Become a Volunteer

Behind Every Shelter Animal is a Multitude of Caring Volunteers

Volunteers allow us to provide great care and varied enrichment to our shelter animals. Without the time, effort, and expertise of each volunteer, we would not be able to run our shelters! Recognizing the valuable role of volunteers, we are committed to providing thorough, hands-on training with ongoing support to every volunteer.

Oakland Volunteer Opportunities

Feline Animal Care – provide a helping hand in the daily care of our cats and kittens, including feeding and cleaning
Canine Animal Care – keep our dogs and puppies comfy and cozy by meeting their daily needs, including feeding and cleaning
Customer Care – greet clients and help to match adoptable animals with their forever families (18 and up)
Shelter Care – keep the shelter sparkling and welcoming by assisting with sweeping, mopping, dishes, and laundry
Enrichment Entourage – prepare and deliver in-kennel enrichment items for our dogs and puppies
Pet Food Pantry – bag cat and dog food into weekly portions for use in individual homes
Pet Food Pantry Distribution – provide pet food to community members in need
Spay & Neuter Surgery Transport – transport shelter animals to or from their spay or neuter surgery (18 and up)
Social Media – write social media posts about adoptable animals (18 and up)
Event Ambassador – raise awareness throughout the East Bay about who we are and the many programs and services we offer by tabling at community outreach events (21 and up)
Training Class Assistant– assist staff to provide scientifically supported training methods to members of the public seeking behavior resources for their dogs (18 and up)

Dublin Volunteer Opportunities

Customer Care/Shelter Care – greet clients and help to match adoptable animals with their forever families and keep the shelter sparkling and welcoming by assisting with sweeping, dishes, and laundry (18 and up)
Humane Education Assistant – assist with facilitating tours, workshops, and birthdays parties for youth participants (this role is designed for high school students ages 16-18)
Canine Companion & Enrichment – provide physical and mental enrichment for our shelter dogs and puppies *Limited shifts available Monday – Friday only
Feline Companion & Enrichment – provide attention, enrichment, and companionship for our shelter cats and kittens *Limited shifts available Monday – Friday only
Limited shifts available for animal care, see application for any openings.

Internship Opportunities

Surgical Support Internship – learn from and assist our shelter veterinarian and medical support team with spays, neuters, mass removals, enucleations, and more! Internship cycles: March 1-May 31, June 1-August 30, and September 1-November 30. Internship available for individuals 18 and up.

*We’ll update this section when our application opens for the next cycle.*

Who Can Volunteer

Individuals aged 18 and older.
Youth aged 16-17 may volunteer independently but must submit a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
Children ages 10-15 are welcome to volunteer as part of an adult/child team, under the supervision of a trained parent or guardian. A volunteer team is one child per adult.
Youth can also volunteer independently through one of our many Humane Education Programs.

How To Become a Volunteer

Read through our list of current volunteer opportunities to determine which volunteer position(s) you are interested in. Make sure to click the heading to read through the full position description!
Fill out our volunteer application. Acceptance is based your availability and interests, as well as our current needs.
Complete the online New Volunteer Info Session (2 hours).
Attend an in-person Volunteer Orientation (1 hour & 15 minutes).
Attend volunteer position specific training.