Volunteer Power!
Join our team!
Our volunteer team plays a vital role in our mission to save the lives of animals. Our various volunteer positions allow for an opportunity to help animals in need, learn about proper animal care, and give back to the community in significant ways. The shelter is open 365 days a year and our volunteers help at the shelter between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. We are flexible according to your schedule and the length of time you can support the animals.
Benefits of Being a Volunteer at HSKL:
- You can make a difference in the lives of animals.
- Belonging to an amazing team of like-minded individuals.
- You will be able to schedule your volunteer shifts online where they best fit into your lifestyle.
- You can make a difference in your community.
Volunteer Requirements
- You must be at least 14 years old to volunteer – Ages 14-16 years old MUST be always accompanied by a guardian.
- To work with the dogs, you MUST be 19 years of age.
- You must be able to commit to at least three shifts a month, for at least six months.
- All volunteers must be willing to undergo training and follow shelter protocols.
- As part of our health and safety protocol, we strongly recommend that all volunteers have a current tetanus shot.
Getting Started
- To become a volunteer, please complete the form HERE. NOTE: We select eligible candidates for priority volunteer positions to discuss the next steps. We look for various skill sets and are interested in knowing how you would like to help the animals and HSKL and how you envision yourself working with our team.
- The Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch to arrange a time for you to come in for an orientation.
- After the orientation, you will receive training in the areas where we need volunteers.
- Following your training period, you may be shadowing someone until you feel comfortable working independently.
WE ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING FOR THE FOLLOWING VOLUNTEER ROLES - - Please check this page periodically to see what positions we are recruiting for, as we will only be contacting candidates suitable for high-priority roles.
Feline Care Program
The Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our animal care team! Volunteers who take on this role are responsible for helping our feline residents by cleaning and disinfecting kennels according to HSKL protocols, providing daily feeding, and providing some socialization and enrichment.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Shelter Support – Laundry, Dishes and Litter
The Humane Society of Kawartha is seeking volunteers to help keep our animals healthy by cleaning and disinfecting litter boxes and food dishes, and doing laundry.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Foster Program
The Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes (HSKL) relies on the dedication of foster volunteers to care for animals who may not be ready for adoption due to medical or behavioral reasons, or who need a break from the shelter. Foster volunteers temporarily care for animals in their home until the animals are ready to be adopted. The goal of the Foster Program is to provide the animals in our care with an opportunity for a happy and healthy future. Currently, we are specifically seeking foster homes who are able and willing to take on larger dogs, older cats or litters of kittens.
Learn more about the Foster Program.
Adoption Event Volunteers
HSKL requires volunteers who can occasionally oversee cat adoptions at area pet stores during special adoption events. This requires picking up the animals in the morning and transporting them to the store, caring for the animals while they are onsite at the store, processing adoptions and returning animals to the shelter at the end of the day.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Pet Therapy Volunteers
HSKL is looking for volunteers who already have a behavior-assessed companion animal or would be willing to bring kittens from the shelter to assisted living facilities to promote the human-animal bond and encourage participants to interact with animals.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES NOT CURRENTLY RECRUITING
Feline Enrichment Program
The Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our animal care team! This program provides out-of-cage time to cats in need to maximize their daily physical and psychological wellbeing, prevent stress-related illness, and increase adoptability. Volunteers are responsible for providing enrichment to felines in the form of socialization, play, exercise, visual stimulation and mild grooming.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Canine Care Program
The Humane Society of Kawartha is seeking volunteers to provide our dogs with sanitary living quarters, mental and physical exercise and socialization. This includes cleaning and disinfecting kennels according to HSKL protocols, providing daily feeding, and providing some socialization and enrichment. Note: you MUST be 19 years of age to work with the dogs.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Canine Enrichment Program
The Humane Society of Kawartha is seeking reliable, patient and knowledgeable people with experience handling large, energetic canines to walk dogs, offer basic enrichment, encourage basic obedience (“sit”, “down”, and loose-leash walking), and follow behaviour modification plan instructions for dogs in the shelter. In many cases, these dogs are new to the shelter (and therefore more stressed) and have not received a lot of training in their lives. Canine Care Program volunteers should be strong and confident enough to handle large dogs.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Volunteer Drivers
The Humane Society of Kawartha regularly needs drivers who can take animals to veterinary appointments and adoption events. Volunteer drivers are often needed early in the morning and later in the afternoon. All drivers will be trained and insured on HSKL vehicles, and trained in safe transportation and handling of animals.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Office Volunteer
HSKL is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our administrative team. Administration and office support volunteers will work closely with the various departments on selected office support and administrative tasks.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Content Creator Volunteer
HSKL is seeking a creative individual to develop content for social media and web platforms. Content types may include posts, blogs, visual storytelling, animation, graphics and video. Being comfortable with animals and having familiarity with content editors is a must. Knowledge of non-profit technology issues is highly desired.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Volunteer Photographer
We are looking for photographers and videographers who have experience taking portrait-style photographs, are comfortable with animals and can stage and capture wonderful adoption images and video.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Retail Volunteers
HSKL’s Second Chance Store is 100% volunteer operated and 100% of our sales benefit the shelter and the animals in our care. The store regularly requires volunteers for the following roles:
- Pricing donated items
- Inventory and displays
- Cleaning, maintenance and moving inventory
- Delivery to other charities
- Store clerks
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information about these roles.
Special Event Volunteers
Throughout the year, HSKL raises money and awareness through various public events, and partners with other agencies on adoption and fundraising events. To support these events, we require volunteers for the following tasks:
- Event set up and tear down - set up tables, chairs, signage, and clean and pack up after the event.
- Greeting and Registration - welcome guests, check-in attendees, provide name tags, collect donations, etc.
- Engaging with guests/donors -answer questions about HSKL if applicable, and encourage guests to participate in activities.
- Manage a table/booth at events - Greet guests with a friendly smile, arrange promotional materials and display items neatly. Accept donations and talk about HSKL.
- Manage the sale of raffle tickets, handle cash donations, and assist with silent or live auctions.
- Photography - take photos and/or videos to share on the HSKL social media pages
Bingo Volunteer – Accounting Lead
HSKL is fortunate to be the charity recipient of a weekly bingo game in Lindsay. We are currently recruiting for a back-up accounting lead, who can sell bingo cards to customers, accurately handle cash and accounting associated with these sales, pay out winning players and reconcile all ticket sales with the cash received at the end of each shift. This volunteer will also be responsible for liaising with HSKL Finance staff following each week’s game to deliver the sales spreadsheet.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Bingo Volunteer – Ticket Sales
HSKL is fortunate to be the charity recipient of a weekly bingo game in Lindsay. We are currently recruiting for back-up ticket sales volunteers, who can sell bingo cards to customers, accurately handle cash and accounting associated with these sales and pay out winning players.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie Decorators
During peak campaign periods, HSKL needs volunteers to decorate cookies at Tim Horton’s stores. Shifts are typically three hours long and require standing and some physical exertion.
Email volunteer@hskl.ca for more information.
