Racine & Me: WHS volunteer opportunities that make a difference

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) — The Wisconsin Humane Society is looking for volunteers at its Racine Campus, with a variety of positions available.

Jenna Crawford, director of youth programs, joined Racine & Me to talk about the opportunities. Whether you love animals, enjoy working with children, have a creative side or simply want to give back to the community, there is something for everyone.

One unique opportunity is volunteering as an animal photographer. Volunteers do not need to be professional photographers, and the position offers flexibility to fit different schedules.

Volunteers can use an updated cellphone to take photos of shelter animals and upload them to the Wisconsin Humane Society website. Because handling animals and taking photos at the same time can be challenging, the role could also be a good fit for family members or friends who want to volunteer together.

Those who enjoy working with children can consider becoming youth program volunteers. Volunteers interact with children, lead activities and games, and help them meet and learn about animals.

Volunteers can set their schedules based on their availability and program needs, making the opportunity flexible.

There are also opportunities for youth leaders ages 13 to 17. The position gives young people a chance to gain volunteer experience while working under the supervision of Wisconsin Humane Society staff.

Youth leaders may help with crafts, snacks, setup, cleanup and other activities.

Another important opportunity is serving as an emergency transport volunteer. These volunteers provide transportation for injured or potentially critically injured stray animals that require emergency veterinary care after hours at the Racine and Kenosha campuses.

Many of the animals needing emergency transport are strays that have been injured or require stabilizing care until they can be transferred to a Wisconsin Humane Society campus the following business day or reunited with their families.

To help make sure those animals continue receiving the care they need, the organization is looking for volunteers willing to be on call and transport critical cases to the nearest open emergency veterinary partner.

All volunteer positions have specific requirements, and the Wisconsin Humane Society provides training for each role.

In addition to these opportunities, there is also a high need for volunteer greeters, animal care technicians and shelter crew members.

If you have been looking for a meaningful way to give back to the community and help animals, consider becoming a Wisconsin Humane Society Racine Campus volunteer.

More information about available positions and how to apply can be found at wihumane.org under the "Get Involved" tab.