Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Humane Society

Thank you for your interest in
volunteering with Humane
Society Calumet Area.
Many of our programs and
daily tasks are facilitated by
volunteers. We always need
extra help and would love to
get you started.
About Us
Humane Society Calumet Area is a 501 (c)3 organization. We have a no-kill
philosophy. We house dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. We have animal control
contracts with Munster, Highland, Dyer, and Gary in Indiana. We also take owner
surrenders. We have approximately 380 animals living here now. Humane Society
Calumet Area has four subsidiaries: the HSCA Adoption & Intake Center, the Estelle
Marcus Clinic, PAWS Resale Shoppe, and Moraine Ridge Wildlife Rehab Center.
HSCA Subsidiaries
• Adoption & Intake Center – The animal shelter in Munster is where we house all
of our animals and our main working site. The shelter is where volunteers are
most needed to assist in the kennel. Volunteer access to Intake Center is limited
due to health and safety concerns.
• Estelle Marcus Clinic – The clinic in Munster offers low-cost spay/neuter
surgeries to: low-income pet owners on government assistance; owners of pit
bulls and pit mixes; residents of Gary, IN and East Chicago, IN; feral cat
caretakers; animal shelters; animal control agencies; and rescue groups (must
be 501(c)3). Other pet health services also are offered.
• PAWS Resale Shoppe – The resale shop in Highland sells donated furniture,
electronics, books, jewelry, decorative items, etc. All the proceeds benefit HSCA.
• Moraine Ridge – Located in Valparaiso, MRWRC takes in orphaned or displaced
animals and rehabilitates them. They also offer education programs to teach
people how to live in harmony with wildlife.
Volunteer Jobs
Volunteers are needed in the following areas:
• Special Events
• Off-Site Adoption Events - must be trained in transport & animal
handling
• Pet Therapy (week days)
• Foster Care
• Front Desk
• Bathing – must have extra training
• Adoption Assistant
• Dog Walking – must have extra training
• Enrichment Program – must have extra training
• Cat Colony
• Laundry/Cleaning
• Kitchen/Kennel
• PAWS Resale Shoppe/Retail
• Clerical/Phone Banks/Mailings
• Lifesaver Program
Kitchen, Kennel, & Laundry
*Kitchen/Kennel - Volunteers are used in the kennel to help mop, wash windows, door
handles, etc. Volunteers also work in the “animal kitchen,” washing food/water bowls and
dog toys. They also help mix food and water the animals.
*Laundry - Volunteers do laundry and wash litter pans. We go through about 400 lbs. of
laundry a day! An extra helping hand cleaning up around the shelter is always appreciated.
We keep it as clean as possible to avoid spreading illnesses between the animals.
Cat Colony, Socialization, & Bathing
*Cat Colony – Volunteers help groom, care, and socialize all the cats. Cat Colony
volunteers also supervise visitors in the cat areas.
*Puppy/Kitten Socialization – Volunteers take puppies and kittens into bonding rooms
for socialization, because it is important to alleviate the stress and maintain the health
and sociability of the cats and puppies here at the shelter who must remain in cages.
*Bathing - Volunteers give dogs a complimentary grooming before they go to their new
homes when they are adopted. Volunteers must be trained in animal handling and
shadow bathers before they can start in bathing.
Enrichment Program
*Enrichment Program – Volunteers participate in this program by helping the
Behavior Department stuff Kongs, do aromatherapy, assist with playgroups**,
enter data from temperament testing, pass out rawhides, make ice treats, or any
other projects the Behavior Department may have.
**Volunteers interested in playgroups may help by running the playgroups or
being an assistant runner by bringing dogs in and out of the groups.
Dog Walking
*Dog Walking - We rely on volunteer dog walkers to get animals out of their
cages and stretch their legs. Volunteers must have extra training by
shadowing our dog walkers and must be at least 18 years old.
*We use a color coded collar system:
• Red collars means NO volunteers allowed at all – staff ONLY to handle.
• Blue collars means level 2 (or more experienced) volunteers.
• Any other color collar is fine to walk and handle.
We use short leads when walking and we double leash with one slip leash
and one hook leash.
Foster Care & Adoption Assistants
*Fostering – We offer this program for animals that are too young, injured, ill, or unsocialized to be adopted out. A foster parent provides a home and dependable nursing
care and socialization under the supervision of HSCA – usually for a period of 6-8 weeks
depending on the individual needs of each animal. At the appropriate time, the
animals are returned to the shelter and placed up for adoption. There is a separate
application to become a foster parent. Volunteers MUST be at least 21 years of age to
be a foster parent.
*Adoption Assistant - A volunteer’s main objective is to make customers feel welcome
and comfortable in the shelter. Adoption Assistants remain in the kennel area ready to
answer questions and assist visitors with viewing animals and beginning the adoption
process.
Front Desk & Clerical/Mailings
*Front Desk - This is a perfect job for someone who wants to help the animals but
doesn’t want to deal directly with them. Front desk workers typically work at least
one day a week. Front desk volunteers answer phones, update kennel cards, take
messages for staff, direct visitors, file, update animal folders, etc. This position is
secretarial.
*Clerical/Mailings - We do several mailings throughout the year and have to make
hundreds of phone calls to staff special events. We also need help inputting data
into computers.
Pet Therapy & PAWS Resale Shoppe
*Pet Therapy - Volunteers take puppies to visit with residence organizations in the
community such as retirement and nursing homes. The visits provide an opportunity for
the puppies here at the shelter to receive much needed socialization and provide the
residents with a fun experience. Volunteers may bring their own dogs only if they are
Certified Therapy Dogs. Visits are made on weekday afternoons. You will need to set aside
one day per month to be a part of this program.
*Paws Resale Shoppe - Volunteers help with sales, displays, pick-ups, and donations in
downtown Highland, IN. The shop is open Tues. & Wed. 10-4, Thurs. & Fri. 10-6, and Sat.
9-4. Volunteers are asked to commit to one 3-hour shift once a week. This is perfect for
anyone interested in retail.
Special Events & Off-Site Events
* Special Events - We are always looking for new ideas and rely largely on our volunteers
to make our special events and fundraisers successful. Many of our special events are
staffed mostly by volunteers whether it be the annual gala, animal baby shower, dog walk
in the park, book sale, 5K run/walk, holiday shopping event, etc.
*Off-Site Events - HSCA holds many off-site adoption events or humane education events
at various stores, schools, churches, municipal locations, etc. in the area. Adoptable
animals are taken to these locations in order to build relationships with the community
and gain more exposure for the animals. Volunteers interested in doing off-site events
must be trained in dog walking/animal handling and also shadow a transport to an off-site
location in order to do this.
Lifesaver Volunteer Program
*Lifesaver Volunteers are trained in:
• Adoptions
• Community Outreach
• Transport
• Disaster Relief
• Dog Walking/Animal Handling
• Fostering
Lifesaver volunteers are essentially an extension of staff. They are able to facilitate
adoptions and go to off-site events and represent HSCA. They are our expert
volunteers. Shadowing in each area is required in order to become a Lifesaver as well
as a one–on-one training.
**Lifesaver volunteers are over 18, however we do have a Lifesaver Jr. program
children can join to help promote adoptions.
DOs & DON’Ts
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Volunteers must be at least 18 or accompanied by a
parent/guardian if younger.
Minors (age 14-17) may volunteer without parental supervision as
long as they are in a school/civic club service hour program and the
volunteer coordinator is on site.
When bathing or dog walking, the volunteer MUST be at least 18
years of age and the volunteer must complete special training.
Bathing or dog walking are not available to volunteers who are
under 18.
Only volunteers 21 and older may foster animals.
Please try to commit to at least 4 hours a month of volunteering .
When you are here, please wear the volunteer shirt while working.
Please sign in and out when you are here so we may track
volunteer hours efficiently.
Calendars are posted on the volunteer board for various tasks,
please try to schedule yourself in advance on the calendar. You can
sign yourself up for shifts that fit your schedule.
Disclaimer
Humane Society Calumet Area operates under a “no-kill” philosophy. This means we
never euthanize for space.
In cases of extreme illness or aggression, we euthanize if our medical team and
management deem it necessary.
We will hold animals here as long as it takes to get them adopted. However, if an
animal is very sick and it is inhumane to keep it alive due to suffering, we euthanize
because it is in the animal’s best interest.
We deeply appreciate the empathy staff and volunteers show when these decisions
are made. They are very difficult decisions and they do not happen often. We are
proud to have a very high live release rate.
Please help us spread about HSCA
“Like” us on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/hscalumet
Follow us on Twitter at:
www.twitter.com/hscalumet
Follow us on Instagram at:
www.instagram.com/hscalumet
Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator to set up a time to come in for handson training and to fill out an application/waiver. Contact by phone at 219-9223811 Ext 308 or email at [email protected]
*The initial volunteer fee is $25 for adults and $15 for youth. It covers the cost of
your handbook and t-shirt you will receive. You can pay this fee when you come
in for your hands-on training.