General Requirements:

• All volunteers are asked to make a minimum six-month commitment to the shelter. If interested in a single-day volunteer opportunity, please click here to learn about our Community Service Volunteer program.
• STUDENTS: Please note, we are unable to onboard student volunteers in the spring unless you can continue volunteering through the summer to fulfill the six-month requirement. We apologize for any inconvenience.
• Please note that most shelter volunteer positions require a minimum of two hours of service per week. Please check the volunteer position descriptions for age and time requirements.
• All volunteers 18 years of age and older are required to complete a national criminal background check and sex offender search.

Age Requirements:

• Volunteers between the ages of 10-15 are eligible to join our “Partner Up Program.” Partner-Up teams consist of at least one adult (parent, guardian or trusted family friend) age 18 years or over and the child. Adult and child volunteer together.
• Beginning at age 16, children may volunteer independently at the shelter in select departments without a parent or guardian.
• We’re sorry, but due to the nature of our services, children under 10 years of age are not allowed to volunteer at the animal shelter. Children may participate by providing foster care to an animal if an adult age 21 years or over joins the Foster Care program.

• Prior to volunteer orientation in the shelter, we provide an overview of NOCO Humane’s programs and services, answer frequently asked questions, and require the completion of paperwork and a background check.
• A $30 orientation fee for your t-shirt, name tag, whistle, training, and a national criminal background check is required. This payment is non-refundable unless your start of service is denied by NOCO Humane due to the inability to place you. If you are registering as a Partner-Up team, the parent/guardian and child must both register.
• Please note, volunteer position availability is based on shelter needs. Much like staffing, we recruit for volunteer positions as needed, and openings are not always available. lf there is a department that you are set on, please email us to confirm position availability prior to registering.

Larimer Campus: Volunteer onboarding is partially self-paced. New volunteers will receive information about next steps upon registration and can complete initial trainings and paperwork at their own pace. After NOCO Humane has received all completed paperwork, prospective volunteers will receive a sign-up link for a specific orientation date. Please note that space in the volunteer program is limited, and may currently be waitlised. Questions? Please email larimervolunteer@nocohumane.org.

Weld Campus: Volunteer onboarding is entirely self-paced. New volunteers will receive information about next steps upon registration and can complete initial trainings and paperwork at their own pace. After NOCO Humane has received all completed paperwork, prospective volunteers will receive an email to coordinate a time for orientation and in-shelter training. Questions? Please email weldvolunteer@nocohumane.org.

Larimer Campus:

1. Orientation – Following registration and the completion of all required paperwork, prospective volunteers will attend an in-person orientation at our Larimer Campus to receive a tour of the shelter and animal-handling training.
2. Interview – After attending volunteer orientation, prospective volunteers will be invited to interview within their chosen department to discuss personal goals, daily responsibilities, and whether or not the position is a proper fit for the volunteer, depending on availability and interests.
3. Training – Each position has specific training requirements that are reviewed with volunteers during their interview. Safety is our top priority, so we want to ensure that volunteers are well-trained and feel comfortable in their chosen roles.

Weld Campus: 

1. Orientation – Following registration and the completion of all required paperwork, the Volunteer Coordinator will reach out to schedule your orientation day, where you will receive a tour of the shelter and to schedule hands-on training.
2.  Training – Each position has specific training requirements that will be reviewed with volunteers. Safety is our top priority, so we want to ensure that volunteers are well-trained and feel comfortable in their chosen roles.