Humane Society of Inland Mendocino County

Redwood Valley, California -- just north of Ukiah


Adopt Now
Click here to see our list of adoptable animals
Come Visit
Click here to get directions
Donate
Help save furry lives by sending a donation

Volunteering

HSIMC depends largely on volunteers to keep the shelter running. In fact, we have only one paid staff member... the rest of us are volunteers!

Volunteer Opportunities

There are many ways to volunteer... select an area that interests you. You can "click" on any area that is underlined to get more information about it. You can also contact the Volunteer Coordinator at hsimc@pacific.net.

____________________________
In the Office

  • Office Help (answering phones, helping visitors)
  • Desktop Publishing (newsletters, posters for fundraisers, posters advertising adoptable animals, newspaper ads and programs, etc.)

 

 

Office puppy

Mobile Adoptions

__________________________
With the Community

  • Fundraising (stuffing envelopes, making donation contacts. organizing volunteers, etc.)
  • Community Relations (manning booths, distributing information, newsletter)
  • Mobile Pet Adoptions (transport animals to and from mobile adoptions at Rainbow Agriculture in Ukiah, sit with animals)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

___________________________
With the Animals

 

 

   Dog walk

Volunteers are always needed and welcomed. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age to be present without an adult.

For more information, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 707-467-8435.

"Be a Buddy" Program

As a Buddy, you'll spend time with dogs at the shelter. Our goal is to make these animals adoptable, and spending time with volunteers like you is critical! You'll not only make their stay at the shelter more enjoyable, you'll be helping them get adopted more quickly by providing necessary socialization.

As a volunteer, you'll be able to take a dog to a large fenced-in grassy area where you can let the dog off their leash to play catch, throw a frisbee, or just watch the dog enjoy their freedom. You can also spend time with the animal in the "calm room." This is a room set up to be like a home, with a rug, furniture and radio. And of course you can take the dog for a walk around the property on its leash.

During your training you'll be taught how to go to a dog's kennel and put on a collar and leash. You'll also be taught how to encourage good behavior in the dogs.

Those interested in working with the animals must first attend a Volunteer Orientation, held the second Sunday of each month. At the orientation, volunteers are shown how to properly walk and work with the dogs, how to socialize with the cats, and so on.

Fostering Animals

Babies
At various times of the year, we are desperately in need of foster homes for young animals that we receive – kittens needing bottle-feeding, or puppies needing socialization. Because HSIMC’s policy states that ALL animals being adopted are first spayed and neutered, kittens and puppies must stay in the care of either the shelter, or the foster home, until they are old enough for the juvenile spay/neuter surgery.

Persons interested in fostering may come to the shelter and pick up a Foster Parent Application. HSIMC prefers to visit the home first, to assure that fostering is a good choice for both you and the animal(s). HSIMC provides all of the necessary items for fostering, such as formula, food and bedding. You simply provide the love and care!

Adults
Being in a shelter environment is stressful on almost every animal, and sometimes certain dogs or cats simply deteriorate when they enter a shelter setting. If we believe this animal is adoptable, it is sometimes beneficial to place them into a foster home in order to help them settle down, to work on behavioral problems and increase their adoptability.