The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is able to save and improve the lives of homeless pets because of our vast network of generous volunteers. They provide support at the shelter, at our numerous events and through our Pet Assisted Therapy Program. In return, our volunteer programs offer great learning opportunities, socialization and fun in an environment with one goal: to help homeless pets in need.

Here's How You Can Get Involved

Download our Volunteer Application, and fax it back to us at (530) 587-1805. Our Volunteer Coordinator, Erin Elllis, will call you to discuss your interests and schedule a General Orientation.

Or simply call Erin directly at (530) 587-0667, and she can help you with the application process.

Please note: Volunteer opportunities involving direct contact with HSTT pets require our General Orientation and may require additional trainings.

Ways to Help

FOSTERING
An excellent way to help animals while enjoying the company of a pet on a short-term basis.

The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is able to save so many lives due to our extensive foster program. Our foster program allows us to rescue far more animals than our small shelter can accommodate. Volunteer families provide a loving environment for HSTT pets to live in while awaiting adoption. You can choose to foster cats, dogs, puppies and kittens...whatever best fits into your lifestyle. We provide all the support you need.

If you are interested in joining our family of foster home volunteers, download the Foster Parent Application form, complete and return it to us.
 

SOCIALIZATION
A very important way for volunteers to help our animals get adopted and stay in their new homes.

The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe relies on volunteers to help socialize our pets and ready them for a successful adoption. Homeless pets sometimes come to us with less than perfect manners and have never lived in a “normal” home environment. Our socialization programs teach dogs how to behave on a walk, in the car and around other pets.

Sometimes socialization means building trust in these animals by simply sitting with them until they feel comfortable around people. There are so many ways to help in this area. We are always looking for new ideas and more volunteers.
 

PET ASSISTED THERAPY
Bring a smile to patients and seniors with your certified therapy pet.

Through the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, you can have your pet certified as a therapy animal. Through this program, volunteers and their animals visit patients in local hospitals, senior living facilities and many more people who need brightness in their day. Volunteers and their pets find this program extremely rewarding, especially to see how positively people respond to the love of an animal. Enroll in this volunteer program and experience what a difference you can make in the lives of people and pets.
 

ADOPTION
Making meaningful pet-to-people matches and finding a homeless pet a loving home.

Helping a homeless animal find a home is the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe’s main goal. With nearly three hundred adoptions per year, we couldn’t accomplish this goal without the dedication of our Adoption Day and Adoption Counselor volunteers. Adoption Day volunteers get to know HSTT animals and inform potential adopters of a pet’s strengths and challenges. This makes Adoption Day volunteers spokespeople for a pet in need of help. Matching a pet to a person or family makes adoptions successful, and our skilled Adoption Counselors find this job extremely satisfying.

All HSTT animals need help finding the right home, and you could be the one that makes the perfect match and places them in a safe and loving home.
 

EVENTS
Help homeless pets by having fun.

The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is fortunate to be located in a community that supports a series of fun and successful fundraising events. Volunteer opportunities for HSTT events range from helping register golfers at our annual golf tournament at the Resort at Squaw Creek to passing out doggie appetizers at our Black Tie & Tails fundraising gala. You can sell raffle tickets with an HSTT pet at a Friday night raffle at Bar One in Squaw Valley or you can run an HSTT dog through the dogsled course at the annual Ididarun. All the events are sure to be fun, filled with like-minded volunteers and are a major way you can help fund HSTT programs and services.