in-shelter volunteering
Naperville Area Humane Society’s in-shelter volunteers work directly with our homeless animals. As one of our in-shelter volunteers, you will be at the forefront of helping keep our animals healthy, both mentally and physically. It is only through the help of our volunteers that NAHS is able to help so many animals find their forever homes each year!
Please take a moment to review the volunteer requirements and the FAQ’s below to see if volunteering in the shelter is a good fit for you.
in-shelter volunteer requirements
Be at least 16 years of age.
Have a working email address.
Attend an orientation and a mentoring session.
Fill out the online application.
Volunteer for at least three shifts every month for a minimum of one year.
Pay a one-time, $25 program fee. This fee is due before your mentoring shift takes place or can be paid the day of your mentoring shift. The fee covers the cost of your volunteer t-shirt, badge and training materials which you will receive at your mentoring shift.
There is a $10 fee for any additional t-shirts or replacements and a $10 yearly renewal fee.
frequently asked questions
What will I be doing as an in-shelter volunteer at NAHS?
Dog Caretaker - Assist the Animal Care staff in providing the best care possible through kennel upkeep (filling water bowls, cleaning kennels as needed, doing laundry) followed by quality time with the dogs in their kennels, petting, playing and rewarding with treats for calm behavior.
Cat Caretaker - Assist the Animal Care staff in providing the best care possible through condo/room upkeep (filling water bowls, cleaning litter boxes and condos/rooms as needed and doing laundry) followed by quality time with the cats to help reduce stress by playing, petting and rewarding with treats which can all help make them happy and more adoptable.
Morning Cleaner (Cat & Dog) - Assist the Animal Care staff in providing the best care possible by providing healthy living spaces through daily cleaning and sanitizing of cat condos/rooms or kennels while the animals await their forever homes.
Dog Walker - Exercise and provide companionship for our dogs by walking them outside (rain and snow days included). Walks are to provide the dogs with time outside of their kennels to enjoy fresh air, sunshine, sniffing opportunities and potty breaks. There are 3 walking shifts to choose from; morning, afternoon & evening. Please note you must start as a dog caretaker first.
Why do I need to pay a $25 program fee?
The fee covers the cost of your volunteer t-shirt and badge which you will receive at your mentoring shift. Your t-shirt must be worn on all volunteer shifts.
How long is a shift?
The average caretaker and walking shifts are one hour long and start on the hour (so, 1:00 rather than 1:30). Morning cleaning shifts are approximately two-and-a-half hours long (8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)
What are the hours?
Caretaker shifts take place from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the week and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the weekends.
Morning kennel/condo cleaning takes place every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Dog walking has 3 walking shifts to choose from: mornings 8:00 a.m. to 9:00a.m. / afternoons 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. / evenings 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Can I volunteer for longer than one hour or more than once a week?
Absolutely! If there is an opening in the schedule, you are welcome to sign up and come on in!
How often do I need to volunteer?
We ask that you volunteer at least 3 times every month for at least one year. Ideally, we would like you to commit to a set weekly schedule, for example, every Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m..
What if my schedule changes all the time?
Not a problem! You will have the ability to schedule/remove yourself as you have availability.
Can I work with both cats and dogs?
Absolutely! But we will ask that you get started on just one side. Once you volunteer for a few shifts, you can request to be trained on the other side of the building.
If you are interested in volunteering at the shelter with our homeless animals, please click on the sign up button below to fill out an application.
Questions? Please contact our Volunteer Training Coordinator Peggy Kolar at pkolar@naperhumane.org or (630) 420-8989 x1004.