Volunteer Opportunities
Cat Care Volunteer Carol, with Lucy
Dog Trainer Cathy Kowalski, teaching Moses to sit
Dog Enrichment Volunteer Daysha, bathing Annie
Volunteers play a vital role within our organization. Without your support, we would not be able to assist the number of animals who need help in our community. Please review the positions available below and fill out our on-line Volunteer Application.
Feel free to also contact us online or stop by the IMHS shelter, meet our staff and find out how you can help. Training for IMHS volunteer positions is done on-the-job.
We have NEW positions open, and we welcome youth volunteers to join our ranks!
Open shifts and job summaries:
Veterinarian
Are you a veterinarian or a CVT, and able to volunteer a few hours in the IMHS clinic, once a month? If so, we'd love to have you join our all-volunteer medical team by helping on surgery days to spay/neuter shelter cats and dogs! Call Carrie David, Shelter Director, for info at 303-838-2668.
Cat Care Associate
**OPEN SHIFTS on Weds, Fri, and Sat**
Position Summary: Volunteers are needed between 8.30am – 11am to perform cleaning and animal care duties in the cat adoption room, to include feeding and socializing with the cats, cleaning cages, and sweeping and mopping the floor in preparation for opening the shelter at 11am.
Qualifications: Commitment to at least one regular shift weekly. Highly dependable. Ability to recognize and report signs and symptoms of illness in cats and to work safely around cats who may be shy, frightened or undersocialized. Demonstrated sense of compassion and respect for animals, and sensitivity to the psychological needs of animals who are suffering from stress or fright. This position is appropriate for volunteers aged 16 yrs and up, or mature children aged 12 – 15 yrs co-working with a parent on the same shift.
Dog Walkers
**SUBSTITUTE needed to fill in evenings, 6.30pm - 8pm, days alternate depending on shelter needs**
Position Summary: Volunteers are needed to walk dogs and/or exercise dogs in the IMHS fenced play yard for about a one-hour shift on a fill-in basis, times are flexible, between the hours of 6.30pm - 8pm, in the absence of another volunteer dog-walker.
Qualifications: Commitment to a minimum of one regular shift weekly. Highly dependable. Ability to safely and humanely control dogs of varying activity levels on leash. Basic dog-handling skills and ability to exercise good judgment when dealing with shelter dogs. This position is open to adult volunteers, or mature children aged 13yrs and up co-working with a parent on the same shift.
Canine Enrichment Associate
**OPEN SHIFTS Tues & Fri mid-day**
Position Summary: Flexible shift hours, anytime between the hours of 11am - 3pm. The Canine Enrichment Associate focuses on elevating the quality of life for shelter dogs by helping to develop and implement our enrichment program. Duties include coordinating and overseeing doggie playgroups among resident shelter dogs, interacting one-on-one with dogs off-leash in the IMHS play yard by playing fetch, brushing dogs, and just focusing on giving each dog love and individual attention.
Qualifications: Commitment to a minimum one-hour shift each week. Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment. Ability to safely and humanely work with dogs of varying activity and excitement levels both on-leash and in a controlled off-leash play yard. Ability to recognize and report signs and symptoms of illness in dogs. Basic knowledge of canine body language and demonstrated sense of compassion and respect for animals. This position is open to volunteers aged 16 yrs and up, or mature children aged 13 – 15yrs as allowed with parental consent and at the direction of a shelter Supervisor.
Feline Enrichment Associate
**OPEN SHIFTS Tues, Weds, Fri mid-day**
Position Summary: Flexible shift hours, anytime between the hours of 11am - 3pm. The Feline Enrichment Associate focuses on elevating the quality of life of shelter cats by passing out catnip, toys and kitty treats to shelter cats as directed, interacting one-on-one with shelter felines in the IMHS cages or approved indoor and/or outdoor enclosed play areas; brushing cats, and focusing on giving each cat/kitten love, socialization and individual attention.
Qualifications: Commitment to a minimum one-hour shift each week. Ability to safely and humanely work with cats with varying levels of activity, socialization, and temperament. Ability to recognize and report signs and symptoms of illness in cats. Basic knowledge of feline body language and demonstrated sense of compassion and respect for animals. Sensitive to the psychological needs of animals who are suffering from stress or fright. This position is open to volunteers aged 14 yrs and up, or mature youth aged 9 – 13yrs as allowed with parental consent and at the direction of the Shelter Supervisor.
Marketing Associate
**OPEN POSITION, flexible days/times**
Position Summary: Volunteer needed to help market IMHS programs and services. Flexible schedule based on the availability of the volunteer and the needs of the organization. The Marketing Associate is instrumental in creating and implementing IMHS marketing plans, seeking free and highly inexpensive yet effective avenues to promote the organization. Grassroots marketing to include creating and posting IMHS advertisement signs at local businesses and switching out signs as necessary, expanding numbers of business-partners offering discounts to IMHS members, recruiting volunteers to pass out IMHS fliers and marketing materials as directed to promote special events, adoption campaigns, fundraisers, etc.
Qualifications: Commitment to a minimum of one 2-hour shift per month. Mature, outgoing, professional personality and appropriate level of assertiveness in approaching potential business IMHS partners. Willingness to cultivate support for IMHS in the community, and commitment to the mission and objectives of the organization. Excellent communication skills; the ability to work with software systems to design marketing materials. This position is appropriate for mature volunteers aged 17 yrs and up with the skill set needed to perform the job.
Retail Associate, Second Chance Thrift Shop
**SHIFTS OPEN ON WEEKENDS**
Position Summary: Volunteers sought to assist with sales and merchandising in the IMHS Second Chance Thrift Shop. Duties may include cleaning donated items, sorting and displaying items for sale; staffing the cash register; promoting IMHS programs, services, and adoptable animals; light animal care duties for resident Shop cats available for adoption.
Qualifications: Commitment to a minimum of one shift each week, shift times will typically be assigned between 9.30am – 6pm. Good customer service skills, dependability, and the desire to promote the mission and objectives of IMHS sought. Join our thrift shop “family”! For further details on volunteering in the Second Chance Thrift Shop call 303-816-2471,Tuesday – Saturday.