VOLUNTEERING
Make A Lasting ImpactJoin Us & Make A Difference
We could not provide such outstanding care for our animals without the help of our dedicated volunteers. Anderson Humane volunteers are involved in nearly every aspect of what we do, providing hands-on care to animals and helping to keep the facility clean, participating in events and fundraisers, assisting with administrative functions, and even fostering animals in their own homes.
Our extensive volunteer program enables individuals or groups to become involved in helping the shelter according to their interests and talents. The volunteer program is for adults (ages 16+) and offers individuals the opportunity to work on behalf of the shelter’s animals to impact our community positively.
PLEASE NOTE: Most volunteer opportunities require a membership fee ($30) and attendance at Safety & Protocols training. Volunteer membership includes an Anderson Humane volunteer t-shirt and name tag.
Ready to get started? First, click the button below to learn more about volunteer opportunities. After completing the video, you will be directed to pay your membership donation. Once the donation is complete, you’ll be sent an email to register to volunteer and another e-mail that will include your safety training! Then we will be in touch to schedule your hands-on training.
School Service Hours
Are you in need of volunteer service hours for school or a project? You can fulfill those requirements by assisting with dogs, cats, wildlife, or non-animal activities based on your availability. We offer opportunities for 15, 40, and 60 hours of service.
- 15 hours – to help clean dishes and laundry – Location: South Elgin
- 40 Hours – Cat Care: clean and socialize – Locations: South Elgin, Bloomingdale, North Aurora
- 60 Hours – Dog Care: walk & socialize – Locations: South Elgin, Bloomingdale, North Aurora
- 60 Hours – Wildlife: feed & clean wildlife – Locations: South Elgin (nursery babies), Elburn (raccoons, opossums and more) Note: This option does not begin until March and concludes in October.
Ways You Can Volunteer
Wildlife
Locations: South Elgin, Elburn
Time Commitment: Require minimum of 8 hours/month
- Feeding baby wildlife
- Working with injured wildlife
- Repairing & rebuilding wildlife enclosures
- Misc. cleaning, laundry, etc.
Dog Care
Locations: South Elgin, North Aurora, Bloomingdale
Time Commitment: Required minimum of 4 hours/month for 3 months
- Dog enrichment & feeding
- Dog walking
- Transport arrival
support - North Aurora & Bloomingdale
adoption center support - Occasional cleaning, laundry, etc.
Cat Care
Locations: South Elgin, North Aurora, Bloomingdale
Time Commitment: Required minimum of 4 hours/month for 3 months
- Cat socialization
- North Aurora & Bloomingdale
adoption center support - Feeding, cleaning, laundry, etc.
Off-Site Cat Care
Locations: Algonquin Petco, Geneva Petco, South Elgin Petco
Time Commitment: Requires a consistent, weekly morning or afternoon shift. The average shift is 1-2 hours.
- Feeding and cleaning
- Enrichment and socialization
- Volunteer independently
Clinic
Locations: South Elgin Clinic and South Elgin shelter
Time Commitment: Require minimum of 4 hours/month
- Surgical recovery
- Low-cost vaccine clinics
- Transport arrivals
- Administrative tasks
- Misc. cleaning, laundry, surgical prep, etc.
Occasional Volunteering
Locations: Varies
Time Commitment: Require a minimum of 4 hours/month
- Gardening & landscaping
- Photography & marketing
- Special events
- Administrative support
- Adoption events
Interested in any of the volunteer opportunities listed above? Click the register button below to get started!
Group Volunteer Opportunities
Does your organization want to make a difference? Do they want to make a direct impact in the lives of the animals in our care? If yes, then consider signing up to volunteer as a group! Each group will work on a project together, followed by a tour of our shelter.
Group Size & Location
Due to space constrictions and limited parking, we’re able to host groups of approximately 10 folks. Volunteer groups usually spend 2 hours at our facilities. We have weekday availability from 9am-12pm. Your group can volunteer at our Main Shelter or our Elburn location.
Volunteer Activities
There are plenty of projects volunteer groups can help with such as:
- Cutting Treats
- Prepping Kongs or Licky Mats
- Creating Snuffle Mats or Tug Toys
- Preparing Flats & Shreds of Newspaper
- Landscaping
- Outdoor Projects
- Events
For more information, complete the form below! Once completed, out volunteer team will be in touch.
Scout Projects
We welcome the efforts of youth to become leaders and contributors in our community. If you are a Scout or a member of another youth organization interested in pusuing a particular project at Anderson Humane, please fill out and submit the interest form below. Please also indicate if you have a project in mind that might suit your interests and skill level.
Over the years Anderson Humane has been the recipient of projects completed by Scouts.
Court Ordered Community Service
- 16 years of age or older
- 20 minimum hour requirement
- Must be a traffic violation or DUI
- All hours are completed at our South Elgin Location 1000 S. LaFox St, South Elgin, IL
- Adhere to an attendance policy
- Laundry
- Dishes
- Cleaning Kennels
- Yard waste pick up/ Station upkeep
- Wildlife Room Sanitation
For more information, complete the form below! Once completed, our volunteer team will be in touch.
Other Ways to Volunteer
Fostering
Locations: Pick up at South Elgin, potential visit at clinic in South Elgin
- Short- and long-term fostering of dogs and cats.
- Baby kitten bottle feeding
- Medical fostering
- Doggie-day-out
- Short- and long-term fostering of small animals, birds and reptiles.
Healing Paws Comfort Animal
Location: Kane County
Time Commitment: Prefer minimum of 2 hours/month
- Provide positive experiences to children and adults throughout our community
- Healing Paws volunteers and their pet partners visit schools, libraries, rehabilitation facilities, senior communities, and local businesses on a regularly defined schedule.
Constant Companions
Location: Kane County
When caring for a pet becomes physically challenging for seniors, veterans, and others, our Constant Companions volunteers offer in-home assistance.
These volunteers can:
- walk the dog
- clean the litter box
- provide a ride to the vet or groomer
- administer the pet’s medication
- other tasks needed to ensure the pet’s well-being
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Funding for this website provided by Forefront - the Mission Sustainability Initiative.
Anderson Humane is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS. FE #: 36-6164626 Copyright © 2024 by Anderson Humane.
Anderson Humane
1000 S. La Fox Street
South Elgin, IL 60177
(847) 697-2880