Volunteering and Investigating for HAHS
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Volunteering and Investigating for HAHS
Question
How old do I have to be in order to volunteer for HAHS?
Answer
We require that you will be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license.
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Question
How do I become a HAHS investigator?
Answer
Contact the HAHS office and tell us that you would like to become an investigator. We will ask you a few questions to find out more about you, your horse knowledge and your people skills. If you appear to be someone who might make a good investigator, we will send you out a packet with more information and with an investigator application.
Once your application is processed we will set up a personal interview with you, during which we will make our final decision. If you are indeed a good candidate, we will make you a HAHS Apprentice Investigator. That means that you will be sent out on investigations with a HAHS State approved Humane Investigator so that you learn the process and how to conduct an equine abuse or neglect investigation.
Depending on the reports we receive back from our State approved Humane Investigator, and your continued interest, we may decide to sponsor you to attend the investigator training and testing sessions held by the Illinois Department of Agriculture each fall. If you pass their test, you will receive your certification and then can be sent out by us on investigations. Note: This card is only valid as long as you are sponsored by HAHS and cannot be carried over to another Humane Society..
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Question
What jobs are available to volunteers?
Answer
Depending on your age, experience and interests, our volunteer coordinator will match you with the job that best suits you and HAHS. This could mean giving tours to visitors on Saturdays, handing out magazines at our traveling booths, cleaning stalls or grooming horses. Our goal is to give you a meaningful and educational experience while at the same time working to improve the farm and the horses in a safe manner. If you are interested in volunteering, go to our Calendar of Events page for Volunteer Orientation dates. For more information email iwant2helpthehorses@hahs.org.
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Question
As a HAHS volunteer, when do I get to ride horses?
Answer
We feel very strongly that volunteering at HAHS should benefit the farm as well as the volunteer. That is why we try to make your work visits fun, too. However, joyriding may not be in the best interest of the horse. Most of the animals here are in some stage of recovery from abuse and neglect. Therefore, their interactions with people must be very well planned and controlled so they don’t suffer a setback. Since we are a rehabilitation farm and not a riding stable, we cannot take the chance of someone falling off a horse or getting hurt. Hopefully you will get enough satisfaction from spending time with the animals here as their caretaker instead of their rider, and know that your handling helped them get adopted sooner to the right home.
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