Make a Difference

Volunteer and Foster Opportunities

Join the over 1,400 volunteers striving for a more humane Colorado.

Become a Volunteer

Current Volunteer Sign In

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Gray tabby kitten with white whiskers wearing a purple collar, framed in a pink circular border

Doing good in your community

Interested in helping vulnerable animals thrive? Volunteer at animal shelters like ours!

Our purrfect candidates

Age Requirement: Onsite volunteer opportunities require volunteers to be at least 16 years old. There are some assignments that require volunteers to be at least 18 years old. We are unable to accommodate onsite volunteers under the age of 16, even if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Not old enough to volunteer? Younger children are encouraged to participate in our Tales for Tails program!
Commitment: Volunteers must be able to commit three hours per week for six months. Unable to make the required commitment?
Physical Needs: Almost all of our volunteer roles require standing, walking, bending, and generally being on your feet for three hours.

Program impact

40 years – longest tenure volunteer
179,650 hours completed in our last fiscal year, the equivalent of 86 full time employees
637 new volunteers joined us in 2024
Over 320 Xtreme Team members – volunteers who have served over 1,000 hours
In FY25, foster parents spent more than 71,260 hours providing care to foster pets in their homes

Volunteering with Humane Colorado FAQs

There are a variety of volunteer opportunities in our animal shelters and facilities. Some popular roles include:
- Animal Care Support: Cleaning cat and dog kennels, enrichment and walking dogs.
- Veterinary Services Support: Assist with surgery recovery, cleaning surgery kennels, and supporting medical team members as needed.
- Adoptions Support: Assist patrons interested in Humane Colorado adoptable pets.
- Harmony Equine Center: Support team members in caring for our equines through mucking stalls and grooming.
- Homes with Hearts Foster Program: Open your home to our most in-need pets.
For more details on volunteer positions, responsibilities, and commitments, visit the volunteer opportunities overview.
Most onsite volunteer roles require a weekly 3-hour shift for at least a six-month commitment. Volunteers are always welcome to serve more often if their schedule allows.

Humane Colorado relies heavily on trained volunteers to support daily shelter operations, animal care, foster care, veterinary services, and community programs. This commitment allows us to provide consistent support for the animals in our care and ensures that volunteers remain confident and current in their training.
Working with shelter animals is very different than caring with pets in a home environment. Shelters can be a stressful environment for animals, and many pets are still building trust with staff and volunteers. For that reason, volunteers are expected to follow training, handling animals carefully, and use more caution than they might with their own pets.

Shelter volunteering can also be physically demanding. Many roles involve standing, walking, bending, cleaning, and being on your feet for a full shift. While volunteering is a meaningful and rewarding experience, applicants should also be prepared for the emotional realities of working with pets in a shelter environment. Before applying, please take time to thoughtfully consider whether this environment, commitment, and type of hands-on work is a good fit for you.
Onboarding steps vary by program, but here are some things you can expect:

Step 1: Fill out the volunteer application and pay the $30 fee. The volunteer fee helps cover the cost of volunteer supplies, such as t-shirts, nametags, keycards, and training.

Step 2: Complete an orientation. Our virtual orientation gives you the opportunity to learn more about Humane Colorado, volunteer expectations, and program requirements.

Step 3: One-on-one phone interview with an experienced volunteer or staff member. In the interview, you’ll get a chance to learn about our available positions, schedule, and program interest. If you applied for the Homes with Hearts Foster program, you’ll discuss what types of animals you are interested in fostering.

Step 4: A quick background check is required for all volunteers over 18 years of age.

Step 5: Attend required trainings to help ensure you are prepared to work safely in a shelter environment and have the necessary skills to be successful in your volunteer assignment. An annual virtual home inspection is required for all foster parents.

Hear it straight from the horse’s – er, we mean volunteer’s – mouth!

“The patrons, the people, the ANIMALS… I just love being here.”

– Julie

Volunteering

Click a program below to learn more and fill out an application.

General Volunteer

We offer more than 70 volunteer positions to help cats, dogs and small mammals at our shelters. These opportunities include everything from adoptions and animal care to dog walking and assisting with medications, and more.

Person in cowboy hat and checkered shirt grooming a brown horse in a stable aisle between wooden stalls

Equine Volunteer

Work with horses and other equines, mucking stalls and providing enrichment at the Harmony Equine Center.

Shaggy tan terrier mix lying on green grass chewing an orange ball, with a pink collar tag visible

San Luis Valley General Volunteer

Volunteer at our San Luis Valley Animal Shelter – These opportunities include everything from animal care to dog walking, animal enrichment, assisting at spay/neuter clinics and more.

Gloved hands bottle-feeding a tiny dark-furred newborn kitten with eyes still closed at an animal shelter

Foster Opportunties

Our Homes with Hearts foster care program lets animal lovers bring pets from our shelters into their homes on a temporary basis to prepare them for adoption.

Additional Opportunities

Two teenage volunteers kneel beside a glass kennel door, smiling at the camera while a black and white dog sits inside

Summer Teen Program

The Summer Teen Program is a new opportunity for 16- and 17-year-old teens to support Humane Colorado while earning service hours as well as valuable experience.

Man in green shirt holds clipboard while reading information card on glass door with

Community Service

The community service program is for individuals looking for short-term volunteer opportunities in the Denver metro area.

Volunteer in Humane Colorado shirt prepares food on small plates in shelter kitchen, with canned food and supplies nearby

Public Service Volunteer Program

The Public Service Volunteer Program offers short-term, behind-the-scenes volunteer opportunities for individuals who want to support Humane Colorado but are unable to commit to our standard six-month volunteer requirement.