I want to explore : For Kids
Safety Tips for Making Friends with Dogs
Generally, dogs are loving and loyal companions! However, just to be safe, it is important to make sure that we approach them in the correct manner. Click here for some guidelines to follow when meeting a dog to help ensure a friendly interaction.
Young Volunteers
You can be a great supporter of animals and the work we do at the Seattle Humane Society. Because of staffing concerns and safety issues, we are unable to offer volunteer positions to people under age 18, however, there are many ways for you to participate! The following list outlines a variety of options.
Conduct A Pet Food Drive
A very helpful way to volunteer is to organize a pet food drive in your neighborhood or school. Donations of pet food, supplies, toys and cat litter are always appreciated. Many of these items are distributed through our Pet Food Bank for low-income senior pet owners and through Pet Project, which helps pet owners disabled with AIDS.
Knit Blankets For Cats Awaiting Adoption
All of the cats in our care receive a blanket or towel to make their cat cubby more comfortable. The cats especially love knit blankets. This is a great way to learn a new skill, or practice an old one, and benefit the cats on our campus.
Make Captivating Catnip Toys For Our Fabulous Felines
We try to provide a healthy environment for the cats awaiting adoption, which includes giving them plenty of toys. One of their favorites is catnip-filled socks. All you need are baby socks, cotton balls, dried catnip, and a needle and thread. Take a baby sock and fill it with cotton balls and a wad of catnip in the center – a teaspoon or so should work. Then sew off the top of the sock and clip any loose threads. You're done!
Coordinate A Coin Drive
Collect coins from family, friends and neighbors. The Seattle Humane Society has an account with CoinStar machines in QFC stores where deposits can be made. Visit the Coinstar website (www.coinstar.com) to find out how to donate your jar of coins through the Coins that Count program. Or you can monitor a coin collection at a business. When the can is full, bring it to the Seattle Humane Society and replace it with a new one.
Host A Fundraiser
Young people are often our most creative fundraisers! You can get involved in a variety of fundraising projects and then donate the proceeds to the animals. We have had children hold bake sales, yard sales, craft sales, participate in walk-a-thons, and much more! Feel free to use your imagination to come up with a fundraising idea.
Hold a Cat Toy Drive For Our Cat Enrichment Program
Although the cats in our care receive toys, blankets, and treats on a daily basis, we're always trying to provide them with as much stimulation as possible. Enrichment can be provided through food (canned food, treats), furniture (scratching posts and stepstools), toys (balls and flyers), activities (clicker training), olfactory stimulants (catnip), and/or auditory stimulants (music and nature sounds). These physical and psychological stimuli provide numerous benefits, such as increasing the cats' overall well-being and their ability to get adopted.
The following items are needed for the Cat Enrichment Program:
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Toy Shoppe brand playables furry mice (12 pack)
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Multi-colored lattice balls (4 pack)
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Toy Shoppe brand mini safari mice (10 pack)
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Catnip stuffed toys
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Toy Shoppe brand ticklers
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Shaker's brand interactive cat toys
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Heard that Bird; cat toy with wand
To earn school community service hours, please contact sally@seattlehumane.org in our Volunteer Services department to register for this program. Click here to print a Seattle Humane Society community service time log.