The Greater Birmingham Humane Society Humane Teen Club (HTC) is designed with local youth in mind. The HTC is for youth between the ages of 12 and 15 years. The HTC offers students a fun, interactive, and social arena where their concern for others, humans and animals, will be fostered. They will be encouraged to work with one another, actively participate in meetings, and conduct independent service projects on behalf of the GBHS. They will also have the opportunity to learn more about responsible pet ownership, dog training, pet grooming, and even wildlife preservation at the monthly meetings. Each month a different speaker will come to the meeting to teach the students new and interesting things pertaining to the pets at the GBHS, as well as to animals not generally seen at the GBHS.

The HTC monthly meetings are held the third Saturday of each month from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Attendance is mandatory at Saturday meetings. Students will require reliable and timely transportation to and from each of the meetings. Students who are unable to attend a meeting are required to notify the director of education or volunteer coordinator prior to the meeting. To graduate from the HTC, teens must attend and participate in at least nine of the twelve meetings.

In addition to the monthly meetings, teens will also pursue a series of paw pins. The pins will be awarded upon completion of the following:

• Green: Orientation
• Red: Research and presentation of a paper on an animal companionship or animal welfare topic
• Purple: Performance of a service project outside of regularly scheduled activities.
• Gold: Awarded after three months of service as a regular volunteer

Upon earning the first three paw badges, as well as attending at least nine of the twelve scheduled Saturday meetings/activities, teens may enter our regular volunteer program, even though they are not 16 years of age.

Teens that do not complete their paw badges may remain in the club and participate in monthly meetings and activities. They may not, however, graduate early to become a regular volunteer. Instead they will need to wait until they are 16 years of age to volunteer.

Membership to the HTC is by application only. All interested students must complete and submit an application for the HTC. Students will then be notified whether they have been selected for the interview stage. Interviews will be conducted over the phone by the director of education. After completing the interview, students will be given notification whether they are accepted into the program.

There is a one time $25 membership fee to cover the cost of Humane Teen Club Pins and a Humane Teen Club T-shirt.