Volunteer to help the Animals!
There are endless ways you can help Alpena's animals live better lives. We always have a shortage of homes, so we need loving adopters. However, if you're not quite ready to do that, we can always use help at the shelter, event assistance, donations of supplies, and financial contributions.

OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
Volunteers are critical to the success of the shelter. Our staff provides for the basic needs of the animals on a daily basis, but they can only do so much and we need volunteers to fill in the gaps.

Get Added to our Database!
Just email us at manager.hhs@frontier.com with your Name, Phone Number, email address, and a short message telling the type of volunteer work you are interested it, and we will add you to our Dataabase and email you when a Volunteer opportunity arrises!

Please take some time to look over the information below, and view the volunteer opportunities. If you want to help in a way we haven't thought of yet, and you have a talent or skill you'd like to share let us know.

Click here to download the Volunteer Agreement
NOTE: ALL CURRENT AND NEW VOLUNTEERS MUST PRINT, READ & SIGN THIS AGREEMENT.

Animal Care
Work directly with the pets to keep them clean, safe, happy and healthy. Job tasks include:
  • Cleaning kennels/cages
  • Exercising/walking/socializing animals
  • Bathing, brushing or grooming animals.
  • Training animals.
  • Animal Care Volunteers must complete a training program that consists of basic orientation and instruction in animal handling procedures from the staff. After that, they may work on their own at the tasks and times they choose.

This job is critical- it keeps the animals calmer, cleaner, happier, better behaved and therefore- more adoptable.

Community Outreach & Education

Plan and/or assist at outreach and education events around the community at fairs, schools, scout meetings, craft shows and other venues. These volunteers work to promote our mission and services and to teach the humane treatment of animals. If you are an outgoing person who likes working with the public, this could be the job for you!

Youth Volunteers

Children must be at least 14 years old, or accompanied by a parent or guardian and have their volunteer agreements and waivers signed by the parent/guardian.

Foster Care- Two Ways
WAY ONE Too often, people remain in abusive homes because they are afraid to leave their pets behind. We are trying to get a volunteer core of people who are willing to care for the pets of the fleeing women and children until they get settled into a new, safe home. Aside from keeping the pets safe, you'd be providing a great deal of relief and reassurance to the pet's family who is already worried enough about their own personal situation- they don't need to be afraid for the safety of their pets, too. We need homes for both dogs and cats.

WAY TWO Occasionally, we have a pet that isn't quite ready to be adopted. Maybe she's ill, too young, or needs to learn some social skills in order to be a great housepet. Sometimes, a pet just needs a break from shelter life for a few days. We are beginning to participate in fostering- when a volunteer takes and animal home and cares for it on a week by week basis. If you are interested, please call the shelter at (989) 356-4794.

These documents will open with the free Adobe Reader. 
Foster Application
Foster Agreement


Create Your Own Position…
Create a brochure. Create a fundraising campaign for a special project. Perform office work. Build (we have lots to do). Paint. Landscape. Host a garage sale. Teach a shelter dog some manners. Plan a fundraiser. Work at a community education booth during a local fair. What talents do you have? If you can do it, chances are, we need it!

Call us at (989) 356-4794 to volunteer today!
  • 60 watt light bulbs
  • 8 ½ x 11 copy paper
  • AA & AAA batteries
  • Advantage/Revolution
  • Alcohol
  • Bleach
  • Brooms & dustpans
  • Canned cat & dog food
  • Cat & dog toys
  • Cat carriers
  • Cat litter (clay)
  • Collars & leashes
  • Dish soap
  • Disinfectants
  • Dry erase markers
  • Dryer sheets
  • Empty bottles
  • Fans
  • First class stamps
  • Garden hose & nozzle
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Heating pads
  • Ink pens
  • Kitten food
  • Kitten formula
  • Kuranda dog beds
  • Large wire dog kennels
  • Laundry detergent
  • Lawn mower
  • Litter boxes
  • Lysine
  • Mop buckets and handles
  • Nail clippers
  • Nursing bottles
  • Paper towels
  • Permanent markers
  • Peroxide
  • Pine Sol
  • Scotch Tape
  • Scotchbrite pads
  • Storage bins
  • Tie-outs
  • Van/enclosed truck
  • Vet wrap/Co-flex
  • Washer & dryer
  • X-large garbage bags
  • Monetary Donations are always needed and gratefully appreciated!       
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