If you would you like to receive MCHS email updates, please enter your email address below and click Join

 

County Animal Shelter

240.773.5960

14645 Rothgeb Drive

Rockville, MD 20850

Hours to Visit

With the Animals

Monday - Friday

12 noon - 7pm

Closed Wednesdays

Sat & Sun:12 noon-5 pm

Business Hours

Monday - Friday

10am - 7pm

Closed Wednesdays

Sat & Sun: 10am - 5pm

Directions

MCHS Private Rescue

240.453.9401

607 S. Stonestreet Ave.

Rockville, MD 20850

Hours to Visit

With the Animals

Monday - Friday

12 noon - 7pm

Closed Wednesdays

Sat & Sun: 12 noon-5pm

Directions

Receive Free Newsletter!
 

Adult Volunteer

Opportunities:

18+ years old


Adoption Advisior Match potential pet adopters with their new best friend!  Provide information about the animals and the adoption procedure to patrons and assist in conducting adoption visits.  Create lists showing which animals have zero prospective adopters and which have many, making the selection process easier for patrons.

Humane Education Assistant
Assist the humane educator both on site at the shelter and off-site.  On site events include giving tours of the shelter and education on humane treatment of animals. Off-sites go into the community to different groups with the same education ideas.  Position does involve handling of animals—training for animal handler positions required.

Cat and/or Rabbit Handler
Provide the cats and rabbits with affection and much needed attention. Strive to keep them well socialized and prepare them for the transition into their new homes. This position not only includes handling the animals, but also cleaning litter boxes and cages and performing adoption visits for patrons who wish to see an animal more closely.
Dog Handler Most duties are as described above (under cat & rabbit handler). In addition, this position will require physical strength and agility, as well as willingness to clean cages or otherwise assist kennel staff.
Dog Trainer With volunteer coordinator’s approval, teach shelter dogs training and manner cues using the Montgomery County Humane Society's Training Cue and Protocol Manual. Record each dog's progress on the Dog Training Board for the public to see (a well trained dog is often seen as more adoptable). Volunteers must first go through dog handler training and complete a minimum of 40 hours of dog handling before proceeding to dog trainer.
Wagging Tails Thrifts and Gifts Work once a week (or more often) in a four-hour shift. Sort donations; work at the cash register, and assist customers. All proceeds benefit the shelter animals. Good people skills are a must. Ark For Montgomery County Humane Society/Rescue Facility: A Good Samaritan made a $100,000.00 donation recently to the Animal Shelter. The Humane Society used the donation to renovate The Ark. The Ark will maintain a retail store and grooming area while a portion of the building is turned into a kennel for all types of animals. The facility will be used as a private rescue organization, not funded by the county. Animals will be adopted from the Shelter and then cared for at the Ark until a suitable home is found for them. The following positions will be available at The Ark, as they are at the Humane Society: All Animal Handler Positions, Kennel Assistant, Adoption Advisor, Production Services.
Foster Program Open your heart and home to animals that need more time than the shelter can provide. This position requires an approval process similar to the adoption process. Fosters provide temporary homes for the animal(s) they foster. They are also responsible for finding homes for their fosters. MCHS takes care of most veterinary expenses and reimburses for advertisements. Fosters often use the MAU as a source for prospective adopters.  If you are interested in fostering, please email the foster department at fostermau@mchumane.org
Information Desk Attendant Provide visitors with information on adoption procedures, MCHS policies, and characteristics and availability of animals.  Generally assist patrons through the adoption process, take in donations, and discuss pet care needs and breed requirements with potential adopters. Good people skills a must.

Mobile Adoption Unit (MAU) &

Community Outreach Program

MAU ANIMAL HANDLER (Dogs, Cats or Small Animals):Perform basic animal handler duties, answer questions regarding MCHS policies and procedures, pet care needs, and breed pros and cons. Perform adoption visits for prospective adopters.

MAU Preparation Assistant
Wash dishes and laundry, help clean foster animal cages and cat carriers in the foster office and on the MAU. Load and unload materials and equipment utilized at events. Prepare for MAU events by assisting the Community Outreach Coordinator.

Kennel Assistant
Wash items such as food bowls, toys, and litter pans. Prepare and wash laundry. Prepare food and water bowls for all animals and litter trays for cats. Assist in cleaning animals’ cages. Extensively clean the kennel kitchen and other storage areas as needed. Assist the kennel staff as needed. PET!
Requests Match animals with prospective adopters who have completed a request form, indicating an interest in adopting a specific type of animal. Duties include: filing, cross-referencing, contacting applicants when a match is found, and encouraging them to visit the animal inside the shelter.  Good phone skills a must.
Production Services MCHS depends on roughly 1,000 documents a week, which production volunteers copy, collate, and staple in large quantities. Production Services also helps with phone calling and other vital administrative tasks.
Shelter Host Provide an extra set of hands during busy times. Greet visitors, distribute information about the adoption process, and perform other tasks as they present themselves.
Special Events Help promote special events and fundraisers throughout the year. Assist at the events themselves with setup, takedown, and everything in between. Animal handlers must be 18 years old.
Animal Transporter
Transport animals from private foster homes to and from offsite functions held around the county by the MAU, to and from a vet’s office close to the foster parent’s residence, and occasionally transfer shelter animals to an out of county rescue group for adoption purposes. Volunteer may choose to be an emergency or non-emergency animal transporter.

Digital Photographer
Photograph shelter animals with a digital camera to upload their pictures on the MCHS website.  Having great photos for the public to see greatly increases an animal's chances for adoption.  Experience helpful but not required. Requires handling of animals, must be 18 years old or over. Training for all animal handler positions required.










 
  14645 Rothgeb Drive | Rockville, MD 20850 | Main Number: (240) 773-5960
Programs & Services: (240) 773-5054 | Emergency Services (24/7): (240) 773-5900 | Fax: (301) 279-1998