Volunteers are essential to Midlands Humane Society and the 200-plus animals in our care each and every day.
From general cleaning to medical assistance, there is always an opportunity to spark your interest in animal welfare and allow you to make a difference in the lives of homeless pets.
The biggest need for volunteers at MHS currently is to grow our dog walking team. With the adoption floor at max capacity, dog walkers are vital in ensuring the dogs have time outside of their kennels in the fresh air to get physical and mental stimulation. It’s understandable that people may be hesitant to begin their dog walking volunteerism in the winter months, but this is when we truly need your help.
Wintertime sees a decrease in volunteer participation for dog walking. However, dogs rely on their routine of going outside for potty breaks, playtime and one-on-one socializing and consistency helps to alleviate stress.
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In the colder months, many dogs do not require long walks as they like to do their business quickly and get back inside to curl up on their blanket or dog bed. We can’t always guarantee this with our huskies, though — they like to spend as much time as possible in the snow, it seems!
Don’t forget, this is also a great way to get your daily exercise when the days seem so much shorter.
So how do you become a dog walking volunteer? Easy! The first step is to attend a volunteer orientation and you can do so either in person at MHS or by joining a convenient online session.
There is a $25 registration fee, which gets you a volunteer T-shirt, name tag, lanyard and allows regularly scheduled volunteer appreciation events throughout the year. Dog walking shifts are 8 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays, and 8 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. weekends.
We ask volunteers to complete at minimum one dog walking shift per week to stay updated on policies, procedures and the specific needs of the dogs on the adoption floor.
The minimum age to volunteer is 13 with an adult, and the minimum age to walk dogs is 16. Orientation dates are listed on the Midlands Humane Society website. Contact Volunteer & Foster Care Coordinator, Derek Rollins, at drollins@midlandshumanesociety.org or 712-396-2263 with any questions.
We understand that not all animal lovers have a schedule conducive to volunteering, so we ask that you consider donating towards the care of the thousands of animals MHS serves in Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County each year by participating in our year-end annual fundraiser, Bark Friday!
This year we have a goal of raising $60,000 and we need your help to reach this goal by Dec. 31. You can easily do so online at midlandshumanesociety.org or mail or stop by in person at 1020 Railroad Ave., Council Bluffs, IA 51503. All donations are tax deductible as MHS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Thank you for your continued support of MHS, the animals, staff, and volunteers are very grateful for your contributions.
Leah is a 4.5-yea-old spayed female Husky who will be the perfect winter activity partner! She is very friendly, energetic, and will be a great companion for her new family. She has successfully lived with other dogs in a previous home.
Sid is a 3.5-year-old neutered male Husky mix who is quite the character and always ready to make you laugh with his antics. He likes to explore which means he can be quite the escape artist and will require supervision when he is outside for potty breaks or playtime. He is a very happy-go-lucky guy who likes to make friends with everyone he meets. He will need a home without cats.
Honey is a 6-month-old spayed female boxer mix with an infectious spirit and friendly nature. She is ready to share her joy and sweetness with a loving family. She is full of energy and will love to have a home with plenty of room to run and play.
Crush and Squirt are adult Red Eared Sliders who have the silliest personalities and make sure it’s known when they are ready for snack time. Turtles require quite the enclosure to keep them happy, so make sure you research the needs of these guys before making them an addition to your home.
Visit MHS weekdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check out our available pets online by visiting our website at midlandshumanesociety.org/adopt.
