Volunteer

The Pembina Valley Humane Society is grateful for the compassionate care, dependability and skills that our volunteers bring to the benefit of the animals in our care. Individuals from our community commit time, talents and donations to assist staff and support the animal programs that allow us to continue the important work that we do in animal welfare in the Pembina Valley.  In short, our volunteers are the life force of the PVHS.

Our various volunteer positions provide for the opportunity to contribute to the care of animals in need, support our mission and give back to the community.  We have a strong and dedicated, yet small, volunteer team and we are always looking for volunteer team members.

Applicants to our volunteer programs are accepted based on suitability, interest, skills and our available positions.

We are currently recruiting volunteers in all areas.  Please see below for details.

How Do You Become a Volunteer?

Note: All volunteers must be 14 years of age or older, unless supervised by a parent/guardian. Minors must provide parental/guardian consent on the form.  All volunteers will be required to provide a Criminal Record Check.

  1. Complete a volunteer application form and submit to the Volunteer & Community Outreach Coordinator. Click Here to access the form. Completed forms can be dropped off in person at the shelter during our public hours or scanned and emailed to jennifer@pvhsociety.ca
  2. Once your application is received, our Volunteer & Community Outreach Coordinator will schedule an interview and discuss volunteer placement, training and scheduling.
  3. We provide theoretical and hands-on training to all volunteers.  After successful completion of training, your shifts will be determined in conversation with our Volunteer & Community Outreach Coordinator.

We hope you’ll join our amazing team of volunteers!

Dog Care Attendant

Do you love helping dogs as much as we do?  Turn your positive energy and free time into something incredibly rewarding!  This is undeniably one of the most important roles at the shelter, and one we can't live without, because it's needed every single day!  You will be responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the dogs in our care by feeding them, making sure their kennels are clean, and that they have clean and soft bedding and toys each day.

Shifts are available in the morning starting anywhere from 9 am to 10 am (actual start time is flexible), and in the evening starting from 4 pm to 5 pm, and take approximately 1 -1.5 hours (depending on the number of dogs in our care and the number of volunteers).  This is one of our most urgent volunteer needs which goes a long way to ensuring that our dogs are cared for while they wait for their new family to take them home. Click Here to access the volunteer application form.

Cat Care Attendant

In this role, you are essential to giving cats and kittens a second chance in our community.  You’ll provide important enrichment and socialization, while ensuring their rooms are bright, clean, and healthy.  Cuddling and playing with them is a must!  You would make sure they are fed, have clean water, and a clean litter box.

This role needs volunteers every day, twice a day.  Shifts are available in the morning starting anywhere from 9 am to 10 am (actual start time is flexible), and in the evening starting from 4 pm to 5 pm, and take approximately 1 -1.5 hours (depending on the number of cats in our care and the number of volunteers on shift).  Like Dog Care Attendants, this is one of our most urgent volunteer needs which goes a long way to ensuring that our cats are cared for while they wait for their new family to take them home. Click Here to access the volunteer application form.

Dog Enrichment

Studies have proven that spending time with a dog can reduce stress and improve one’s mental health.  If you’re finding you’re in need of some “you” time, becoming a Dog Enrichment volunteer is a great step!  Our dogs also experience stress in the shelter, and having someone take them to our backyard to run and play, or take them for a walk off shelter grounds, is vital to their chances of getting adopted.  You can perform this role as an individual, as a couple, or with a friend.

These shifts are flexible and can occur all throughout the week by making arrangements with our Volunteer Coordinator. Click Here to access the volunteer application form.

Cat Enrichment

If you love hearing purrs and getting head butts, we want to hear from you! More often than not, the cats that come into our care are strays who haven’t been around a lot of people.  By spending time with them in their rooms, they will learn that humans aren’t bad at all because they come with fun toys with jingly bells on them!  Some of the felines will come to you willingly and demand your attention while others are shy and need patience.  Whatever the case is, spending time with them and helping them develop their personalities is vital to them finding their new homes.

These shifts are flexible and can occur all throughout the week by making arrangements with our Volunteer Coordinator. Click Here to access the volunteer application form.

Goodnight Shift

If you’re a night owl, this might be the perfect role for you.  This role requires you to tuck the doggos into bed for the night! You’ll let them out for one last pee (because who doesn’t need that before going to bed?), top up water bowls, and then turn on some soothing lullabies to help them relax and get some sleep.

This shift is an easy one to do alone, or you can partner up with a spouse, sibling, friend, parent…you get the point!  The shift generally starts at about 9:00pm, and can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour (depending on the amount of dogs in our care).  This role requires at least one volunteer on shift to be 18+ years old.  Click Here to access the volunteer application form.

Shelter Support Volunteer

Are you friendly and detail-oriented?  This role is for you!  In this front-facing role, you will be the smiling face when visitors come to the shelter and the friendly voice when someone calls.  You'll support the shelter staff by greeting visitors and answering any questions about adopting, fostering, volunteering, making donations and more.  This role helps the Animal Care Coordinator by making adoption reference checks and adoption follow-ups, as well as helps prepare adoption or surrender paperwork. You'll also help with general cleaning and tidying of the main lobby area and laundry when needed.

This shift is a much-needed administration shift which allows our shelter staff more time to care for the animals, and is when the shelter is open to the public (varying times, Tuesday to Saturday).  Click here to access the volunteer application form.

Brand Ambassadors / Fundraising

Individuals with great ideas and a great personality wanted!  These volunteers help us get the word out about the shelter and our role in the community by working with the Marketing and Public Relations team at festivals and events, or helping the Fundraising Team plan and execute events and initiatives to raise money for the shelter.

Some fundraising duties could include:

  • Help plan our major annual fundraising events
  • Manning a public outreach & donation booth at a local store or summer festival
  • Soliciting businesses for prize donations for a silent auction
  • "Runner" to pick up donations in the community and/or deliver posters to businesses for upcoming events

The time commitment for this role is very flexible, depending on the responsibility you wish to take on.  Click Here to access the volunteer application form.

Community Events Leader

Leaders wanted!  If you have strong organizational skills, a pleasant management style, and are full of great ideas, this is the role for you.  In this role, you (along with your support team) will be leading events in the community from fairs to Christmas Photos with Santa, as well as our five flagship events.  With the Fundraising Chair and Co-Chair, you will be orienting new fundraising volunteers and scheduling/supervising them to ensure a successful event!

This role requires about 4-8 hours of commitment per month.  If you are interested in taking on this role, or if you have questions, please email our Fundraising Chair.

Supply Management

We are incredibly fortunate to have many individuals and businesses who support our mission.  Oftentimes, we will need to pick up donated supplies from around the community and make deliveries on behalf of the shelter.  Being a casual/on-call volunteer who can make these pickups and dropoffs allows our shelter staff to continue to focus their attention on the care of the animals.  Of course, when supplies are delivered, we need help organizing them.

This role would be perfect for someone who is retired or has availability during the day.  It's a simple way to make a big impact!  Click Here to access the volunteer application form.

Temporary Animal Fosters

Please visit our Become a Foster page to learn about this incredibly important and life-changing role!

School Credits

Our shelter participates in the school credit program. Students wanting to earn school credit, please contact us. Our Volunteer Coordinator is happy to write letters of reference for volunteers that exemplify a positive attitude & show themselves to be reliable, hardworking & dedicated to their volunteer efforts!

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is comprised of individuals willing to take on a leadership role within the organization. Terms are a two-year commitment from our AGM in February. Click here to view all Available Positions.

Click Here to access the Board of Directors application form.

Still have questions? Email us at hello@pvhsociety.ca