• Are you committed to improving animal welfare?
• Do you want to make a difference?
• Are you hard working?

The Baltimore Humane Society is looking for you! Volunteering at the Baltimore Humane Society is for those who love animals and are committed to improving their lives. Volunteers must be age 14 or older to apply, but please understand that applicants must be over 18 years of age to handle the dogs. Anyone age 14 and older can volunteer to work with the smaller animals like cats and rabbits. If an adult volunteer would like to bring a ‘helper” under the age of 14, they may only spend that time together working with the small animals.

Volunteers are asked to commit to at least eight hours of volunteer service per month.  All volunteers are required to initially attend training classes for the areas in which they’d like to work in addition to an hour orientation class.

Our Volunteer Opportunities are listed below.

To get started:

1. Fill out and submit the online volunteer application at the bottom of this page. Please be aware that it may take a week to process your application. If you have any questions, please contact our Volunteer & Foster Coordinator, Melissa McClelland at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
2. Next, you will receive an email inviting you to sign up for a Volunteer Orientation Class.
3. Following orientation, you will then be able to select the training classes you would like in order to work in the different volunteer positions.

Volunteer Opportunities

WALK OUR DOGS- We have acres of beautiful farmland and rolling hills to walk or run with our awesome dogs! You will have the opportunity to be an active participant in the Open Paw Program, which is an enrichment and training program geared toward improving the animals’ quality of life and their adoptability. The position can involve cleaning, which will involve hands on work hosing, sweeping, scooping up of poop, and laundry and dishes. Hygiene control is very important, as is ensuring that the dogs remain stocked up with food, water, bedding, and toys.

CARE FOR CATS & SMALL ANIMALS- In addition to playing with and socializing with either the cats or small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.) , the position can involve cleaning the animals’ kennels which involves hands on work and scooping up of poop! You will have the opportunity to be an active participant in the Open Paw Program, which is an enrichment and training program geared toward improving the animals’ quality of life and their adoptability. Hygiene control is very important, as is ensuring that the smaller animals remain stocked up with food, water, bedding, and toys.

HELP OUR VET- This is an “open until filled” position. Assist in our Medical Center with data entry and monitoring. Any experience in an animal or human medical center is preferred, but not required.

REPRESENT BHS AT EVENTS- BHS attends festivals, fairs, block parties, school events, as well as adoption events throughout the year. Volunteers need to be the friendly and informative representatives of BHS, to tell our story, assist with adoption applications, and answer questions as needed. The position will require politely asking for donations, set up/break down of booth/table, and returning items and attending pets to the office after the event.

ENRICHMENT SQUAD- Help us increase the amount of enrichment we give our animals! People of any age can be on this squad and will be tasked with making and/or recruiting others to make home-made enrichment toys for the animals (dogs, cats, small animals). Anyone over 18 can be an enrichment supervisor and monitor the dogs while they play with these home-made enrichment toys.

ASSIST IN OUR OFFICES: The Shelter, Marketing, Development, and Cemetery Offices need help with filing, correspondence, data entry, and other administrative tasks. Computer proficiency is a big plus!

HELP WITH MAINTENANCE & GROUNDSKEEPING- Assist our Facilities Manager or Cemetery Director with odd jobs and/or groundskeeping. Must be physically able to safely complete these tasks.

The Baltimore Humane Society wouldn't be what it is today without the help of our dedicated volunteers!  Their assistance is invaluable in our day-to-day operations.  We offer our volunteers four enrichment events a year...two educational in-service days, and two social events...as a small token of our appreciation.

Click here to fill out the online volunteer application form.