRICTIONS:

Age: 18 and older Schedule: Shifts available weekdays only Commitment: Position is a shift-based position with one (1) two-hour shift worked per week for a minimum of six (6) months. Skills: Basic animal handling of dogs and cats; Experience with restraint techniques for cats and dogs, and computer literacy.

URL: www.giveshelter.org

Foster parents assist with the care of animals (dogs, cats, or small animals) that need time in a home setting before they are made available for adoption. This includes pregnant or nursing moms with litters, litters that are too young and need time to grow, animals in need of socialization and animals recovering from illness or injury. Depending on the season, fostering might last a few weeks or a few months.

Provide care for foster animal in your home Provide necessary supplies such as food, litter, bedding and toys for foster animals Administer Dane County Humane Society prescribed medications as needed Return animal for vaccinations and vet checks as needed Communicate with Foster Coordinator regarding spay/neuter scheduling and foster animal return

RESTRICTIONS:

Age: 18 years and older Commitment: Minimum six month commitment to the foster program All pets living in the household must be up-to-date on vaccinations and vet care Landlord approval if renting Time and space to care for foster animal Ability to isolate foster animal(s) from personal pet(s) highly preferred

URL: www.giveshelter.org

Assist with daily activities including data entry, filing, volunteer support, event planning, and miscellaneous administrative projects.

Areas to help:

Development - fundraising department Foster program Spay & Neuter program Volunteer department Wildlife department

Tasks:

Data Entry Filing Electronic mailings Projects Produce name badges Update volunteer pictures and commemoration boards Volunteer recognition awards and events Volunteer updates and newsletters Miscellaneous Internet research Follow up phone calls

RESTRICTIONS:

Minimum 18 years of age Familiarity with specific software programs is not required, but database and spreadsheet experience is a plus. Knowledge of Word and Excel Strong written and verbal communication skills Strong organizational skills and ability to manage and complete a variety of tasks Position is shift based with one (1) two-hour shift worked per week for a minimum of six (6) months.

URL: www.giveshelter.org

Assist with the overall care of shelter animals by providing a clean and healthy environment for them during their stay at Dane County Humane Society.

Care for a wide variety of shelter animals by participating in specifically outlined care duties, including dishes, laundry, kennel set up, taking out recycling and garbage, washing food cans, yard and barn cleanup.

RESTRICTIONS:

Minimum age of 18 years old Ability to take direction and follow implemented guidelines Ability to squat, bend, twist, lift or stand for long periods Position is shift based with one (1) two-hour shift worked per week for a minimum of six (6) month

URL: www.giveshelter.org

As an adoption assistant, you will meet with people looking to adopt a new furry family member. You will introduce adopters to adoptable pets, answer questions about pet care and adoption procedures, as well as complete all adoption paperwork. Assistants carry out a variety of tasks to ensure successful adoptions and maintain adoption center operations.

Greet the public and answer phones Provide information about the adoption process and available animals Learn about adopters’ lifestyle, animal experience, and expectations of a new pet Provide accurate details about animals’ health, behavior, and care needs Help adopters complete necessary paperwork Enter adoption information into computer records Sell pet supplies Handle cash register transactions Restock and straighten merchandise Keep adoption center clean and orderly Complete projects that facilitate adoptions

RESTRICTIONS: Volunteer needs to be 18 years and older. Position is shift based with one (1) three-hour shift worked per week for a minimum of one (1) year. Good people skills, basic animal handling skills with a good understanding of responsible pet care and the ability to present information in a positive way is necessary.

URL: www.giveshelter.org

Give animals at the shelter a clean fresh start. Bathers & Groomers address the grooming needs of animals that come into the shelter matted, dirty or just in need of some good cleaning and primping.

Work with staff to select animals in need of bathing and/or grooming Bathe and/or groom animals Utilize animal safety precautions as needed

RESTRICTIONS:

Minimum age of 18 years old Must be experienced handling high-stress animals Previous grooming experience of 2 years as a professional dog groomer Minimum of 2 references to verify experience and skills Schedule is flexible and varied based on current shelter needs Ability to commit to the shelter for a minimum of six (6) months

URL: www.giveshelter.org