How to Volunteer at an Animal Shelter or Animal Rescue
Being a volunteer at an Animal Shelter or Rescue is a rewarding experience and something you could do for years upon years. What draws people to volunteering at an Animal Shelter or Rescue is simple… the adoptable animals that long for their forever homes.
At Helen Woodward Animal Center, people help animals and animals help people. Our lives are more precious when trust, unconditional love, respect and care exist as the primary bond between animals and one another. Most of the work that is done here would not be possible without our team of dedicated volunteers, who donate their time to help us continue our mission.
What is Animal Shelter Volunteering?
When you volunteer at an Animal Shelter, there is so much that you could contribute your time to helping with, such as feeding, cleaning, and socializing with animals. Depending on the Animal Shelter, there may be other departments unrelated to Adoptions that may offer other opportunities to work with animals or community building.
There is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available for anyone looking to join the Center. Whether it’s walking dogs in Adoptions, lending a hand at one of our local events or helping in our Administrative office, there is something for everyone!
How to Get Involved in Animal Shelter Volunteering
To get started, you will need to find the animal shelter or animal rescue that you would like to volunteer with. Go to their website to find information on how to volunteer or how to apply to volunteer. Most animal shelters or rescues will have a volunteer representative that you can contact to inquire about the volunteer application process. After you apply to volunteer, you may either be invited to an orientation or invited to start your volunteer training right away.
In some cases, you may even have the opportunity to participate in a one-off event that requires volunteers, this may be ideal for you to get your foot in the door and figure out if the organization is one that you want to consider pursuing.
At Helen Woodward Animal Center, we welcome new volunteer applications throughout the entire year. To find out more about volunteer opportunities and to apply to be a volunteer, you can visit https://animalcenter.org/volunteer.
Once you complete an application to volunteer at Helen Woodward Animal Center, you will be invited to attend a Volunteer Orientation held at the Center every month. During the orientation, you will express your interest for the departments you wish to volunteer with. After the orientation is complete, departments will reach out to you within 1-2 weeks if they are interested in bringing you on board as a volunteer.
Age and Legal Requirements for Animal Shelter Volunteers
Since you would be working with animals or children while volunteering at an animal shelter or rescue, there will most likely be an age requirement for new volunteers.
The minimum age to volunteer at Helen Woodward Animal Center is 14 years old; however, some departments require that volunteers must be either 16 or 18 years of age. The reason for the age requirements varies depending on the level of risk and the type of activity the volunteer is subject to.
Benefits of Volunteering at an Animal Shelter
There are so many reasons someone may want to volunteer at an animal shelter or rescue, starting with an overall sense of fulfillment, feeling that you are contributing to making a difference on the lives of animals and people, skills development depending on the department you volunteer with, and you have the chance to become a part of a community of volunteers where you can build meaningful connections.
Helping Animals in Need
By volunteering at an animal shelter or rescue, you can make a true difference in the lives of animals, such as providing them with care, love, and attention.
Building Connections and a Supportive Community
It is incredible how the sense of belonging and the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for animal welfare will have an impact on your life. Volunteering allows for networking, friendships, and community building that you may not expect. If you are new to a neighborhood or city, it may be one
Skill Development and Experience
Volunteering at an animal shelter can improve skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, as well as aid with career development.
Types of Animal Shelter Volunteer Opportunities
There are a variety of opportunities to volunteer at an Animal Shelter or Rescue and dependent on the number of departments, there may be some unique placements that you would not otherwise suspect would be available. Some of the more commonly sought out roles are with the adoptions team, where volunteers may walk, clean or socialize with pets. Beyond that, there may be one-off opportunities to volunteer with events throughout the year which requires less time commitment.
Here are some volunteer opportunities that are specific to Helen Woodward Animal Center:
Adoptions Kennel Volunteers
Pets awaiting new homes need extra TLC! Working in the Adoption kennels includes exercising and socializing dogs or cats, kennel and crate cleaning, laundry, dishes, and other various tasks assigned by the Volunteer Supervisor. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old to apply. Once trained, volunteers are scheduled to come in once a week for a 3-hour shift. The set shift times are 7:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m., 10 a.m.–1 p.m., 12:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m., and 3 p.m.–6 p.m. Shift times can be semi-flexible depending on the volunteer’s schedule. Shifts are available Sundays through Saturdays. Volunteers work with minimum supervision once fully trained. Volunteers working with dogs need to be physically able to handle very large, enthusiastic dogs. Commitment required is 6 months or 70 hours with a regular weekly schedule.
Club Pet Boarding Volunteer
Club Pet is looking for energetic volunteers to give our boarding dogs and cats lots of attention and TLC! Volunteers are needed 7 days a week. You must be able to commit to a 3-hour block of time, once per week, for at least 6 months. Our volunteer shifts are 9 a.m-12 p.m., 10 a.m.–1 p.m., 11 a.m.–2 p.m., or 12 p.m.–3 p.m. Our dogs and cats miss their families, so our volunteers step in to give them the love and attention they need while boarding.
Volunteers exercise our dogs by taking them on walks and doing off-leash field play. For our older dogs, we offer TLC and cuddle times out in the sun on the lawn. Our cats look forward to their feather time sessions. Felines also enjoy bubble time, cuddle time and TLC sessions with our volunteers. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to handle animals. Volunteers must also pass our dog handling class, which is given as part of the Club Pet Volunteer orientation and training program.
Counselor or Camp Leader
Our summer camp program has 12 week-long sessions. Junior volunteers ages 14-17 may apply to be teacher assistants for one week, Monday through Friday. (You may apply for more than one week, but it’s not a guarantee that you’ll be able to volunteer for all of the dates that you request.) Junior volunteer assistants help instructors with behavior management as well as setting up and cleaning up for the day.
*Important note to Juniors: This program has a separate application and training program to teach classroom leadership skills and determine junior volunteer readiness to be classroom assistants. The “Critter Camp” application is available in January or early February. (The general volunteer orientation is not required.) The application period is January through March, with summer assignments made in late April/early May.
Adoptions Medical Volunteer
The Adoptions medical position is a great place to volunteer for those who are looking to gain more experience in the veterinary world! Working in medical includes cleaning kennels, sterilizing instruments, administrating oral medications, assisting with our animal intakes, as well as other various tasks assigned by the medical manager. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to apply. Once trained, volunteers are scheduled to come in once a week for a 3-hour shift. Shift times vary in the medical department, but are typically between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Shifts are available Sundays through Saturdays. Volunteers work with the medical manager, supervisors, and the veterinary assistants. Commitment required is 6 months or 70 hours with a regular weekly schedule.
Therapeutic Riding Assistant
Therapeutic Riding is dedicated to serving clients with special needs through equine-assisted activities. Equine-assisted activities have a substantial positive impact on a student’s emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development. Volunteers help to provide the necessary environment of safety, support, and fun by assisting in several roles. Volunteers help prepare horses for lessons, and serve as either leaders of the horse or as side walkers, helping the rider with various tasks such as balance, motor skill planning, or focus. Although lessons are the main focus of volunteer duties, volunteers also assist in barn chores, tack cleaning, and grooming. Volunteers are requested to come to the same 4-hour shift on a weekly basis. A 6-month overall commitment is required, though many volunteers stay much longer. Shift times vary depending on lessons, but can range from 12:30 p.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. We have no volunteer opportunities on Mondays. Volunteers must be able to help lift and support an adult rider.
Junior volunteer openings (ages 16-17) are limited. For junior volunteers, an extensive background of lessons or comparable horse experience is required. We may have several camps in the summer where juniors are needed for 1-2 weeks. A background of lessons or comparable horse experience is highly recommended for all volunteers, but at various times throughout the year a limited number of positions may become available for volunteers 18 and older with limited or no horse experience. Please note, volunteers do not have the opportunity to ride our horses.
For more dedicated volunteer options, go to https://animalcenter.org/get-involved/volunteer/dedicated-volunteer-opportunities/
Group Volunteering Opportunities
Typically, our group projects involve packing and organizing dog/cat food for our AniMeals program, assisting with crafts for our Education department, sorting and pricing donated items in our resale shop, cleaning out storage areas, etc. NOTE: Volunteer projects do not include handling animals as that requires a separate training/orientation process.
We do require at least 30 days’ notice to secure a volunteer project and we can accept a maximum of 20 volunteers on one day. If you have more than 20 volunteers, please reach out to Megan McCarty, Volunteer Manager at meganm@animalcenter.org.
All participants must sign a volunteer release form before volunteering.
For Group Volunteer opportunities, visit https://animalcenter.org/get-involved/volunteer/group-volunteer-projects/
Fundraising and Event Outreach
We have five major events here at Helen Woodward where we need volunteers! Our Paws & Unwind Luncheon is held in March, our annual Spring Fling Gala is a black-tie event in June, PawMicon is held in July, the Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon is held at Del Mar Dog Beach each September, and our HOPE Telethon is in November.
Volunteering only for events does not require the general orientation and tour. It does require an onsite training session and a 5-8 hour shift on the day of the event. Tasks include set-up, take-down, registration, auction sales, cashiering, vendor assistance, course control, etc. Limited positions are available for junior volunteers (14 and up.) Contact the Volunteer Department for more information.
In addition to onsite volunteer opportunities, you can also be a part of our Paw Partners Committee which is responsible for getting auction items and sponsorships for our Spring Fling Gala.
For more on special event opportunities, visit https://animalcenter.org/get-involved/volunteer/special-event-volunteering/
Looking for an at-home option? Choose to Foster or run a Donation Drive
Foster Families care for orphan pets in their home. Volunteers provide varying levels of care for canines and/or felines, including but not limited to bottle feeding, medical assistance, socialization, or simply cuddling and feeding. This is a separate application process. (The general volunteer orientation is not required.) Volunteers participate in an in-person foster orientation and a virtual home check to be approved as a foster. The foster application is available online or from the volunteer office.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Once approved, the volunteer can care for animals 1 week to 4 years of age, as the need arises. (Volunteers are not ‘on-call’ indefinitely). They are called at the time of need to see if they’re available for about 1- 8 weeks, or they can request an animal through the foster website and call to request an animal). The pets are brought back to the Center once they are ready for adoption.
For information on hosting a pet food donation drive, visit https://tj2f0e.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/community-service-flyer.jpg
Tips for a Successful Volunteer Experience
In order to feel that your volunteer experience at an animal shelter or rescue is successful, it is important to be transparent with your commitment while remaining flexible to the organization’s needs, communication and teamwork plays a huge role in helping the organization achieve its goals, and constant education plus general curiosity will keep things exciting and motivating for you.
● Commitment and Flexibility- It is important to keep yourself accountable to the timeframes you commit to. Although this is an unpaid volunteer experience, the team relies heavily on volunteer support to get the work done. Be sure to remain flexible as sometimes where you are needed most may change depending on the tasks that need to be completed. For instance, if you were initially scheduled to help clean kennels but they instead could use your help with laundry, there could be a valid reason for the change.
● Communication and Teamwork- It is important to work collaboratively with your fellow volunteers and with the paid staff at the animal shelter or rescue. If you need help or if you are unable to complete a task, it is better to speak up rather than perform a task wrong which could require a staff member to redo your work. This mentality will help to create a positive and supportive working environment.
● Education and Curiosity– It is important to keep an open mind about what you could be working on and what you may be exposed to at an animal shelter or rescue. Being curious about different roles and departments will make you a greater asset to the organization as there are often times that volunteers may need to pivot to different tasks depending on what is needed at a given time.
Add or delete any opportunities that are available.