By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Have some free time this summer? Love helping animals?

If so, the Chilton County Humane Society may be the place for you.

The Humane Society is looking for volunteers to help walk dogs, clean the facility, unfold newspaper for use in kennels and wash animals.

Board member Kristi Hyche said volunteers need to be at least 14 years old. Volunteers under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Hyche said volunteering at the shelter can be counted toward service hours required for several school clubs.

“Volunteers help us run the place. They get the community involved and let them see exactly what we do at the Humane Society,” Hyche said.

Since the animal shelter has seven employees, the majority of which are part-time, volunteers help the shelter do things that otherwise would be left undone.

Hyche said volunteers willing to do yard work would also be appreciated.

“It really does help to have volunteers come in and do this,” Hyche said.

Volunteer opportunities are available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as Wednesday and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Volunteers are also needed as foster pet owners. A foster keeps an animal while it is waiting to go to a rescue organization. Hyche said some rescues, but not all, require an animal to be out of the shelter for two weeks before they will take it. Applications to be a foster family for a shelter animal are available at the Humane Society, 139 Shade Tree Drive. Hyche said fostering is usually a two-week commitment each time.

For more information about becoming a volunteer, contact the shelter at 205-755-9170.