Teen Animal Care Volunteer Program

Registration for 2026 sessions opens in November on a first-come, first-serve basis. We welcome teens 16-18 to apply if they are enthusiastic about being a part of the program, and they are willing to come in for their scheduled shifts and work in their assigned positions.

Who

16 to 18 year-olds currently enrolled in high school

What

Teens will choose to work in either the kennels or cattery during their 12-week session. Volunteer work will be performed at the shelter for a scheduled shift of 3 hours per week on their assigned day of the week. We expect teens to do the job assigned to them, which is predominantly helping to keep the dog or cat cages and kennels clean. Complacency is not an option.

Each 12-week session is limited to 20 teens and positions are granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Teens are limited to one session per calendar year.

• Teens must be 16 years old, and no older than 18 years old, by their session’s start date.
• Teens must be actively attending high school.
• The registered teen and a parent must attend the on-site orientation and the teen must attend the two training sessions. No exceptions will be made. Please make sure you are both available on the orientation date for your chosen session and the teen is available for the one hour training sessions on both dates. Note the dates in your calendar.
• Teen (with parental approval) must agree to criminal background check which will be processed prior to the orientation.
• Teen must agree to come in once a week for 3 hours, for their 3-month session; same day, same time, same job (either animal care kennels or cattery). We do not offer make-up days.
• We are looking for enthusiastic teens who are not afraid of hard work. Teens are expected to work independently after training. Coming in but not doing the job at hand may result in the teen being dismissed from the program.
• If they attend all shifts, teens can earn 36 hours for school.
• There is a $40 non-refundable fee that helps cover the cost of the uniform shirt, badge, lanyard and background check.
• Teens can register for one session per calendar year.
• If teens have volunteered for sessions previously, approval from the Animal Care Supervisor is mandatory. The Humane Society of Broward County reserves the right to cancel a registration based on past performance. If this is the case, the $40 fee will be refunded.
• You will be contacted approximately 10 days prior to your orientation date as a reminder.

When

2025 Orientation, Training (1-Hour Sessions) & Session Terms – PLEASE NOTE THESE IMPORTANT DATES IN YOUR CALENDAR

2026 dates will be posted soon.

• Group #1
  Mandatory Orientation: 1/11/25 at 10:00am at the shelter
  Mandatory Training: 1/11/25 at 11:30am and 1/12/25 at 9:00am
  Start: 1/19/25
  Stop: 4/12/25
• Group #2
  Mandatory Orientation: 2/22/25 at 10:00am at the shelter
  Mandatory Training: 2/22/25 at 11:30am and 2/23/25 at 9:00am
  Start: 3/2/25
  Stop: 5/24/25
• Group #3
  Mandatory Orientation: 4/5/25 at 10:00am at the shelter
  Mandatory Training: 4/5/25 at 11:30am and 4/6/25 at 9:00am
  Start: 4/13/25
  Stop: 7/5/25
• Group #4
  Mandatory Orientation: 5/17/25 at 10:00am at the shelter
  Mandatory Training: 5/17/25 at 11:30am and 5/18/25 at 9:00am
  Start: 5/25/25
  Stop: 8/16/25
• Group #5
  Mandatory Orientation: 6/28/25 at 10:00am at the shelter
  Mandatory Training: 6/28/25 at 11:30am and 6/29/25 at 9:00am
  Start: 7/6/25
  Stop: 9/27/25
• Group #6
  Mandatory Orientation: 8/9/25 at 10:00am at the shelter
  Mandatory Training: 8/9/25 at 11:30am and 8/10/25 at 9:00am
  Start: 8/17/25
  Stop: 11/8/25
• Group #7
  Mandatory Orientation: 9/20/25 at 10:00am at the shelter
  Mandatory Training: 9/20/25 at 11:30am and 9/21/25 at 9:00am
  Start: 9/28/25
  Stop: 12/20/25

Where

Humane Society of Broward County
2070 Griffin Road
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312

Mandatory orientation and training sessions will be conducted at the shelter.
All volunteer shifts will be in person at the shelter.