Volunteers are the Life Force of GIHS!
Our Volunteer Team Needs You!
Volunteers are the life force of GIHS. They touch every aspect of our operations and help us provide the highest-quality care for our pets.
If you decide to join us as a volunteer, you will help us to offer services that may not be possible otherwise. Whether you choose to engage in helping with the care and adoption of animals or in raising funds to enable the shelter to continue to do good work in educating and assisting the public, your participation will make a big difference. We hope that you will find your volunteer experience with GIHS educational as well as rewarding and that you will carry back to the community your knowledge about the shelter and the compassion that is at the heart of GIHS.
Click below to complete our volunteer application or to sign up for a volunteer orientation.
For volunteer inquiries, please email volunteer@galvestonhumane.org.
Volunteer Opportunities
Working with Dogs
Looking to give back to man’s best friend? As a Dog Volunteer, you will work hands-on with the homeless dogs and puppies at our shelter.
You will help with:
Caring for the dogs: Socialize, walk, play, reinforce basic commands, bathe, feed and clean up as needed.
Photography: Good photos are needed of all pets for the website and are influential in helping people make choices related to potential adoptions.
Greeting visitors: Provide a welcoming, friendly, educational environment; help with adoption logistics, answer basic adoption questions and talk about the animals and mission of GIHS.
Matchmaking: Support adoptions by listening to the needs of prospective adopters and introducing them to potential new canine family members.
Keeping our shelter clean: Pick up after our pups and keep their homes clean with fresh bedding and toys.
Helpful Skills:
Whether you’re an experienced dog guru or a curious first-timer, homeless dogs need you. Our talented team of volunteers and staff will teach you everything you need to know. The following skills are helpful:
Knowledge of dog behavior
Experience handling dogs
Communication skills
Customer service experience
Working with Cats
Looking for the purrrr-fect way to help our feline friends? As a Kitty Volunteer, you will work hands-on with the homeless cats and kittens in our shelter and those residing at PetSmart looking for their forever homes.
You will help with:
Caring for the cats: Socialize and play with our feline residents, ensure cats in group rooms are getting along, brush, feed and clean up as needed.
Photography: Good photos are needed of all pets for the website and are influential in helping people make choices related to potential adoptions.
Greeting visitors: Provide a welcoming, friendly, educational environment; help with adoption logistics, answer basic adoption questions, and talk about the animals and GIHS.
Matchmaking: Support adoptions by listening to the needs of prospective adopters and introducing them to potential new feline family members.
Keeping our shelter and PetSmart clean: Pick up after our cats and keep their homes clean with fresh bedding and toys.
Helpful Skills
Whether you’re an experienced kitty expert or a curious first-timer, homeless cats need you. Our talented team of volunteers and staff will teach you everything you need to know.
There are no requirements, but the following skills are helpful:
Knowledge of cat behavior
Experience handling cats
Communication skills
Customer service experience
Working with Community Cat Program - TNR
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the only humane solution to the feral/community cat population problem. It is the number one way GIHS is reducing the kitten and cat population on the streets of Galveston Island and within our shelter. GIHS is a sponsoring organization under the City of Galveston TNR ordinance and helps caregivers provide services for outdoor feral/community cat colonies.
TNR Team
We have a staff member who oversees the program but always need to expand out TNR volunteer team to assist with trapping and transportation to and from veterinarian spay/neuter appointments. If you are interested in this program, please contact us.
OUTDOOR CAT COLONY CARETAKER
Do you have feral or community cats in your area? To be a legal Outdoor Cat Colony Caretaker involved with Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), you must be registered with GIHS, who reports colony statistics to the City of Galveston annually.
Your responsibilities include:
Spaying or neutering and vaccinating the cats in your colony
Providing food and shelter
Monitoring their health and well-being
Reporting the status of your colony to GIHS annually
Helpful Skills:
Experience handling cats
Compassion for the feral/community cats in your neighborhood
Customer service skills for actively working with neighborhood residents as an advocate for your feral/community cats
Training:
GIHS offers one on one sessions on TNR as well as ongoing support.
Working with People
Connecting with people, whether it’s through adoption counseling, community outreach or education, is critical to the work we do saving the lives of homeless pets. There is a range of volunteer opportunities that involve working with people. Find the one that’s right for you!
WELCOME DESK VOLUNTEER
As a Welcome Desk Volunteer, you will play an integral role in promoting our organization and helping our animals find forever homes. Helping staff in the front makes you the first point of contact for visitors at our shelter.
Duties include:
Greeting and ensuring an overall outstanding customer service experience for our guests
Answering phone calls and in-person inquiries
Entering information regarding completed adoptions (advanced)
Processing payments and donations (advanced)
Helpful Skills:
Our Welcome Desk can be a fast-paced environment, so it is required that volunteers have strong customer service skills along with basic phone, computer and Internet skills
A willingness to learn new software programs
Communication skills with customers, other volunteers, and staff
ADOPTION COUNSELOR
We do not have a designated Adoption Department so this person works cooperatively with the Welcome Desk.
Every homeless pet that walks out our doors with a new family is indebted to our Adoption Counselors who assisted with a life altering decision.
By developing an understanding of an adopter’s experience with pets and family structure, you will ensure that the new family has the information and home environment that will lead to long-term success with the pet they have selected. You may meet with the adopters, review their Adoption Application and assist with answering questions with the help of staff and/or volunteers who provide direct animal care.
Helpful Skills:
Great people skills
Customer service experience
Good listening & communication skills
Objectivity
Knowledge of basic animal behavior
Educating Our Community
The GIHS Community Outreach Programs works to reach out and educate the public related to the work and importance of the Galveston Island Humane Society in our community.
Our Education Program aims to reach and educate children, particularly in the neighborhoods where stray animals are a large problem or animal knowledge and care is lacking. Our goal is to help create the next generation of animal advocates. Our dedicated volunteers are vital to the success of this program. They are at the forefront of teaching students, shaping attitudes and forming the difference-makers of tomorrow!
As a Community Outreach Volunteer you will work with staff to present information to community or neighborhood organizations to promote the work of the GIHS highlighting the many programs offered to make life better for pets and their owners.
Helpful Skills:
An understanding of our mission and operations (training available)
A desire to help animals, people and the community
Comfortable speaking to children or adult groups
The ability to communicate clearly and effectively
Access to reliable transportation
A record for punctuality and reliability
An appreciation of the power and fun of education
A background in education, childhood development and/or public speaking
Familiarity with presentation programs such as PowerPoint
Shelter Operations
There are so many individuals who assist with a variety of jobs who work tirelessly to keep our shelter operating. These “behind the scenes” volunteers make magic!
The variety of jobs include:
Answer basic telephone inquiries
Help clients register for community programs
Assist with clerical needs, including; filing, making adoption folders, data entry, etc.
Procure food donations from individuals and businesses
Schedule and assist with the transport of donated pet supplies
Organize donated supplies
Pack and distribute pet food pickups
Help with accurate record keeping and inventory of supplies
Help with minor housekeeping needs, including; laundry, sanitizing dishes and toys, emptying recycle bins and trash receptacles, shredding newspaper, etc.
HELPFUL SKILLS:
Enjoy working with people
Organizational skills
Can work independently and be a self starter
Fundraising and Adoption Events
GIHS holds many fundraising and adoption events throughout the year where volunteers are needed. These special events are vital to our lifesaving efforts. In addition to raising funds, these events help spread the word about our mission and help find more loving homes for our animals.
As a Special Event Volunteer, you may help with:
Greeting guests
Registration
Ticket Sales
Arrangements
Setup and breakdown
Logistics and transportation
Helpful Skills:
Enjoy working with the public
Great customer service skills
Prior experience working special events preferred
As an Adoption Event Volunteer, you may help with:
Assist with setting up the event
May assist with transporting animals
Coordinating adoptions
Handle the animals during the event
Assist potential adopters in meeting any animals that they are interested in adopting
Review the animals’ basic information with potential adopters
Go over the requirements for adopting
Helpful Skills:
Enjoy working with the public
Great customer service skills
Knowledge of basic animal behavior
Knowledge of adoption procedures