Best Friends receive special training to work more closely with shelter animals. Primary duties of HSSCM’s Best Friends include working one-on-one with shelter animals:
Dogs – basic obedience commands, socialization, bathing, walking;

Cats – holding, brushing, socialization, interactive play.

Best Friends will work with staff members to review animal needs, and will report back on animal progress, including providing information for monthly pet sponsorship updates.

Interested individuals must have been a Shelter Pal for at least six months. Best Friends must be 18 years or older and must commit to volunteering six to eight hours per month.

Best Friends will receive one-on-one or special group training at least once per quarter on a variety of topics including animal behavior, positive training, basic cat and dog health care, identifying signs of illness, basic disease transmission, animal restraint, animal enrichment, minimizing shelter stress and more.