Group Volunteers

Thank you for your interest in having your group volunteer with the Humane Society of West Michigan! Volunteers play a crucial role in caring for the animals and maintaining the shelter. Please review our group volunteer opportunities and policies below.  
 
Important Notes 
 
  • Dog walking and cat/small animal enrichment is ONLY available for our regularly scheduled individual volunteers. Please visit our “Regularly Scheduled Volunteer” page for more information: https://www.hswestmi.org/volunteer.html  ​
​Group Volunteer Information

HSWM appreciates the support our group volunteers can provide at the animal shelter. Potential volunteer tasks can include: raking dog runs, tidying up the dog park, pulling weeds along the dog walking trail, sorting pet food, sorting cat items, organizing various areas, and other needed support. 

  • Time: Date and time options are listed in the sign up. 

  • Size: Groups can have a maximum of 10 people who are 18 and older. 

  • **Cost: Due to the preparation time required for volunteer groups, we require a $150 donation to sign up for a group volunteer slot. Please see details below for what is included:
    • Volunteer Duties 
    • Tour of HSWM shelter facility. 
    • 30 Minutes of playtime with animal(s)
Group Volunteer FAQs 
 
Why does the HSWM require a minimum donation for groups to volunteer at the shelter? 
  • HSWM is a 100% donor funded organization. We rely on the generosity of our supporters to care for our shelter animals and community. Our dedicated team takes time to coordinate, process your groups waivers, prepare for, set up, and lead your group through your assigned volunteer activity. The $150 donation covers the cost of staff time and materials needed to make your group experience as exceptional as possible. Thank you for your understanding! 
    • Note: If the required donation is a financial barrier to your group, please contact [email protected] and we will do our best to work with you! 
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What if my group is larger then 10 people?
  • Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate groups larger than 10. We recommend signing up for two different volunteer slots, or choosing to complete one of our recommended service projects at your location.
How can my group volunteer if we are unable to pay the minimum required donation? 

  • Event Volunteering: Our event volunteer opportunities are always free and have a lot of need! Events include our Humane Hustle 5K on Nov. 8th, 2025, our Paws Claws & Corks gala in March of 2026, and our Birthday Party & Carnival in June of 2026. Please email [email protected] to inquire about event specific volunteer opportunities. 

  • Dogs Day Out: HSWM is always looking for people to participate in our “Dogs Day Out” program. This program allows you to take a dog out of the shelter for a 1-2 hour field trip and capture tons of pictures and videos to share! Adults only. Dog seat belts will be provided. Visit https://www.hswestmi.org/dogsdayout.html for more information and to sign up. 
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