I want to help animals?

Question

I want to volunteer at a shelter of some sort somewhere near home. Is there any places you know of that hire kids the age of 13?

I live in Massachusettes

Answer 1

Most of the time they only allow people to work directly with the animals when they are 17-18.

But they may give you tasks such as fun raising.

You can look online for places that have programs for younger teens when working with animals.

Because of your age you most likey wont work directly with animals until you at least 16.

Try http://www.peta2.com/index.aspx they normally have things you can do to help animals. Such as post or handing out fliers.

Its nice your wanting to help the animals of the world. Keep up that kind of attitude.

Answer 2

When my daughter was your age, she volunteered at a local animal shelter and she also helped a woman who had a rescue home for animals that was part of the animal shelter also. Call your local shelters and ask if there is any volunteer work for someone your age and if there isn't, ask them if anyone works with them as a rescue home for animals. If there is, get the phone number and call the person who does it and volunteer to come over and help her with the animals at certain times of the day, like after school. Some rescues have their hands full and would cherish the help. Also, call the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) in your area and see if there is a rescue listed with them because if there is, they take care of all the wild animals and birds that need to be housed until they are well and can be put back into the wild. Some of those are actually listed in the yellow pages of some phone books. We have 2 of those places around our area and one of them is very large and uses volunteers all the time. They usually do not get paid for their work except for contributions so they would love the help I'm sure.

Answer 3

Many shelters, as you probably already know, have a minimum age requirement for volunteers working with the animals.

If this is the case where you live, propose that you do tasks that do not require contact with the animals such as filling Kong toys, putting together new adoption packettes, making copies, greeting people, manning the information desk, or doing laundry.

If the shelter is still not open to you volunteering for them then start a project on your own to help the animals. You can do this on you own or with your 4-H or Girl Scout group. It need not be complicated or a big production.

Here are some things that 4-Hers and Girls Scouts have done for the animals at the shelter I volunteer at:


-Made simple chew toys for the bunnies and small animals so they'll have some mental stimulation while at the shelter.

-Raise money (like saving recyclables for change) to pay for neutering a rabbit or two.

-Stuffed paper lunch bags with hay and other treats then tied the tops closed with raffia. They gave them to the bunnies for Christmas.

-Filled small, plastic Easter eggs with three or four crunchy cat treats (so it rattles). The kittens and cats each had a cool toy to bat around.

There is so much a kid can do to help. Decide what you want to do, set a goal, work at your own pace, and bring in your completed project or ongoing project to your shelter. You may even eventually open the door for a youth volunteer program there. Who knows?

My advice when choosing a place to volunteer is to steer yourself far and away from organizations that support PETA (unless your parents approve of such things, I guess). :( They recruit young.

You could also take a job at a stable or do pet sitting/walking. Our pet sitters are teenagers and are awesome. I wouldn't hire anyone else.

Answer 4

omg i live in massachusetts too! :] and i alsoo want to help animals... i'm 14
i dont think anyone will hire you but pretty much anywhere is open to volunteers!
you could call your local shelter and they will be happyy to have you help with something...just look up the number in the phone bookk
i also help out at a barn in byfield MA and i get to ride the horses in return for helping younger kids with them!
start small and put up flyers for dog walking and stuff
thats what i did!

goooood luck !

Answer 5

You are too young to volunteer at a humane society by yourself -- a parent would have to be with you.

Here are other ways to help animals (links below)...

* Don't use products that are tested on animals.
* Go vegan -- don't eat meat or fish, don't buy leather, etc.
* Don't support puppy mills -- don't buy dogs from pet stores or newspaper ads or people on the street.
* Have your pets spayed & neutered.

You can help by educating yourself then educating others. Letter writing is another way to help.

By the way, I think PETA is a worthwhile organization. Not everyone agrees with PETA, which is fine, but you should make up your own mind.

Answer 6

Call around to local shelters and ask. Unfortunately most shelters do have age limits (for insurance reasons) however there may be things you can do for them. They always need help with one thing or another. Fund raising and such. Good luck.

Answer 7

it's really not fair
however
I've been volunteering at shelters for years and I can tell you most humane societies have age limits of 16,14, or 12 so you may have a little trouble finding a place at first
just don't get discouraged and keep looking
good luck!

Answer 8

I'm 13 and i live in MA too! I want to help too! If you find anything e-mail me! :) lol I hope my shelter will let me! But my shelter lady only likes cats so she only takes in a few dogs at the most. And she lets cats walk around the office! :( But anyway! I WANNA HELP! 'm a vegitarian to! that helps!

Answer 9

you can volunteer at any animal shelter, i was working at a shelter for a year (volunteering) when i was 12.