Just wondering on how I should ask

I'm in the Jr. Beta Club for my school, and it gives us the opportunity to help out at stuff like soup kitchens and shelters, etc.. Volunteering won't be required until I move to the regular Beta Club after the next school year. However, I would like to go ahead and help out at the animal shelter where I got my dog. We actually adopted her from there a year ago today. She wandered into our backyard. She stayed for a few months, us feeding her. Someone called on her, my mom went to get her to put it short.

Our hours are due at the end of May, and I haven't done any volunteer work. Yet at least. I'm just not really sure how I should approach this. The minimum age to go there and help out is 16-21, and I'm not either although I'm sure the majority of people reading this could already guess that. Last year they did a youth volunteer day in June for ages 12-15, but I didn't know at the time.

I spoke with my career teacher since she does Jr. Beta, and she said that they should be willing to let me help out there. Even if it was just playing with the puppies and kittens. It honestly makes you feel bad when you go to their website and you hear about what a good chunk of the animals have been through. But, they recently moved from being entirely outside to being an indoor shelter. 

My parents though, I'm not really sure if they would want me to help out. Just because some of the dogs are huge (by huge I mean almost 200+ pounds) and aren't exactly the best with children. I'm hoping that if I work with the local Humane Society and get a list of what dogs I can help with, they may think about it. My mom is a huge dog person and has rescued maybe 7 dogs (counting our current) with my dad. So maybe that will help as well.

For it to count towards our hours for Beta, we have to have a signature of an adult, my parent(s), and pictures, then we get recognized at the end of the year. I'm not too worried about getting recognized, I just want to help the animals.

I'm just not really sure how I should ask my parents, I feel like I need to talk with both and not just my mom. They both know I love animals, but I don't want to start off on the wrong foot if that makes sense.

Well, here’s what I would do. When you’re alone with them at any given time, try feeling them out by asking if they would sign your sheet for permission. If they still say no, mention how much you care for animals, and just want to help them by volunteering. Share with them why you feel that they should sign it, and with proper reasoning and remaining calm, I’m sure they’ll sign it. Good luck.

Thanks, I've been dwelling on this for a while.

I hope it works out for you! Just find a time to tell them and go for it.

I ended up asking. I got called a procrastinator, but she said she'll talk with my dad about it and ask the shelter. Thanks.