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Shelter Volunteer Project for Kids

Donations Benefit Children and Dogs

© Joy Butler

Jun 22, 2008
Child Volunteer Changing Paper in Puppy Cage, JButler
Pet shelters depend on volunteers. Kids can organize fun projects or donate time and energy to help homeless pets.

In an imperfect world of too many homeless pets, volunteer work is important. And yes, even kids can make a difference by volunteering at the local shelter.

Why Should Kids Volunteer?

Most shelters are run on a shoestring budget and can barely pay for essentials. They depend on charity and volunteers for much of the labor and small comforts that make tremendous impact in the lives of the animals they rescue.

Kids who volunteer just a few hours each week with a pet shelter learn responsibility and compassion, gain experience in the work world, make new friends, feel needed, and have fun all at the same time. These young helpers may also land a job through volunteer work or discover a calling that eventually leads to a career. Volunteering is a good way to spend holidays and summer vacation.

Volunteering helps children feel that they too have the power to make the world a better place. According to Ann Pleshette Murphy, parenting expert for ABC’s “Good Morning America” and contributing editor for USAWeekend.com, studies show that kids who volunteer have better grades, fewer discipline problems and are less likely to abuse drugs, cigarettes or alcohol.

Volunteer Ideas

Most shelters will happily provide a wish list. Kids can organize a car wash, garage sale, lemonade sale, bake sale, or aluminum can drive to raise funds for these items or have fun using the money to pick out dog toys, dog treats, and cleaning supplies for the animals

Kids can collect old blankets and towels from friends and neighbors to donate for dog beds as well as old newspapers for puppy cages. Children find it very satisfying to see their favorite doggy snoozing on a bed they donated.

Older kids may wish to volunteer their time helping at the shelter. Beyond the basics of food and water, socialization is important for dogs to make them more confident and outgoing which helps them find a home quicker. Some dogs just need a little extra attention to help them adjust to the upheaval in their life. Kids can spend time walking, brushing, or playing with the dogs.

Some shy or nervous dogs simply need quiet time away from the chaos and listening to a child read helps them to come out of their shell.

Shelters can always use help cleaning kennels, bathing dogs, filing, sweeping, mopping, sorting newspapers, washing and folding bedding, and taking pictures for the website.

Volunteering just a few hours a week can make a big difference in the life of needy animals.


The copyright of the article Shelter Volunteer Project for Kids in Dogs is owned by Joy Butler. Permission to republish Shelter Volunteer Project for Kids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


Child Volunteer Changing Paper in Puppy Cage, JButler
Child Volunteer Bathing a Puppy, JButler
     


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Comments
Dec 9, 2008 9:28 PM
Guest :
I am 12 and I would love to do something like this but I can't find a shelter that accepts vollunteers under the age of 18.
Dec 13, 2008 1:34 PM
Guest :
I am an 11 year old girl. i have lots of animal expereince including an opossum, dogs, cats, hamsters, lizards but i don't like spiders. I am great with animals and am trying to find a shelter that will let me volunteer. i love working to help animals even cleaning cages.
Jan 18, 2009 9:43 AM
Guest :
i am ten i would like to voluteer at a shelter
Jan 19, 2009 12:05 PM
Guest :
I am an 11 year old girl and would love to volunteer at a animal shelter.I love animals.
Jan 26, 2009 9:06 AM
Guest :
i am 13 and i would really like to do things with animals, especially dogs, but i just cant find an animal shelter that accepts young vollunteers under the age of 16
Jan 27, 2009 10:19 AM
Guest :
Hi, I'm a ten year old girl that would like to volunteer at an animal shelter. I love animals and i'm very good with them. I have experience with birds, dogs, cats and more. I'm willing to clean cages, give baths, feed and anything else. My family says that I have a gift towred animals. I hope to become a veterinarian when I grow up. I really hope I can volunteer at an an animal shelter this summer instead of going to camp. Animals are my life!
Feb 27, 2009 12:46 PM
Guest :
my age is ten i would love to have fun projects with pets puppies, kittens, cats, dogs, birds there all my favorite i would love to join this shelter but the other ones are for 18 and older please just please voulinteer me please think of the love for them and me!
Mar 1, 2009 8:16 AM
Guest :
hi i am a 10 yr old girl and i can`t find any animal shelters that are were i live and i really want to help animals cuz i LOVE animals! please help
Mar 3, 2009 5:01 PM
Guest :
i'm 10 and i'm turning 11 in august. i absolutily love animals and i hate to see animals in distress but, i try volunteering at my local shelters but, they say i'm too young to work with animals. but, my parents don't know any one to watch me while i'm working.
Mar 4, 2009 6:58 PM
Guest :
i am 10 but i cant find any shelter that will let me volunteer becuase i love being around animals infact i have 2 cats and 1 dog that were saved from dog fighting and neglected and i would realy like to help out hope i can help out

one more thing insted of doing my volunteer work during the weekdays when i have school can i volunteer on the weekends (including fridays) if so what time
Mar 9, 2009 3:31 PM
Guest :
i am a 11 and i would LOVE to voulteer for the animal shelter but i cant find a shelter that allows 11 year old or under to voulenteer
Apr 5, 2009 12:48 AM
Guest :
Im ten and it can only have 16-year-olds.But I still want to raise money.How can I help?
Apr 6, 2009 9:43 AM
Guest :
hi, im eleven and i would love to clean out cages ,bath puppies ,take dogs for walks and sacrifice most of my time for animals can anyone find a shelter near manchester please telll me if u have i loveeeeeee aannniimmmmaalllllssssss pppllllleeeeaaaaasssseee somewhere come to my head.
Apr 6, 2009 10:00 AM
Guest :
I'm 11 and can't find a shelter nearby that will let me... I deeply love animals and am wondering; how do I do it?
Apr 15, 2009 6:46 PM
Guest :
I am a 10 year old girl who has done lods of reaserch on cats and my
mom is alergic. I am hopeing to volenteer.
Apr 18, 2009 5:56 AM
Guest :
I am 13 and no shelter will accept me. They all send these computer generated e-mails that say things like 'I'm sorry but we are not insured to have under 18 year olds in our building but we would kindly accept a donation blah blah blah' It's sooo fustrating!! So please help me find somewhere I can volunteer!
Bernie
Apr 24, 2009 6:40 AM
Guest :
I am a 14 year old girl from Manchester, i love animals and i'm going to work with animals when i'm older, ideally as a vet.
I would love to volunteer in an animal shelte, but i can't find any animal shelter in or around Manchester that will let me volunteer without an adults supervision! I love to look after animals, especially socializing, and i don't even mind cleaning out cages. I have a dog, two rabbits and fish and i look after them all and clean up after them all.
Anyone have any suggestions????
Apr 26, 2009 7:06 PM
Guest :
hi im brittany and im 12 i love animals and would do anything in my power for the but i cant find one for kids! does anyone know waht to do?
May 5, 2009 2:32 PM
Guest :
exactly why cant the government make more charities where youn teenagers or pre-teens can help donating or charity??? Its unfair how they treat children!!
May 13, 2009 2:45 AM
Guest :
i am 13 i would like to help dogs
May 16, 2009 4:09 PM
Guest :
Hi everyone!I am 10 and this summer for the 2 weeks that Im home I really want to volenteer at an animal shelter but I cant find any places that will accept kids under the age of 18... even though by that time Ill be 11... Ive had lots of expereince with animals such as guinea pigs lizards frogs birds cats and rabbits. I also know how to handle and take care of dogs-Im sorta short so only small dogs :)-hampsters and can hand feed baby birds.
May 19, 2009 2:14 PM
Guest :
i want to volunteer sooooo bad but maybe we all can raise money at school or somewere and donate it to a shelter that really needs it!
Jun 5, 2009 5:35 PM
Guest :
i would like to help dogs and other animals i have lots of experience of taking care of dogs
Jun 22, 2009 10:31 AM
Guest :
i am 11 and i love animals!! i hate the shock collers, crates, and fences people use for their animals i want to volenteer at an animal shelter but i can't find one that will let me. i can groom dogs and other animals too.
Jun 23, 2009 2:51 AM
Guest :
I am ten years old and I am great with animals and i am crying for a job with something to do with animals.I know about animals from mouses to elephants.I know dogs,cats,Rabbits,possums and many many more.please make my dreams come true.i am crying as I write this.please let me help please.I can help out from 3:30 - 7:00 mon-tue and all day sat-sun.my family wants me to help you out.THANKYOU FOR READING THIS AND HELPING ME OUT.WOOF,MEOW TWEET,SNUFFLE. PLEASE AWNSER ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE...
Jun 28, 2009 11:27 AM
Guest :
I'm an 11 year 1 month old girl and I'd love to socialize dogs at a shelter. I can't have a dog but love them. I'd do anything for volunteering. Please help.
26 Comments