Volunteering

Thank you for thinking about being a volunteer for Heartland! We know that your days are every bit as busy and hectic as ours, and are grateful for every hour each volunteer devotes to helping make the lives of our rabbits happier and richer.

Please fill out this form after reading this page if you are interested in volunteering.

There are any number of ways to help, depending on your level of experience. Some of these are:

• Socializing – as you might imagine, there are many more rabbits than there are humans and just not enough time to give them the attention they need. Spending time with a rabbit – petting and talking – improves rabbits’ social skills and invites trust between them and humans, thereby making them better adoption candidates.
• Handing out treats such as carrots and apples, or filling hay boxes.
• Grooming.
• Playtime – taking rabbits out to the play runs.
• Special events – helping with fairs and educational presentations.
• Seasonal improvements – planting the herb garden, or building and improving play areas.
• Cleaning litter trays. This is a very necessary and constant part of our work, but it is hard work.

A volunteer’s initial visit to Heartland is a two-hour orientation which includes safety, hygiene, care and handling of rabbits, and specific instructions on grooming, feeding, watering, and cleaning. New volunteers are mentored by the director or an experienced volunteer until they are comfortable and familiar with procedures.

Heartland requests that volunteers make a commitment to volunteer for a minimum of two hours a week for at least six weeks.
Youth under the age of 18 must have written parental consent. Children must always be under the direct supervision of a responsible adult.