Volunteer Sign Up

Dog Walking Volunteers:

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer dog walker at HSMSC, please complete this application. Please note that dog walking volunteers must be 18 or older. Once you have submitted your application, our volunteer manager will reach out via email to help you sign up for Dog Walker Orientation. At the Dog Walker Orientation, we provide an overview of The Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County’s programs and services, answer frequently asked questions about our dogs, and go over practical hands on skills you will need as a dog walker.

After orientation, you will need to purchase your volunteer equipment. This includes a yellow dog walker t-shirt and approved leash. These supplies must be purchased prior to your first dog walking shift. All volunteers are required to fill out a waiver of liability prior to volunteering.

Before you sign up, please know that we currently have two daily shifts available to volunteer dog walkers – the morning and afternoon walks which take place between 9:00am-11:00am and 3:30pm-6:30pm. If you cannot volunteer during these hours, it may be best to explore other ways to be involved with the Humane Society!

Cat Care and General Volunteers:

Update: we are currently pausing sign ups for cat care and general volunteering. You may submit an application to participate in the program, but it may several weeks before we are able to train and get volunteers started. If you are interested in volunteering as a cat care assistant, or in general volunteering (administrative and event help, photography, IT, greeting adopters, etc.) please complete this application. Once you have submitted your application, our volunteer manager will reach out via email to help you sign up for your first volunteer shift. At your first shift, you will need to purchase a green general volunteer t-shirt and fill out a waiver of liability.

School Community Service Hours:

Our student community service program is currently closed while we reorganize and evaluate need and staff capacity to host volunteers.

As an alternative to volunteering on-site, we encourage students to participate in one of our community events; organize a donation drive fundraiser; or create a personal campaign to raise money for our animals. Any student is welcome and encouraged to do a donation drive fundraiser or a personal campaign to earn service hours. Please email Hillary Hooke at hhooke@memphishumane.org for details.

Court-Ordered Community Service (Separate from our General Volunteer Programs):

The Court Ordered Community Service Program at The Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County is available for individuals who are required to complete court-ordered community service hours within Shelby County and the surrounding areas. Due to limited time and training, Court Ordered Community Service volunteers will not have direct animal contact while working at the Humane Society. We are only able to take a limited number of Court Ordered Community Service volunteers, so we do not guarantee that we have opportunities available at any given time.

Court Ordered Community Service tasks will include, but are not limited to: kennel cleaning, laundry, dishes, bathrooms, floors and other cleaning tasks. If you have any physical limitations or health concerns, please let us know in your application, so that we can assess whether we have tasks that accommodate your needs.

• We CANNOT accept Community Service volunteers with the following charges, either current or past: aggravated offenses, violent crimes, any assault, or animal cruelty.
• All Court Ordered Community Service volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.
• We have limited shifts available; depending on your hours needed and due date, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate your request for community service.
• All shifts will be scheduled ahead of time; we are NOT a drop-in program.
• Court Ordered Community Service volunteers will not handle animals.
• You must have documentation of hours needed and offense committed from a Shelby County court, parole officer, probationary officer, or other mandated service. The court documents must include the parole/probationary officer’s name and telephone number, and DOC number (if applicable), number of hours to be completed, and deadline for completion.
• Must have a valid ID, driver’s license, passport, or government ID.
• Must be able to follow directions under Humane Society supervision.
• Must be forthcoming with the nature of their offense.

Please note that The Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County reserves the right to refuse a Court Ordered Community Service Volunteer, or ask them to leave, at any time for any reason.

To check for available opportunities and speak to the Court Ordered Community Service program manager, please email Leonard at ltiscia@memphishumane.org.