Volunteering a few hours per month can make the world of difference to the animals at the shelter. Whether you spend your time helping prospective owners select a pet, or working with scared and shy animals to make them more adoptable, or whether you prefer to help with fund raising and public relations - whatever role you select, its a very rewarding thing to do. If you are unable to keep a pet at your home, its also an ideal way to introduce animals into your life.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Lynchburg Humane Society please read the below information:

In order to volunteer, please visit the LHS and fill out a volunteer application. This double sided application lists all potential volunteer positions, each position’s associated requirements and commitment expectations. Fill out the application in its entirety including your current mailing address. The LHS is open Monday through Saturday from Noon to 5pm and is located behind city stadium. Potential positions are also listed below.

Please note that the LHS’s volunteer needs change over time; therefore, only certain volunteer positions may be open at any given instance. The LHS’s current volunteer needs are posted at the LHS and on our web site.

A post card inviting applicants to the next orientation session will be mailed to each applicant a few weeks prior to the orientation session. Orientation session dates are posted at the LHS and on our web site. Typically only two to four formal orientation sessions are held each year. Orientation sessions are held at the Lynchburg Humane Society - 3305 Naval Reserve Road, Lynchburg VA 24501.

Attendance at an orientation session is mandatory before one can begin volunteering with the LHS. Additionally, volunteers will be required to sign an LHS contract and receive detailed training depending on the chosen position. Written training materials are also provided. Each volunteer is asked to make a time commitment dependent upon the chosen position. Each position has its own requirements and time commitments.

Anyone under 18 years of age who volunteers with the LHS is called a junior volunteer. Junior volunteers must be supervised, at all times, by a legal guardian. The legal guardian must attend the orientation session and all training sessions along with the junior volunteer.

The LHS staff and board invest a great deal of time and effort in managing the volunteer program. Hence, the LHS seeks volunteers who will make a long term commitment to the LHS. For this reason, college students seeking to fulfill college required community service are not recruited by the LHS.

The LHS volunteer program is run jointly by the shelter supervisor and a volunteer board member. Questions regarding the LHS volunteer program may be directed to Michele Dionisio, Shelter Supervisor. at 846-1438 (Noon to 5pm) or Jo Ann Beehler, volunteer board member at 385-9169 (after 7pm).

Potential Volunteer Positions

Adoption Counselor (must attend additional training) - Assist potential adopters in pet selection, explain adoption policies, answer questions, remove pets from cages/runs and allow potential adopters to interact with animal. Time Commitment = One Saturday or weekday per month.

Pet Transport (must have valid drivers license, vehicle must be covered by liability insurance, must attend additional training) - Transport animals to and from Veterinarian offices and groomers located in Lynchburg and surrounding areas. Animals must be appropriately contained during transport. Time Commitment = one weekday morning per week.

Animal Socialization & Grooming (must attend additional training) - exercise and socialize animals to make them more adoptable; bathe and groom animals to make them more comfortable and adoptable. Time Commitment = one day per week.

Kennel Assistant (must attend additional training) - clean small animal cages, clean dog and puppy runs. Feed and water animals. Time Commitment = one morning per week.

Gofer (must have valid drivers license, vehicle must be covered by liability insurance) - pick up shelter supplies, donated items, etc. Time Commitment = one afternoon per week.

Collection Box Pick-up (must have valid drivers license, vehicle must be covered by liability insurance) – develop collection box route near your home, then pick up full collection boxes, and replace with an empty box. Deposit money to LHS account. Time Commitment = varies.

Shelter Support (must attend additional training) – duties include: clean non-animal areas (kitchen, bathroom, lobby) wash windows, sort newspaper, make up litter boxes, fill-out cage cards, attach labels to newsletters, perform adoption and spay/neuter follow-up phone calls during week nights. Time Commitment = one day per week.

Web Work and/or Newsletter – Take digital photos and perform write-ups of shelter animals for the LHS web site and/or PetFinder.com; write articles for LHS web site and newsletters. Time Commitment = approx. 2 to 4 hours per week for web work; several hours per quarter for newsletters.

Fund-Raising & Special Events - assist board members to raise funds for the shelter through a variety of events. Time Commitment = varies.

Junior Volunteer - Volunteers under the age of 18 are Junior Volunteers. All Junior Volunteers must be accompanied by a legal guardian. The guardian accompanying the junior volunteer must complete all volunteer requirements, including submission of an application, attendance at orientation, and additional training.