Volunteer - Your Time: A Great Investment
Volunteer Opportunities
| Volunteering at SMVHS |
 Click for Upcoming Dates for Volunteer Orientation:Volunteers are the mainstay of our organization and perform an essential part of our day to day operations. Volunteer opportunities available at SMVHS are as diverse as the people they attract. We offer two volunteer shifts per day, 10am to 1pm, and 1pm to 4pm, Monday through Saturday. An orientation and training class is offered to new volunteers each month. Volunteers may work one or more shifts per week. We like to place our volunteers on a regular schedule that works best for them and suits our needs. There are many areas where volunteers can be of assistance: socializing cats and kittens, exercising the dogs, office and clinic assistance. Additionally, we often have fundraising events where volunteer help is requested. What does it take to become a volunteer of SMVHS? Begin by filling out a volunteer application. Applications can be submitted online or in person at our physical address. Volunteer Orientations are held once a month and are open to anyone interested in volunteer opportunities at SMVHS. Orientation includes a presentation about the history of SMVHS, our Mission and Vision, animal success stories, and the many ways that caring volunteers can make a difference in the lives of homeless animals. The class will include a tour of the entire facility. After the presentation, if you have decided that the SMVHS is the right volunteer fit for you, you will be assigned to a specific job training class. A $20 materials fee will be collected at this time, which will cover the cost of a t-shirt, name badge and all training material needed for your volunteer service. (Please bring cash or check.) This materials fee enables us to continue our volunteer program without taking any money away from the support and care of the animals. All of the Volunteer Orientations and training classes are held at the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society. Pre-registration is required and classes fill quickly. If you would like to attend one of the upcoming volunteer orientations, please call 805-349-3435 ext 11, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please RSVP for the orientation you wish to attend, leaving your name and telephone number. If the class you have selected is full, you will be contacted and offered an alternate orientation date, if one is currently available. Orientation classes are typically held on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 5 to 7pm in the summer months. Winter schedule changes to the third Saturday of each month from 1 to 3pm. See Calendar for upcoming dates. Please Note: If you are seeking to become a volunteer at the SMVHS Thrift Store, the Volunteer Orientation class is not required. Please submit a volunteer application and contact Karen Reinecke at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for training and scheduling. For more information contact SMVHS at 805-349-3435 ext 11 or email the Volunteer Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . More Information: The age requirement for volunteering at SMVHS is a minimum of 14 years of age, with a parent or guardian. Both the youth and the parent or responsible guardian are to attend the orientation together, and the adult is to accompany the youth each time they come to the facility. Please see Volunteer_Requirements.pdf here. Working with the dogs requires a long term commitment. Dog handlers must attend the volunteer orientation and training prior to handling the dogs in any capacity. Cat socializers, office helpers, and clinic assistants are also needed and may begin shortly after they have attended a volunteer orientation. Volunteers must wear long pants and closed toe shoes to the volunteer orientation, and to every volunteer shift. Also, no dangling jewelry or strong perfume. Bring a light jacket to an evening orientation. After a couple of months working with the dogs at the shelter, volunteers may apply to join the monthly Walk In The Park dog pack walk. See photo above. Please fill out the Volunteer Application in order to reserve your space in the upcoming orientation. We look forward to a rewarding relationship with you at SMVHS. Read about more ways to help by volunteering at the Thrift Shop at the Nipomo Swap Meet under the Home tab, How You Can Help. |