For Volunteers

Volunteering Opportunities

A Caring Place Humane Society is an all volunteer organization; we have no staff nor employees. To keep the organization running so that we may rescue and rehome as many animals as possible, we need YOU to volunteer your time, talents, and services. We have many volunteering opportunities and we do not set limits on how much time you donate. We are grateful for each volunteer and the time they share with us and the animals.

ADOPTION COUNSELORS: A rewarding area of volunteering with A Caring Place is performing adoptions for our animals. A Caring Place seeks individuals to become trained adoption counselors for either or both the Dog Program and the Cat Program. Adoption Counselors work with the public to secure a new adoptive home. We provide (and require) class-room training first, and then coaching with active adoption counselors to provide "in-training" adoption counselors the necessary resources to work productively and respectfully with the public, and discern appropriate homes for each animal. We need Adoption Counselors for our Cat Program at the Orland Hills, IL PETsMART store. Dog Program Adoption Counselors are also needed for the Orland Hills, IL PETsMART and off-site locations.

DOG HANDLERS: Individuals with experience in handling dogs of all sizes are needed for dogs when showing at the Orland Park Petsmart on the 1st Saturdays of the month, or at additional adoption events. Handlers will need to know basic commands and safe training methods for use on the dogs when at adoption events. Additionally, the handler will be expected to walk the dog around the adoption event and outside so that the dog may relieve itself as necessary.

FOSTER CARE PROVIDERS: We are always in need of animal lovers to provide temporary homes for cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, and pregnant females while these animals are in need of medical care, awaiting adoption, or waiting for adoption space. Start-up supplies are provided including food, litter box, litter, carrier, bowls, and cages (when necessary) for cats, and leashes, collars, bedding, food, chew toys, crate, and other items deemed necessary for dogs. Since A Caring Place actively rescues animals from euthanasia and because we do not have our own facility, foster care providers are a vital resource and are always needed.

A separate questionnaire form needs to be completed in addition to our Volunteer Application. The form is available on-line.

FUND RAISING LEADERS: We are looking for people interested in serving on a committee for this humane society’s fund-raising efforts. This committee, under the direction of the Treasurer of A Caring Place, develops a fund-raising strategy and plan of action for each year. Funds are always needed to be able to provide for the veterinary care of all animals, including special surgeries, as well as educational and community programs that support our mission.

VETERINARY CARE TRANSPORTER: Animals in our care periodically need transport to our veterinary care providers to receive routine medical care, as well as emergency care due to illness. Transporters would pick-up the animal from a foster home or from the Orland Park Petsmart transport it to the veterinarian for care, and then return it to its housing location.

OTHER: There are many additional volunteer opportunities including help with administrative needs, website maintenance, graphic design, free-hand artists, etc. If there is an area that you have talent in and would like to share that with A Caring Place, please let us know.

To get yourself started, please print off and complete our Volunteer Application and Agreement. You can return the form via fax at 630-271-9006, or scan the pages and send as jpg files to acaringplace@comcast.net ,or send the document to us via mail....