Volunteer your time
Spend your day with animals who adore you, then go home to your own.
Want to join our efforts but not sure where to start? You can walk the dogs, sit with the cats, help at events, or pitch in around the shelter grounds. Even one hour a week makes a difference.
A great place to start is our Morning Kennel Club — pick a day Tuesday–Saturday and help with the dogs from 8–9am, with a partner and training provided. Just call 217-737-4042 or stop by.
Ways to get involved
🐾 At the shelter
- Walk, exercise, and socialize the dogs
- Spend quiet time with shy or recovering cats
- Help with feeding, laundry, and keeping spaces clean
- Photograph animals so they shine online
- Greet visitors and help with meet-and-greets
🏡 Beyond the shelter
- Help run fundraisers and community events
- Transport animals to vet or adoption events
- Share our adoptable pets on social media
- Lend a skill: grant writing, carpentry, yard work, IT
- Foster-to-adopt: once you're an approved volunteer, you may be able to take a pet home while you finalize an adoption
🌅 Join the Morning Kennel Club
Start your day with a purpose! We're looking for dedicated volunteers for the morning shift, helping our dogs from 8:00 to 9:00 am, Tuesday through Saturday. Training is provided and you'll always have a partner, just bring the dog kisses and cuddles.
Call 217-737-4042 or just stop by, Tuesday through Friday 10-4 or Saturday 9-12.
How to get started
1️⃣ Come on in
Stop by during our open hours for a tour. Meet the dogs and cats, see the day-to-day, and get a feel for whether you'd like to work with our dogs, our cats, or both. No commitment, just come say hello.
2️⃣ Fill out the application
When you're ready, complete our volunteer application online and it comes straight to us — we'll follow up to get you started. Prefer paper? Grab one at the shelter or the external drop box.
Want to foster instead (or as well)? Fill out the foster home application →
Who can volunteer
Just about everyone! Individuals 16 and older are welcome on their own; younger helpers are welcome alongside a parent or guardian. We also host groups: scout troops, church and civic clubs, school organizations, and workplace teams looking for a meaningful day of service. Students needing community-service hours are always welcome, and we're happy to sign off on your form. Most roles need just a short orientation and an hour or two a week, on a schedule that works for you.
Because the well-being of our animals, volunteers, and visitors comes first, every volunteer fills out an application and we do a brief review. In a few situations we may not be able to bring someone on, and we'll always let you know kindly. We hope you understand; it helps keep everyone safe and our insurance costs down.
Can't volunteer right now? You can still help.
Donations of everyday supplies make a real difference. We're often in need of dry & canned dog and cat food, kitten/puppy formula, cat litter, laundry detergent, bleach, paper towels, blankets and towels, and gift cards to local pet and hardware stores. Drop items at the shelter during open hours, or contact us to ask what's most needed this week.
Ready to get started, or have questions about getting involved? Stop by during open hours or reach out anytime. We'd love to hear from you.
Call 217-737-4042 Contact us