The Edmonton Humane Society has 1000 active volunteers who contribute an average of 50,000 volunteer hours annually. Without this contribution, the Society would not be able to do the work we do. Volunteer opportunities range from cat cuddling and dog walking to volunteer photography and help with major fundraising events, with many other opportunities in between and beyond.
What's more, our volunteer culture is one of inclusion and positivity, where new people are welcomed and seasoned veterans are happy to mentor. It truly is a wonder place to contribute time and make a difference in the community.
Foster Care Program
You can help the animals at the Edmonton Humane Society by opening your home to foster care and giving them extra attention before they are placed for adoption.
Help Save Animal Lives - Become a Foster Parent!
Foster volunteers play a vital role for the Edmonton Humane Society. These volunteers open their hearts and homes to animals who are not yet ready for adoption. Animals who require foster care may be too young for adoption, sick or injured, need specific behaviour therapy, or perhaps just a quiet place to lay their heads.
Some pets are very stressed at the shelter and do much better in a home environment, allowing their true personalities to come out. The foster program also opens up space in the shelter, freeing kennels to house and care for even more animals.
Foster volunteers provide temporary care in their homes until the animals are ready for adoption. The length of stay in a foster home can vary anywhere from two weeks to two months. Over 1400 animals benefit from foster care each year; spending time in a loving home environment sets them up for success in their future adoptive homes.
The EHS provides all supplies and veterinary care; foster parents provide much-needed TLC and basic care such as feeding, exercise, grooming, socialization, and occasional medication administration (full instructions provided).
Corporate Volunteer Program
The Edmonton Humane Society offers a one-time volunteer opportunity for corporate organizations. Corporate organizations offer valuable assistance in the day-to-day operations of the shelter.
Corporate groups are welcome to volunteer Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. We require a minimum four-hour commitment for a minimum of five corporate volunteers in one group.
Your day will start off with a one hour orientation, which includes the history of the EHS, safety measures and policies for EHS volunteers, and behavior and medical information that will be important for your volunteer time. After that, your group will be split into small segments and you will get to do a variety of activities that help the shelter.
A corporate volunteer group will help us with many tasks, including, but not limited to, administration help, paperwork assistant, maintenance help, operations work, and animal socialization.
As part of our mission to help care for homeless, abused, and neglected companion animals, we do ask the corporate volunteer groups to make a donation in their name to participate in the volunteer program. This money goes right back into the shelter, helping the animals in our care.