The IHS Volunteer Program is intended for adults who are willing to commit to long-term volunteering, and those adults are welcome to bring children ages 12-17 to train and work alongside them. Please be advised of the following before considering family volunteering:

• Due to safety and liability issues, only adults 18+ are allowed to act as “handlers” for the animals (the human in control); minors can pet/interact with animals but cannot hold leashes, carry animals around, or transfer animals to/from their enclosures.
• No one under the age of 12 is permitted on any volunteer shift (excluding foster parenting and driving jobs).
• All adult volunteers and their children must have their own individual accounts in the IHS volunteer database (created using unique email accounts) that include their name, date of birth, and contact information.
• Most animal handling shifts occur in the morning, so afternoon/weekend-only availability can impact your ability to work with animals.
• To volunteer or complete community service with us, any past convictions related to animal neglect, cruelty, or crimes involving children will automatically disqualify applicants. These standards are non-negotiable to maintain a safe and ethical environment for our animals and community.

Adult volunteers in need of court-related or attorney-recommended community service hours are NOT eligible for the IHS Volunteer Program. If you are looking to complete these types of community hours, please discover more here.

Child volunteers in need of school or church-related service hours are NOT eligible for the IHS Volunteer Program. If you are looking to complete these types of community hours, please discover more here.