Participants and volunteers march in the annual Dogwood Walk at Gulley Park, a fundraiser for the Humane Society of the Ozarks.
Courtesy
Want to keep up your New Year’s resolution to volunteer more? This is the fifth in a seven-part series to help you get involved. Read on to see what organizations could use your help.
Volunteering is good for the soul, especially with animals, said Humane Society of the Ozarks board member and volunteering committee leader Shannon McMasters.
Anyone can volunteer at the humane society, even children, as long as they have parental supervision. The humane society only has four paid staff members, programs director and office manager Sally Williams said, so volunteers are incredibly important to the organization.
Humane Society of the Ozarks
Contact: (479) 444-7387
Website: hsozarks.net
Summary: help promote the humane treatment of animals in northwest Arkansas
Requirements: all ages welcome. If under age 16, need a parent or guardian to accompany you. Must sign a confidentiality form
Who they’re looking for: adoption event volunteers, fundraiser organizers, volunteers to socialize and exercise dogs, yard cleanup and facility maintenance volunteers, foster families for animals, etc.
While the humane society is looking for new volunteers in all categories, they especially need more help with adoption events. They’re also looking for more families willing to foster dogs. The humane society pays for fostered dogs’ veterinary care and food, Williams said.
Apart from fostering and volunteering at adoption events, Williams said it would be incredibly helpful for a volunteer to come in a couple of mornings a week to answer the phone.
The humane society needs the most help during the winter and summer, when students are out of town. Williams said volunteers don’t even have to work directly with the animals, if they don’t want to – there are plenty of other opportunities such as maintaining the office and handing out flyers to vet clinics.
Those interested in volunteering at the humane society can sign up at hsozarks.net. Signing a confidentiality agreement is required.
Williams recommends volunteering at the humane society because “we have a rich tradition of advocating and helping animals and their families in northwest Arkansas.”
