Working Environment
Program participants will be helping with routine shelter tasks, whatever is most needed at the time. Typical tasks include folding and restocking laundry, cleaning dishes, cleaning animal housing areas or carriers, and packing pet food. Participants may need to stand for extended periods of time, bend, crouch, and lift up to 15 pounds. Participants will not be directly handling animals as part of their service, but may be offered a meet and greet opportunity at staff's discretion. Pets in a shelter environment often behave differently than pets in a home envronment and participants should be prepared to see and hear pets who may be experiencing high levels of stress.
Peanut Allergen Warning
At Seattle Humane, peanut products may be found in any area where animals are present, especially near dogs. Peanut butter is commonly used to provide enrichment and medication, and program participants may come in contact with these products or animals who have recently consumed these products while at the shelter. While peanut products are uncommon in our veterinary clinic, cat housing, and small critter areas, there is shared equipment and laundry between that may carry a risk of peanut exposure. Families should contact Education Services staff if they have questions about their teen's ability to safely participate in activities.
Cancellation policy
Seattle Humane may need to cancel a service shift for reasons including, but not limited to: low enrollment, inclement weather, or staff shortage. If a service shift is cancelled, participants can choose to have their registration fee refunded or roll registration forward to a future shift.
There is a 3-day grace period for paricipants to cancel a registration made in error, after which the registration fee cannot be refunded if the participant cancels. The fee can be rolled forward to a future session, if space is available.
Dress Code and Conduct Expectations
For their health and safety, participants must wear sturdy, close-toed shoes and clothing that covers the whole leg, torso, and upper arms. An example of this could be sneakers, jeans, and a t-shirt with short or long sleeves. We also recommend dressing in layers and wearing clothing that participants don't mind getting dirty. A participant may be sent home or excluded from activities if they do not follow the dress code, or conduct theselves in a way that is unsafe or inappropriate for a professional environment (teasing an animal, horseplay, etc).