Volunteer
Giving love … is really a gift for you.
Become a Humane Society Volunteer
What could be more satisfying than showing an animal the love it so desperately needs? When you become a Stark County Humane Society volunteer, every minute you give is one more minute of happiness — for you and for the animals.
They don’t want to be alone, thinking they’ve done something to deserve neglect. Instead, they deserve your attention and crave your affection. A touch, a whisper, and just being near can mean everything.
Volunteers work directly with the animals, walking the dogs, reading to the cats, bathing puppies, or simply giving them all some extra love and attention. Musicians can play for the animals to calm them from the stressful situations they’ve endured or the confusing thoughts they’re experiencing.
How can you help?
Maybe there’s no way to measure love. Hope can’t be weighed and happiness can’t be counted. So volunteers give time and fit as much friendship and care into every moment as possible. We can’t adequately communicate how important Stark County Humane Society volunteers are us, but if you ever meet any of our animals, you’ll know.
Some volunteers come in for an hour, while others spend all day. Whatever extra time you have, you can give to the pets as a Stark County Humane Society volunteer.
Start by contacting us and we’ll schedule a visit and tour of our facility. Upon acceptance and setting up your volunteering days and hours, you’ll take a volunteer orientation, which is mandatory to ensure everyone is prepared to work with the animals properly.
Volunteer Information
Volunteer Orientation
Every Friday at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday at 1:00 p.m. by appointment. (Space is limited, so please call the shelter at 330-453-5529 to check for availability.)
Volunteer Hours
Monday through Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. by appointment. (Please call the shelter at 330-453-5529 to check for availability and schedule.)
Group Volunteers
By appointment on Wednesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Only one group per day. Spaces fill up quickly, so reserve your date by calling 330-453-5529. Maximum of 10 people per group. To accommodate larger groups, we schedule smaller teams in shifts (i.e., half of the group from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and the other half from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.)
Volunteers Under 18
Must have their parent/legal guardian sign a waiver prior to volunteering. (Minors aged 16 and 17 do not need parental supervision.)
Volunteers Under 16
Waivers for All Volunteers
All volunteers must sign a liability waiver, which can be printed from here or filled out in person at the shelter.
SCHS Readers to the Rescue
We recently launched our Readers to the Rescue program, encouraging children and adults of all ages to spend time reading to our animals. We currently do not have specific times, but ask that you call in advance. (You may sit outside the cages and read to the animals, or if you complete volunteer orientation, you have the opportunity to take the animals out of the cages and read to them in a quiet area or outside.)
You’ll never forget the time you spend with these pets.
They can’t talk to thank you — but they don’t have to — because you’ll know. You’ll see their eyes return the love and see their bodies relax. Every visit will be another reward of its own.
Aside from time spent with the animals, Humane Society volunteers also assist us in continuing our educational presentations in local schools and our pet therapy programs in area nursing homes.
The shelter has many day-to-day volunteers and group volunteers, along with nursing home visits and community educational visits. Group volunteers include:
- Massillon Lowes
- Mt. Union Soccer
- AARE
- N C Home School
- Dawson Group
- Red Day Volunteers
- Perry Summer Camp
- Mt Union DSP
- Amazon Warehouse
- University of Malone
- SAAC
- Shearers
- CAST Caring
- McKinley NHS
- Owens Corning
- Sanoco Metal Packing
- Mt Union APO
- Canton Christian Home
- Perry National High School
- Matrix Cleaning
- DeliverThat
- Possible Impromptu
- Hendrickson
- Key Bank
- Community Christian Church
- Amison Dental
Volunteer of the Month
Diane Popa
The shelter would like to highlight Diane for being a compassionate caretaker to the animals in our care. Her contributions are above and beyond and we are immensely grateful for her efforts.
Thank you to our volunteers!
The shelter would like to thank and recognize everyone who has helped, volunteered, supported, or donated to Stark County Humane Society. We also would like to thank and recognize the Eagle Scout Projects. On behalf of our furry friends, thank you!
