Our Location
2704 Frederick Blvd.
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 397-6004
(757) 397-1900 Fax
Directions
Hours of Operation
12pm - 4:30pm (Mon.-Sat)
12pm-3:30pm (Sunday)
Closed Tuesdays
Surrenders by appointment onlyx ID: 54-0560059
 
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On behalf of the animals, thank you for your interest in volunteering at PHS! Whether it be socialization, training, bathing, grooming or even an afternoon walk, the time our volunteers spend with our animals is critical to helping them find their forever homes.
Volunteering can be a rewarding experience not just for the animals, but for you as well! Here are just a few of the benefits of volunteering:
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Be part of the solution. You'll join a network of hundreds of thousands of people working to make the world safe and more humane for all living creatures. You'll make the jobs of everyone working for animals a little easier by lending a hand and spreading the message of responsible pet ownership and animal protection.
Get warm fuzzies. You'll never find a more grateful and accepting comrade than an animal you've comforted.
Keep good company. You'll make lots of new friends—and not just the four-legged kind. Working side by side with people who share similar interests can forge lifelong friendships.
Meet the new you. You'll discover skills you never knew you had, and you may be surprised at what you're capable of achieving.
Gain a new career. You'll learn things that may lead you to the career—or career change—of your dreams. Employers and college admissions officers look favorably on time spent in volunteer service.
Enjoy a wagging tail, a purr, and a smile. Didn't someone once say that the best things in life are free?
(Source www.humanesociety.org)
I hope you consider joining our dedicated team of volunteers. Thank you for believing in what we do and for your
part in making it possible!
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PHS offers the following Volunteer Opportunities:
Cat Socialization
Petting, brushing cuddling and playing with our cats/kittens to improve their temperament and quality of life while in the shelter. |
Special Events
Help with a variety of special events each month. |
Dog Socialization/Dog Walking
Walking, petting, brushing and playing with our dogs/puppies to improve their temperament and quality of life while in the shelter. |
Nursing Home Visits
Bring pets to nursing homes and assisted living facilities to socialize with the residents. |
Foster Care
Provide a temporary home for animals with special needs (illness, injury, too young for adoption, etc) until they are ready to be adopted. Click here to learn more! |
PACK Training Team
The Portsmouth Association of Canine Knowledge is a group of trained volunteers who work with specific dogs to focus on basic training. Click here to learn more! |
Pet Center Volunteer
Provide day-to-day care for the cats at one of our two PetSmart Adoption Centers. Click here to learn more! |
Humane Education
Teach students from Pre-K through high school care, respect, and compassion and for all living creatures and safety around animals. |
Mobile Adoption Outreach Program
Assist in the adoption of animals at PetSmart, PETCO and additional offsite locations. |
Shelter Cleaning
Help clean kennels, cat cages, clean dishes, laundry, mopping, sweeping, etc. |
Shelter Maintenance
Assist with general maintenance and repair (Fix broken cages/doors, yard maintenance, odds and ends, etc.). |
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Volunteer Process:
1. Complete a volunteer application.*
2. When you have completed the application, bring it to PHS.
3. Attend an orientation at the shelter. The Volunteer Orientation will be held every Sunday at 3:30pm at the shelter.
4. Choose which Volunteer Opportunities you would like to participate in.
Earn the President's Volunteer Service Award when you volunteer your time to help the animals at Portsmouth Humane Society!
- *Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Children between the ages of 10-15 can volunteer with a parent or legal guardian, and are restricted to certain Volunteer Opportunities.
Refer-a-Volunteer Program
Our volunteers are such important members of the PHS Team, which is why we would like to encourage our current volunteers to share their experiences with friends, family and co-workers. Every time you Refer a Volunteer who completes a Volunteer Application and attends the Volunteer Orientation, you will receive a $5 Restaurant Gift Card!
- Click to download Refer-a-Volunteer Form.
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Contact the Volunteer Manager
Foster Volunteer
Open your heart and home to provide temporary care for a cat or dog when you become a Foster Volunteer! Animals may be placed in foster homes for a variety of reasons: illness, injury, they are too young for adoption, and more.
Kitten Season is upon us at PHS and we have been flooded with kittens who may be too young to be adopted (they must be 8 weeks old to be available for adoption). What is Kitten Season you ask? Kitten Season is the time of year when cats give birth, filling our shelter with litters and litters of kittens. The Kitten Season begins in spring, peaks in the late spring or early summer and ends in the fall.
Unfortunately, we do not have the space and resources to care for each of these kittens the way they deserve- which is where our Foster Parents come in handy! We will supply you with food, bowls, blankets and instructions to allow you to successfully care for the kittens. We supply the resources- you supply the love!
Please call us at (757) 397-6004 or email sheltermgr@portsmouthhumanesociety.org for more information on becoming a Foster Parent!
PACK Training Team
Portsmouth Association of Canine Knowledge
The PACK Team is a group of PHS volunteers who are trained to teach dogs basic obedience commands and focus on any behavioral issues so the dogs may be more prepared for their forever homes. All volunteers are invited to join!
The PACK Team is open to any PHS Volunteer who is willing to dedicate at least 1 hour per week to spend with an assigned dog as well as attend a monthly training meeting with a certified trainer to evaluate the dog’s progress. |
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Contact  or call (757) 397-6004 to sign up!
Join the PACK Training Team and learn to teach dogs basic commands
such as sit, stay and how to walk on a leash!
Pet Center Volunteer
Volunteer your time at one of our two PetSmart Adoption Centers! This flexible opportunity allows our volunteers to choose designated morning or afternoon/evening hours to work at the PetSmart Adoption Centers- hours that the shelter is typically closed. The volunteers will interact with the public, show the wonderful cats available for adoption, help provide day-to-day care for the cats and, when properly trained, conduct adoptions.
Morning caretakers are needed at both locations between 6am and 9am, afternoon/evening caretakers are needed between 4pm and 7pm.
This all volunteer opportunity has found new homes for hundreds of Portsmouth Humane Society cats and depends on dedicated cat lovers for our continued success.
PetSmart Adoption Centers:
3413 Virginia Beach Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
501 Hilltop Plaza Shopping Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 |
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