How You Can Help

• We need people to help us clean in the morning. We are here 7 days a week and prepare the Shelter for viewing from 8 - 11 a.m. each day. It's a lot of work to clean and feed up to 100 dogs and cats every morning!

• We also need dog walkers. Dogs become much more adoptable when they are calm and quiet. Dog walkers also let us know about commands a dog knows and its likes and dislikes. 

• We look for volunteers to help with special events, adoption events, and getting the word out about the wonderful pets we have here.  We usually ask for help on our Facebook page, so be sure to “friend” us!

• Unfortunately, we can’t take volunteers under 18 years of age.

Volunteer Policies & Guidelines

It is important volunteers be dependable and effective during their volunteer hours. It is equally important that the Shelter staff provide an atmosphere that is conducive to the needs and desires of its volunteers. If these commitments are met on both sides, the program is assured to operate smoothly and the animals will benefit the most.

Requirements

1. Age. All volunteers must be 18 years old or older.
2. Applications. All volunteers are required to complete a volunteer application prior to providing volunteer service.
Applicants will be asked to provide drivers license and may be required to undergo a background check and/or drug and alcohol test. This information is requested in an effort to provide a safe and secure atmosphere for the citizens that visit the shelter. 
3. Screening Process. Persons who have been convicted of a felony or any animal cruelty charges will not be selected. Prospective volunteers that are turned away may appeal the decision as follows:
• Any volunteer applying with the Livingston County Animal Shelter Volunteer Program that is turned away based on the criminal history screening will be notified by the Volunteer Coordinators office of the findings via letter. 
•  The Livingston County Animal Shelter reserves the right to make changes without notification to the guidelines set forth in the driver’s license/criminal history to check eligibility criteria whenever deemed necessary for the safety and protection of all citizens.
4. Volunteer Orientation. Orientation will be scheduled monthly, on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. All volunteers are required to attend volunteer orientation. Once orientation has been completed, training will be scheduled with the Volunteer Coordinator.  This includes dog and cat handling training. If you do not start your volunteer work shift within a month after completion of the volunteer orientation, your file will be placed in an inactive status. Should you desire to volunteer at a later date, you will be required to attend the volunteer orientation again.
   

• Our biggest need is dog and cat food. Our food bills are close to $6,000 per year! We feed any good quality DRY food for dogs and cats. We use very little canned food, we only feed that for an animal that is ill or has a dietary requirement. 

• We also use regular cat litter. Clumping litter is not used in shelter environments as the litter has to be totally discarded every couple of days, so it is not cost efficient.  

• We do accept monetary donations. There is a special fund set up for our shelter so we may use the funds for medical needs for a pet or for improvements to the shelter. Checks can be made payable to Livingston County Animal Control and mailed to the Shelter at 418 S. Highlander Way, Howell, MI 48843. 

• We also accept towels, blankets (thin ones that can run through a washer), wash cloths, and sheets.  

• We use Kuranda Dog Beds. They are almost indestructible and are great in a shelter were dogs are under stress and like to chew. You can go to http://kuranda.com/donate and have a dog bed sent directly to us! We do take cloth dog beds, but once they are soiled, they will be discarded. 

• Our pets can always use toys. It will need to be washable or easily sterilized to prevent the spread of disease from animal to animal.  

• We belong to VG's program. If you sign up with them we automatically receive 1% of the total receipt, minus alcohol and tobacco. We'll put those donations to good use. We no longer accept the actual receipt.   

• We no longer use newspaper.