Volunteer @ AWS
We have plenty of ways you can help out at AWS!
Thank you for your dedication!
Love animals? Want to make sure they have a safe, clean and comfortable place to stay at AWS? Enjoy the veterinary medical field? Want to make a difference in our operations? Love educating children? Have a passion for lawn maintenance? If you answered yes to any of those questions, we could use you! Learn about the difference ways you can help at AWS and apply today.
*If you are looking for community service volunteer opportunities, please
visit our dedicated page. It has information about completing adult and
student community service .
Make a Difference!
Learn about the different ways you can help at AWS.
Each animal space is cleaned and sanitized daily, the most important way to keep our resident pets happy and healthy. Our volunteers play an integral role in our daily cleaning and laundry. We also offer opportunities to volunteer during animal transports, in the Adoption Center Lobby, or by taking dogs for walks, entertaining cats, visiting rabbits and birds. And that’s just the start. There are so many ways volunteers support our animal shelter operations!
Clinic volunteers play a vital role in AWS’ onsite, full-service Community Veterinary Clinic. Regular tasks include cleaning, doing laundry, sterilizing surgical equipment and comforting animals through recovery.
Helping out in the Clinic is a great opportunity for retired nurses, veterinary technicians or those who don’t get squeamish in medical situations. Those who are interested in animal care and veterinary sciences are also encouraged to get involved!
Be a second pair of hands for our trainers during classes and resident dog socialization. Our Canine Training volunteers help direct students during class, move equipment around, answer clarification questions, as well as set up and clean up before and after all behavior training. Classes take place morning, afternoon and evening, most days a week.
Are you passionate about chatting with people? Do you enjoy taking pets out in the community? Then we’d love to have you as a community outreach volunteer. We are always looking for new ambassador volunteers to represent AWS at community events, like festivals and parades. We also seek volunteers to support our youth programming in the community by attending story hours, making classroom visits and more. If you enjoy education and/or working with children, we encourage you to get involved!
So much of our daily work takes place outside of the animal spaces. We look for assistance in our business office, stuffing envelopes and helping with data entry to support our Development Team. For those who enjoy the outdoors, our Facilities team appreciates help caring for our 40 acre property. Lawn mowing, weeding and planting, keeping our trails groomed are common and very helpful volunteer tasks.
Make a Difference!
You’d like to volunteer with animals? Great! You’ve come to the right place. The staff and pets at Animal Welfare Society would love your help!
We are accepting volunteers only for specific “jobs” on very specific days right now. Take a look at our needs and if they match up with your schedule, please apply!
So what is our biggest volunteer need right now? Cleaning! Did you know that every single animal space at AWS gets cleaned and sanitized every single day? 100 pets in residence means 100 cages, kennels and rooms cleaned and sanitized every single morning. More pets – more spaces to clean. Cleaning is not just a quick hose down, it’s a thorough scrubbing using specially formulated cleaning supplies and protocols. Every pet deserves a clean and comfortable place to stay, don’t you think?
And don’t worry, all of our cleaning positions come with the chance to enjoy time with the pets, after the cleaning duties are done. Our pet population and their schedules change daily so we can’t guarantee you’ll be able to play with puppies or cuddle with kittens. No matter what, you will certainly be able to enrich the lives of the animals in our care! After cleaning, there is always time to spend time with the animals and to provide enrichment activities to keep their minds and bodies occupied while they are with us.
To make a difference today, become a cleaning volunteer. We have openings every day of the week in specific areas – including dog kennels, cat rooms and small animal habitats. We welcome individuals, couples or families as volunteers. Youth 15 and younger can volunteer with a parent/guardian alongside them. We provide all the equipment volunteers need. Before you begin, we’ll give you a special training to show you exactly what you need to know.
Volunteers keep AWS’ cat areas clean and comfortable. Daily tasks include emptying litter boxes, scrubbing cat cages, providing new bedding and toys.
Specific Qualifications and Skills:
- Special training is provided before your first shift so that proper sanitation protocols are followed.
- Must be comfortable climbing a step ladder and lifting lightweight items (such as litter boxes).
- Must be comfortable around cats
Schedule: Volunteer shift begins at 8:30am and lasts until the cat cages and rooms are clean – approx. 2 hrs. Weekly commitment.
Volunteers keep AWS’ dog areas clean and comfortable. Daily tasks include scrubbing and sanitizing dog kennels and providing fresh bedding and dog toys.
Specific Qualifications and Skills:
- Must be comfortable working with dogs of all sizes
- Must be able to lift, bend, and be on your feet for prolonged periods of time.
- Special training is provided before your first shift so that proper sanitation protocols are followed.
Schedule: Volunteer shift begins at 8:30am and lasts until the kennels cleaning is done – approx. 2 hrs.. Weekly commitment.
Volunteers keep AWS’ small animal habitats clean and comfortable. Our small animal population changes regularly and can include birds of various sizes, mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters or rabbits and occasionally exotic pets (reptiles). Daily tasks include cleaning habitats or cages, feeding, and replacing bedding and toys.
Specific Qualifications and Skills:
- Must be able to lift, squat, bend, and stand for prolonged periods of time
- Must be able to climb up and down a stool.
- Special training is included so that proper sanitation protocols are followed.
- Must be comfortable around a variety of animals.
Schedule: Volunteer shift begins at 8:30am and lasts until the habitats are done – approx. 2 hrs. Weekly commitment.
Please Check Back Soon
*Due to the overwhelming support of our community, we are not accepting volunteer applications at this time. Please check back soon if you wish to apply. Thank you for your support!
The application asks questions about your availability, your interest and your skills. Once we receive your application, our Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch to invite you to an upcoming Volunteer Orientation.
Youth volunteers 15 years old or younger are welcome to volunteer at AWS with a parent/guardian volunteering alongside them. Those aged 16-17 are welcome to volunteer individually with a parent/guardian’s consent. If under 18, please fill out the youth application.
Apply Today!
The application asks questions about your availability, your interest and your skills. Once we receive your application, our volunteer program will be in touch to invite you to an upcoming Volunteer Orientation.
Youth volunteers 15 years old or younger are welcome to volunteer at AWS with a parent/guardian volunteering alongside them. Those aged 16-17 are welcome to volunteer individually with a parent/guardian’s consent. If under 18, please fill out the youth application.
Questions?
For more information, please contact our Community Engagement Manager via email or telephone at (207) 985-3244 ext. 121.
