Volunteering

Make a difference in the lives of animals

Current Volunteers
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MHRHS volunteers are central to the success of our mission. On any given day, MHRHS volunteers are:

Socializing shy animals by spending time with them
Exercising dogs by walking them on our trails or playing in one of our enclosed outdoor pens
Cleaning cages, caring for the cats and playing matchmaker by introducing cats to potential adopters at our Glenmont and Latham PetSmart Cat Adoption Centers
Representing MHRHS at community events to spread the word on how to help the area's homeless, neglected and abused animals
Providing shelter tours to various groups
Visiting elementary school children to teach about compassion and humane animal care
Assisting our Development office with mailings
Sorting through countless returnable bottles and cans for our "Empties for Animals" fundraiser
Bringing home a new foster kitten, cat or dog and providing much-needed care
Working at one of our many special fundraising events, such as Around the World for Eighty Strays and Art Saves Animals

Although helping with the care of homeless, neglected and abused animals is a great responsibility, we want our volunteers to have fun, make new friends and feel they are making a difference in their community. If you love animals and are concerned about the issues of homeless pets, pet overpopulation, and animal abuse and neglect, please consider the many volunteer opportunities that help the animals at MHRHS.

To become a volunteer:

After viewing our volunteer opportunities, please read our Frequently Asked Questions to become familiar with our program and find out how to get started.

For those looking to complete court-ordered or school-required community service, please contact our to discuss our Community Service program.
Too young to volunteer? Find out how you can still help the shelter animals by visiting our Ways Kids Can Help page.
If you would like more information on shelter tours or having a shelter representative visit your school, please go to our Humane Education page.
Thinking about fostering? Please visit our Foster page for more information.

Group Volunteer Needs:

Empties for Animals

MHRHS invites groups and organizations to volunteer with us on an ongoing fundraising project to help the homeless animals of the Capital Region. You can hold a bottle drive and deliver the cans and bottles to us. You can also volunteer at the shelter outside on our grounds to help sort donated recyclable bottles and cans. You and your group can even collect cans and bottles then do the sorting. This is a great team-building opportunity, as well as a way to support a nonprofit organization in your neighborhood.

Letters and Mailings

Throughout the year, volunteer groups are needed to address and stuff envelopes for mass mailings.

Special Projects

If your group is from a specialized business or your group members have a particular talent (like carpentry, for example), please contact the to discuss possible ways to work on a project for the Society.

vol·un·teer
Pronunciation: vŏl'ən-tîr'
1: a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service

Never doubt that a small group of committed people can
change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
~Margaret Mead