Volunteers are the heart of Lawrence Humane Society.

Every day, our volunteers help animals feel safe, loved, and cared for while they wait for their families. From walking dogs and socializing cats to supporting shelter operations, volunteers make lifesaving work possible.

By giving your time, you help reduce stress for animals in our care, improve their wellbeing, and increase their chances of finding a home. You’ll also be part of a compassionate community working to make a difference for pets and people across Douglas County. And along the way, you’ll enjoy plenty of wagging tails, happy purrs, and the occasional wet nose.

Anyone aged 7 to 15 is considered a junior volunteer, and must have a parent or guardian accompany them during all trainings and shifts. One adult volunteer may supervise up to two junior volunteers at a time. For safety reasons, junior volunteer may be restricted to certain tasks.

We are flexible and are so thankful you’d spend your free time helping the pets of Lawrence Humane! While we don’t have a firm requirement, we do recommend that volunteers complete a minimum of 3 hours of service each month to stay up-to-date and in-the-know with current shelter practices and protocols.

New volunteers must complete a minimum of 4 “essential shelter help” hours before moving to the next level of volunteering.

Please note if you are inactive for more than a year, your account will be deactivated, and you will be asked to complete retraining if you would like to resume volunteering.

We have numerous volunteer opportunities both in-shelter and from home. 

  • Animal Interactions – Help our animals stay healthy and happy with dog walking, cat socializing, animal enrichment and training, personality testing, assisting in the spay/neuter clinic, taking animal photos for the website, transporting animals and more!
  • Customer Service – Assist our staff in adoptions, admissions and the retail store by providing friendly, efficient customer service to all members of the public.
  • Behavior – Assist our behavior team with playgroups or working on specific behaviors on animals.

There’s a lot that goes into a volunteer program, including staff salaries, paying for the volunteer database, volunteer t-shirts, etc. The $15 t-shirt and application fee helps us offset these costs and allows more money to go directly to the care of our animals!

We are open 365 days of the year, including holidays. While we need volunteers every day, we are especially grateful for support in the early mornings for cleaning and on the weekends. Volunteers are generally needed each day from 9am to 6pm. 

Once a volunteer sign-up form has been submitted, you will receive an email from our volunteer coordinator with next steps. 

The email will outline the details of how to sign up for volunteer orientation. Volunteer orientations are held in the multi-purpose room at Lawrence Humane. Once a volunteer has completed orientation and submitted all required documentation, then the volunteer can schedule an orientation and a first volunteer shift. Everyone’s first volunteer shift will include a tour by our volunteer coordinator, where she will show you how to complete basic shelter help and familiarize you with the shelter! 

Volunteer orientation is about 30 minutes long and includes a short presentation that explains our volunteer program and a bit about our history!

Yes! Please see the Group Service Project section below to learn more!

Don’t worry! Volunteering is just one of the many ways that you can get involved and help save lives. You could try fostering a pet, which allows you to open up your home to an animal in need. You can donate money or supplies from our wish list, such as food, treats, cat litter, toys, and other goods that help us to provide the best care for pets in the shelter. Sharing our adoptable pets on your social media channels can also help us to find homes for animals while helping to educate people on the importance of adoption. However you chose to help, we appreciate your support!

Lawrence Humane Society may be able to accommodate court-ordered community service on a limited basis, depending on the nature of the offense and our current volunteer capacity.

To ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, and animals, we cannot accept individuals completing community service for offenses involving violence, theft, or animal-related charges.

Individuals seeking to complete court-ordered community service must submit a request in advance and receive approval before beginning any service hours. If approved, participants will be assigned tasks that support daily shelter operations, such as laundry, cleaning, organizing donations, or facility projects.

Please note that community service opportunities are not guaranteed, and availability may vary based on staff supervision capacity and shelter needs.

If you are interested in completing court-ordered community service with Lawrence Humane Society, please contact us to learn more about current availability and eligibility requirements.

Have other questions? Contact us at volunteer@lawrencehumane.org!

Login to your BetterImpact volunteer portal by clicking here. 

Join our Facebook group!

To help ensure a safe, positive experience for both volunteers and the animals in our care, we ask all volunteers to follow these guidelines:

  • Attend volunteer orientation before beginning service.

  • Complete at least four hours of Essential Shelter Help before working directly with animals.

  • Sign up for volunteer shifts in advance so we can plan appropriately for the day.

  • Volunteer shifts are available daily from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

  • Clock in and out for each shift so we can accurately track volunteer hours and the impact of our volunteer program.

  • Volunteer waivers must be signed and submitted before or during your first shift.

  • A $15 volunteer program fee is due at the start of your first shift.

  • Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirt, long pants, and closed-toe shoes while volunteering at the shelter.

  • Junior volunteers must be accompanied by an adult at all times during service hours.

 

Thank you for helping create a safe, supportive environment for the animals and the people who care for them. Your time and compassion make a meaningful difference for pets in our community.

We love welcoming community groups to Lawrence Humane Society and do our best to accommodate meaningful service opportunities whenever possible.

If you’re interested in scheduling a group service day or shelter tour, you can submit a request to volunteer with us as a group. To ensure the best experience for both your group and the animals in our care, we review each request based on factors such as staff availability, group size, and current shelter needs.

Group service requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of your desired date.

Request A Group Service Project

Examples of On-Site Group Service Projects

Depending on group size, staff availability, and current shelter needs, group service volunteers may assist with a variety of projects such as:

Help create enrichment that keeps animals mentally stimulated and reduces stress while they wait for homes. Groups may assist with making enrichment toys, preparing frozen treats or lick mats, stuffing Kongs, assembling toy kits, and organizing enrichment supplies used by staff and volunteers every day.

Support the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the shelter running smoothly. Projects may include washing and folding laundry, cleaning dishes and food bowls, sanitizing crates and carriers, assembling e-collars for surgery patients, cutting surgical drapes, organizing supply areas, and preparing adoption or foster go-home kits.

Help manage the generous donations we receive from the community and maintain welcoming shelter spaces. Groups may sort pet food and supplies, organize donation storage, prepare items for the Pet Pantry, break down boxes for recycling, assist with light cleaning projects, or help with outdoor grounds work such as yard clean-up and landscaping.

Because of safety and training requirements, most group service projects do not involve direct animal handling. However, these projects make a meaningful impact by supporting the daily care and wellbeing of animals at Lawrence Humane Society.

If an on-site service project isn’t the right fit for your group, there are still many impactful ways to support Lawrence Humane together:

Organize a Donation Drive
Collect much-needed items like pet food, treats, towels, and enrichment supplies. We offer a donation drive kit to help you get started.

Start a Fundraising Campaign
Create a custom fundraising page and invite friends, family, and colleagues to support Lawrence Humane’s lifesaving work. It’s easy to set up and can be tailored to your group, workplace, or event.

Take a Dog on a Mass Street Mutts Adventure
Depending on the size of your group, you can head out together with one dog or split into smaller groups to take multiple dogs on field trips around the community. These outings provide enrichment, exercise, and valuable exposure that helps dogs find homes faster.

No matter how you choose to get involved, your group’s support helps create brighter futures for pets and people in our community.

Give a shelter dog an adventure they deserve while bringing joy to your day! Take ’em out for a walk or hike, grab a pup cup, have them spready some joy around the office, or snuggle up on the couch! Make a difference in the life of a shelter dog while enjoying some furry companionship. 

Learn more and sign up!