Volunteer

Volunteers at the Humane Society of the Black Hills are key to helping us meet our mission of Serving Animals, Serving Community. Volunteers are vital to the success of the humane society and contribute thousands of hours each year to help ensure the animals here are socialized, happy, and healthy while they wait to be adopted.

Join our Morning Clean Team!

Volunteer

Volunteers at the Humane Society of the Black Hills are key to helping us meet our mission of Serving Animals, Serving Community. Volunteers are vital to the success of the humane society and contribute thousands of hours each year to help ensure the animals here are socialized, happy, and healthy while they wait to be adopted.

Meet March’s Volunteer of the month, Meri!

While our volunteers come from different backgrounds,
they all have three things in common…

  • Compassion for the animals in our community
  • Commitment to work together to create a brighter future for the animals
  • Consistency and reliability in helping us care for the animals and operate our programs

Some of the areas in which our volunteers provide much-needed help include the following:

*Dog Walking

*Cat Socializing

*Grooming

*Laundry

Outreach Efforts

Donor Engagement

Fundraising

*Office/Clerical Duties (when available)

Upcoming Events

 

Fill out the Volunteer Form Here!

Age Requirement

16 and under: Youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

16 and older: Ages 16 and older may work independently with the animals. However, certain dogs may only be walked by 18+.

Court Ordered Volunteering and Community Service

There are currently no opportunities for individuals needing specific hours for court-ordered volunteering, clubs, or other community service requirements.

If you need court ordered volunteer or community service hours, that is a different program than the volunteer program at the Humane Society of the Black Hills. To learn more about court ordered or community service time, call (605) 394-4170.  Community Service members must be at least 18 years of age.

High School Age Volunteers

There are currently no opportunities for onsite volunteering to obtain only specific hours required by classes or schools.  There are, however, many offsite opportunities we’d love to help you organize instead!  Email our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@hsbh.org to inquire about offsite volunteering options for your required hours that still help animals at the Humane Society of the Black Hills.

High school students and teenagers involved in church or other civic organizations often need between 4 and 10 volunteer hours. Students needing limited hours who don’t intend to become long-term volunteers at the Humane Society of the Black Hills can take advantage of a program designed for their specific needs.  This program entails specific opportunities for youth and is not the same as regular volunteering.

Groups

While we cannot accomodate group volunteering with animals (unless it’s simply walking dogs or socializing with cats), but our shelter often has projects we need some extra hands with!

Does your group have a special skillset (landscaping, building, etc.) they’d like to put to use to benefit animals in our care? Maybe your group wants to make toys, treats, or enrichment items for our residents? Reach out to our Executive Director at operations@hsbh.org to see what’s available or most needed!

Getting Started

 Please see the top of this page for a current listing of our volunteer opportunities and needs.

Here’s how to get started in the volunteer program:

  • Download the volunteer packet. (PDF)
  • Or, simply fill out the online Volunteer Form above!
  • Read and sign the contact form, release of liability and conflict of interest statement.
  • Find an orientation date that works for you on our calendar, under Events. https://www.hsbh.org/events/month/
  • Register for one of the scheduled orientation dates listed on the HSBH calendar by clicking on the link in the description of your chosen date. Then, you’ll be on the list. If you did not fill out the form online and chose to print it out, please bring completed documents to your scheduled volunteer orientation!

Orientation

Please see the top of this page for a current listing of our volunteer opportunities and needs.

Incoming volunteers are required to attend an orientation class to tour the shelter and learn about volunteer guidelines, opportunities, and Humane Society policies.  Available orientations can be found on the Humane Society calendar – https://www.hsbh.org/events/month/. Please sign up online or call us at (605) 394-4170 to sign up!

We appreciate your interest in helping us serve nearly 4,000 local animals each year! 

Questions: Contact our Volunteer Coordinator by email at volunteer@hsbh.org