Can I volunteer at a local animal shelter?

How do you find a local animal shelter or rescue organization to volunteer at?

• I want to volunteer because I really love animals, and it'll look good on my resume when applying for a job or good veterinary collage. I've been researching the jobs volunteers do and I have to say that they look FUN! Including the whole poop cleaning, laundry, and cleaning of the cages jobs, but that shows you how deep my love for pets are. I'm ok with the animals being put down, because it is their time to go. I'm 12 going on 13 in January. My mom gives an ok to it. And my older sister or grandmother or mom can drive me to the place on time. I know how to do all of the jobs that a volunteer does. And the adults in the house can help with filling out the paper work and stuff like that. However I can't find a place where I can volunteer at. So, can you help me find a place to volunteer? I also tried pet finder and I couldn't find anything

• Answer:

  Unfortunately, you aren't going to be able to volunteer at any animal shelters. You are too young. They are bound by liability and risk to not allow people under 16, or even 18, to have contact with animals. But there ARE things you can do to support your local animal shelters, and other things you can do as a volunteer. These links will help: How you can advocate for an issue important to you http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/promote.shtml Family Volunteer - Volunteering by Families with Children. http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/family.shtml Community Service and Volunteering by Teens: How to Find Opportunities http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/teenvolunteers.html Very detailed information that discusses your many, many options - the usual and many activities you probably never thought of. Includes instructions on how to find specific volunteering opportunities (with animals, with children, just for one day, etc.).