Volunteer Positions
Primarily, we need additional Adoption Ambassadors, Shelter Guides, and Animal Care departmental assistance.
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Adoption Ambassadors help visitors meet animals both at the shelter and at events.
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Shelter Guides are the first person visitors come in contact with upon arriving and the last person upon leaving the shelter! They escort visitors to find new animal friends, look for lost pets and much more.
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Animal Care & Maintenance – Team up with hardworking staff between 8am & 12pm to help them get the shelter ready for visitors! Volunteers help clean kennels and rooms, laundry and dishes.
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Additional positions are available as they become open. Examples of other volunteer positions: canine playgroup team, canine assessment team, enrichment team, dog wash crew, off-site cat care team, humane education, helping at fundraisers, etc.
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Animal Socialization – In addition to helping with one or more of the positions above, all volunteers are welcome and encouraged to help with basic socialization of cats and dogs (i.e.: Dog Walking, Cat Cuddling, etc.)
Age Requirements
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Minimum age is 16 years old for any independent volunteering. However, the volunteer manager reserves the right to require that a volunteer have an assistant with them at all times if they are unable to meet the criteria for independent volunteering. Click for special needs volunteer info
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Volunteers between ages 12 and 15 must be accompanied by their parent/legal guardian. Both parent/guardian and volunteer must submit an application to become a volunteer, complete necessary training together, and volunteer together.
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Volunteers ages 7 to 11: Click for Family Volunteer Info
*Please Note: For safety of volunteers, staff, and animals, no exceptions can be made to age limitation policies.
Time Requirements
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Adult volunteers are required to commit to a regular recurring schedule of at least two 3-hour shifts a month in one of the following positions:
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Adoption Ambassador
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Shelter Guide
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Animal Care
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Consistency is needed to ensure proper staffing so all animals get the time and the attention they need. Volunteer shifts for other activities such as dog walking and cat cuddling may be done in addition to those shifts. If you are interested in short-term opportunities, please follow the link to the Community Service and Group/Corporate Volunteering Page.
Training & Internet
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Volunteer Training process begins with orientation followed by basic dog and/or cat 101 training. Additional training will be required depending on your position.
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Our Volunteer Program requires that all volunteers have access to internet and email. The volunteer site is online and volunteers are required to use this site to apply, sign up for training and shifts. Additionally, the primary source of communication with volunteers is through email so volunteers must have access to a functioning email address.
