MHS Volunteer Program: Frequently Asked Questions

• There is not another Volunteer Recruitment Fair scheduled for another few months. Can I volunteer sooner?
   
• Do I have to attend a Volunteer Recruitment Fair?
    
• I need to complete court-ordered community service. Can I volunteer at MHS?
   
• I have to fulfill 20 hours of volunteer service for my high school.  Do I have to attend the Volunteer Welcome Meeting?
   
• Can my child under the age of 14 assist MHS?

Q. There is not another Volunteer Recruitment Fair scheduled for another few months. Can I volunteer sooner?
A. The Michigan Humane Society recruits and accepts volunteers quarterly (four times a year). Anyone wishing to directly volunteer at one of our adoption facilities must attend a Volunteer Recruitment Fair. The most up-to-date schedule for the next Volunteer Recruitment Fair can be found on our website. If you are interested in assisting before the next scheduled Volunteer Recruitment Fair, please consider joining MHS as a Foster Caregiver, one of our most needed volunteer programs. If you would like to begin assisting MHS today, click here for ideas!

Q. Do I have to attend a Volunteer Recruitment Fair?
A. Yes! The Volunteer Recruitment Fair explains the policies and procedures of the Michigan Humane Society and provides preliminary tools to ensure we meet your needs as well as those of the animals. In addition, we allow you to meet with current volunteers and staff who currently assist and manage the programs that you are interested in joining. The Volunteer Department will also gather information from volunteer candidates at the Volunteer Recruitment Fair that will assist MHS in placing the volunteer in a position that will be most beneficial to the clients and the animals we serve.

Q. I need to complete court-ordered community service. Can I volunteer at MHS?
A. The Michigan Humane Society adoption center in Detroit offers a Court-Ordered Community Service Program. This program provides opportunities for individuals 18 and older who have been court ordered to perform community service of 20 or more hours. For consideration for this program, volunteers should visit our Detroit adoption center for a blue Community Service Application.

Q. I have to fulfill 20 hours of volunteer service for my high school.  Do I have to attend the Volunteer Recruitment Fair?
A. No. Each MHS center for animal care facility has a different method for utilizing community service and school service requirement volunteers. Because volunteers serving in this role do not have to attend a Volunteer Recruitment Fair, they can only serve in a non-animal related position such as washing dishes and cleaning laundry. Please contact Jamahl Scott at 248-283-1000 or by completing the Contact Us Form below. 

Q. Can my child under the age of 14 assist MHS?
A. To directly volunteer at one of our animal care centers, volunteers must be over the age of 14. Volunteers between the ages of 14-17 can assist as a volunteer with an adult volunteer mentor over the age of 25. The adult volunteer mentor must be a parent or legal guardian, or another adult recommended by a parent. There are many ways for children under the age of 14, as well as student, scout and other groups to get involved and help the animals cared for by the Michigan Humane Society at our three locations in Detroit, Rochester Hills and Westland. Please click here for ideas.