Animal Welfare Professionals

For those organizations who have youth volunteers, at what age do you allow them to have direct contact with the animals (e.g., walking dogs and socializing with cats)? If you allow individuals under 18 to work directly with animals, do you have their parents sign an additional release/indemnification waiver?

Hi Chris,

I'm currently an intern with Rocky Mountain French Bulldog Rescue, so while I'm not an expert on jurisdiction surrounding youth volunteers, I can share my personal experience.

When I volunteered at an animal shelter at age 15, there were several age-related restrictions in place. First, volunteers had to be at least 15 years old. Those between ages 15 and 18 were required to have a parent present for supervision during their first six months participating at the shelter. After that period, I was permitted to work independently with kittens, rabbits, and other small animals until I turned 18. Volunteers 18 and older were allowed to work with dogs/bigger animals without supervision.

Both my parents and I signed liability waivers, since we were all volunteering at the shelter.

I hope this was helpful! 

For those organizations who have youth volunteers, at what age do you allow them to have direct contact with the animals (e.g., walking dogs and socializing with cats)? If you allow individuals under 18 to work directly with animals, do you have their parents sign an additional release/indemnification waiver?

For those organizations who have youth volunteers, at what age do you allow them to have direct contact with the animals (e.g., walking dogs and socializing with cats)? If you allow individuals under 18 to work directly with animals, do you have their parents sign an additional release/indemnification waiver?

Hi there,

We allow volunteers as young as 8yrs to volunteer with our animals. If they are between 8-15yrs they must be with a parent or guardian (18yrs or older). Once 16-17yrs they can volunteer on their own. All volunteers attend training and fill out a volunteer application (ours includes an indemnity clause). All of our animals are color coded and assessed so our volunteers know which ones we feel comfortable with youth and which ones need to remain adult only. 

Let me know if you have any questions.

Erin Ellis

For those organizations who have youth volunteers, at what age do you allow them to have direct contact with the animals (e.g., walking dogs and socializing with cats)? If you allow individuals under 18 to work directly with animals, do you have their parents sign an additional release/indemnification waiver?

Hi, Chris.

Since we are under contract with the city, we are legally not allowed to have volunteers who are under 18 years old handle animals. However, we have a Junior Volunteer program run by our Community Kids Department where they read to our animals (with a parent or guardian present). It helps lessen the stress of the animals. 

Hi there,

We allow volunteers as young as 8yrs to volunteer with our animals. If they are between 8-15yrs they must be with a parent or guardian (18yrs or older). Once 16-17yrs they can volunteer on their own. All volunteers attend training and fill out a volunteer application (ours includes an indemnity clause). All of our animals are color coded and assessed so our volunteers know which ones we feel comfortable with youth and which ones need to remain adult only. 

Let me know if you have any questions.

Erin Ellis

For those organizations who have youth volunteers, at what age do you allow them to have direct contact with the animals (e.g., walking dogs and socializing with cats)? If you allow individuals under 18 to work directly with animals, do you have their parents sign an additional release/indemnification waiver?

Hi there,

We allow volunteers as young as 8yrs to volunteer with our animals. If they are between 8-15yrs they must be with a parent or guardian (18yrs or older). Once 16-17yrs they can volunteer on their own. All volunteers attend training and fill out a volunteer application (ours includes an indemnity clause). All of our animals are color coded and assessed so our volunteers know which ones we feel comfortable with youth and which ones need to remain adult only. 

Let me know if you have any questions.

Erin Ellis

For those organizations who have youth volunteers, at what age do you allow them to have direct contact with the animals (e.g., walking dogs and socializing with cats)? If you allow individuals under 18 to work directly with animals, do you have their parents sign an additional release/indemnification waiver?

For those organizations who have youth volunteers, at what age do you allow them to have direct contact with the animals (e.g., walking dogs and socializing with cats)? If you allow individuals under 18 to work directly with animals, do you have their parents sign an additional release/indemnification waiver?

Chris,

I work at a municipal shelter.  We have adult volunteers fill our volunteer waivers. If they have someone with them that is under 18 years old, they include them on the waiver and are responsible for them the entire time. The adult has to stay with the child at all times. We give a tour and have a list of rules that the adult and child go over before starting too. If we ever notice a juvenile alone or not participating correctly, we address it with both adult and child.

For those organizations who have youth volunteers, at what age do you allow them to have direct contact with the animals (e.g., walking dogs and socializing with cats)? If you allow individuals under 18 to work directly with animals, do you have their parents sign an additional release/indemnification waiver?

Chris,

I work at a municipal shelter.  We have adult volunteers fill our volunteer waivers. If they have someone with them that is under 18 years old, they include them on the waiver and are responsible for them the entire time. The adult has to stay with the child at all times. We give a tour and have a list of rules that the adult and child go over before starting too. If we ever notice a juvenile alone or not participating correctly, we address it with both adult and child.

For those organizations who have youth volunteers, at what age do you allow them to have direct contact with the animals (e.g., walking dogs and socializing with cats)? If you allow individuals under 18 to work directly with animals, do you have their parents sign an additional release/indemnification waiver?