Start by filling out the application. You will receive an application approval email once your volunteer application has been processed. This approval email will contain a link to a virtual orientation slideshow. Once you have viewed this slideshow you will be prompted to email our volunteer manager at [email protected]. Our volunteer manager will send you directions and a link to login to your volgistics volunteer account. This account will allow you to sign up for volunteer shifts and training classes
- The first step after attending Orientation is to sign up for training classes.
- Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older to work with the dogs. There are 2 training classes, Dogtown 1 and Dogtown 2 which must be taken in order. After successful completion of the 2 classes, please email [email protected] to schedule a dog walking shadow session with a staff member to become a Green Level Dog Walker.
- Volunteers under the age of 18 can work with the cats or small animals. Please sign up for the Cat Socialization Class or the Small Animal Class to get started. If you are under 13 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must sign up for the training class and be with you at all times while you are volunteering.
- While you are waiting for your training class, we can always use help with other tasks around the shelter such as cleaning, laundry and dishes.
We do ask that you commit to a minimum of 4-6 hours a month of volunteering with BHS. We do understand that things will come up that may prevent you from reaching the minimum amount, but we ask that you communicate with the Volunteer Manager if you are going to miss a significant amount of time. Volunteers that are absent from volunteering for over 3 months will have their accounts deactivated and will have to retake any animal handling classes before being able to volunteer directly with the animals.
Donations to the Baltimore Humane Society help us move closer to achieving our mission to not only shelter animals, but to also find loving homes for every animal that comes into our care. We receive no operational funding from local or federal governments, or any national animal welfare organizations. It is through the generosity of caring individuals like you that we are able to keep our doors open. Other ways to give your support include car donations, employer matching, gifts of stock, planned giving, honor a lost pet and donating items on our wishlist.
Donate by mail to: Baltimore Humane Society, 1601 Nicodemus Road, Reisterstown, MD 21136
Absolutely! Check out our Group FAQs and feel free to fill out our Group Volunteer Application. Questions? Please email [email protected] with any questions.
When you arrive, you’ll receive a tour of the facility followed by the volunteer activity. These activities are typically groundskeeping, maintenance, cleaning and organizing. Don’t worry – We’ll make sure that you get to meet one or two of our adoptable animals, too!
There are also a few large-scale events throughout the year that we need large groups to help us with.
Yes, volunteers looking to complete community service hours for school, church or court ordered community service can do so at BHS.
For school and church community service hours, it is the volunteer’s responsibility to track hours and obtain staff signatures every time they volunteer in order to receive verification of their time. If a letter or documentation is needed, please provide at least 72 hours-notice to the Volunteer Manager for it to be prepared.
Volunteers wishing to complete their court ordered community service are required to notify the volunteer manager before their first volunteer shift. We do not accept volunteers with pending charges or convictions for animal cruelty, child cruelty, child neglect or sex offenses. Background checks are mandatory for all volunteers to ensure that our staff, volunteers and animals are safe. If a letter or documentation is needed, please provide at least 72 hours-notice to the Volunteer Manager for it to be prepared.
Simply indicate it on your application and send an email to [email protected] letting them know that you have Community Service hours to complete and have submitted an application. It is the volunteers responsibility to track their hours and submit any documentation for signatures at the time of volunteering. If a letter or documentation is needed, please provide at least 72 hours notice to the Volunteer Manager for it to be prepared.