Become an HSSC Volunteer

Please note, applicants and volunteers must be at least 18 years old. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Humane Society of Summit County!
***Due to COVID-19, we have postponed all Volunteer Orientations until further notice.***

How to become a Humane Society of Summit County Volunteer:

Basic Requirements

To volunteer at the Humane Society of Summit County, you MUST be at least 18 years old.
Not yet 18 years old? You can still help in many ways! Click here to learn how.
Looking to volunteer as a group or through a corporate volunteer program? Visit our Group & Corporate Volunteers page.
Complete a Volunteer Application

Filling out a volunteer application is the first step to becoming a HSSC volunteer. The easy-to-use online application automatically imports your volunteer profile into our database.
Read the Volunteer Handbook

All HSSC volunteers must first read the General Volunteer Handbook. Access to the handbook will be sent by email after your application is approved.
Attend both Shelter Orientation and Volunteer Orientation

Shelter Orientation: Learn about what we do at the shelter and how you can help. We will talk about all the opportunities for volunteering and how to proceed further. Shelter Orientation will last about an hour and will include a tour of our facility.
Volunteer Orientation: Upon completion of Shelter Orientation, you will receive an email inviting you to come to Volunteer Orientation. Here you will have the opportunity to sign up for Dog Handling, Cat Enrichment and other activities you are interested in becoming involved with. A non-refundable $15 registration fee reserves your place for Volunteer Orientation, where you will receive your official volunteer t-shirt and name tag.
Maintain HSSC's Mandatory Volunteer Service Requirement

All volunteers must be able to volunteer a minimum of 6 hours per month or 36 hours over 6 months. This requirement is intended to maintain an active volunteer program and keep our volunteers familiar with our animals, activities, and shelter policies.

We respect your time and skills and strive to make your experience with us productive and rewarding. Although we require a time commitment, we encourage regular participation and value dependability in all our volunteers.