It is important for all of us to realize that the poor living conditions of animals can only be changed through personal responsibility and action. Many schools, scout troops, religious organizations and others hold various benefits for the animals in the Humane Society’s care.

Although community service programs are a required part of most regular outreach programs, you are invited to create your own benefit to help the Humane Society’s animals whether you sign up for our regular outreach classes or not. Some simple suggestions for community service projects that benefit the Humane Society of Southern Arizona are shown below.

NOTICE TO COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT ORGANIZERS: If you are participating in a Community Service project to benefit HSSA and would like a tour as part of your program, please be aware that you should make arrangements with our office in advance.  Due to the popularity of our programs, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide a tour if you have not made arrangements ahead of time.  Please keep in mind that our schedule can book up weeks or even months in advance.  Tours are only offered Monday through Friday between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  We do not offer tours on weekends or major holidays when the shelter is closed.

Please be aware of the following tour requirements:

1.       Children MUST be in third grade or higher in order to tour.  We do not provide tours to very small children due to safety concerns, but can substitute a Pet VIP program [add link to Pet VIP].

2.       Children in grades 3 through 5 must complete a bite prevention program prior to touring.  The bite prevention program is free but must be scheduled separately from your tour and held at your site.

3.       Please be aware that shelter tours are not intended to be “petting zoo”-type experiences.  Tours are considered part of our larger humane education program and are designed to give kids an understanding of the daily challenges faced by animal welfare workers.  Coordinators are encouraged to discuss the role of animal shelters and prepare their children for the possibility of seeing ill or injured animals that may disturb them.                                                                                                                                         

If we are unable to provide a tour to your group due to scheduling issues, we can arrange for a Pet VIP animal visitation to your site.  These visitations are an hour in length and must be scheduled ahead of time. Click here for more about PET VIP.

Please contact the Community Outreach Department at 520.321.3704, ext. 101 or 142 for assistance with organizing your community service project.  We have free organizing kits that will help you with this process.
 

Fill Out Community Outreach Program Request Application HERE>

 

Elements of the  Community Service Program:

• A visual presentation on how to conduct a successful community service project.
  
• HSSA Community Service Projects booklet.
  
• A Humane Society shelter tour or in-class “virtual tour.”
  
• A recognition ceremony for all participating students.

Examples of Community Service Programs:

HOLD A FOOD AND MATERIALS DRIVE:

 Shelters constantly run short of supplies.  You can help the Humane Society by collecting these badly needed pet care items:

• Cat and dog food (Both dry and canned)
• Puppy and kitten food (Both dry and canned)
• Bird and rodent food
• Pet snacks and treats
• Kitty litter
• Clean towels and blankets
• Dog and cat carriers
• Sterile medical gauze
• Unopened bottles of bleach
• Dog collars and leashes
• Grooming supplies
• Any cash donations      

HOLD A “KINDNESS CRUSADE!”:

This fun in-school game is played by pitting different classes against each other. The goal is to collect pennies for anti-cruelty and prevention efforts.  The class with the most pennies wins the “Kindness Crusade” and receives a special certificate. The pennies are used to save animals from abuse!

CREATE A SCHOOL GARDEN:

Instead of growing fruits and vegetables, plant native flowers that attract hummingbirds or butterflies. This will make your school a prettier place and provide a new home for wild animals.

HOLD AN ANIMAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR:

Using the information you receive during your Humane Society presentations, create your own animal fair. Design activities and games. Invite the whole school, parents and family members. Donate the money from your fair to help HSSA animals.

CREATE YOUR OWN C.S. PROGRAM:

Whether it’s a car wash, a pickle sale or a towel drive, kids can be very creative when it comes to helping animals at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona! 

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