Volunteer

Volunteer Positions and Descriptions

We  are in need for volunteers, at least 18 years of age, to help the homeless animals from our surrounding communies.  Please call office to schedule a time for your orientation. The orientation consist of an explanation of all possible volunteer duties will be introduced to you, along with a tour of our facility, and a brief chat about our goals for the future. 

Position Descriptions

Adoptions Specialist – Floor: Want to help adopters meet their “perfect match” at our shelter?  Adoptions Specialists on the Floor may choose to work in either the Dog Adoption Room or Cat Adoption Room and will  help adopters make informed decisions.  Other duties include becoming familiar with the adoptable animals, helping to maintain a presentable workplace, informing guests of the standard medical treatments we provide our animals, and assisting adopters with meeting animals.  This position requires a regular weekly schedule, and you must be age 18 or older. 

Offsite Adoptions Specialist: Want to help adopters meet their “perfect match” at different partner adoption locations and/or at community events?  Offsite Adoptions Specialists help find animals “fur-ever homes” while furthering community education and promotion of the APL.  This position requires about two events per month, primarily on the weekends, and Pet Partner teams are welcome.  This is a great position for those who need a more flexible schedule, as you can select events that fit your availability. 

 Dog Enrichment Volunteer: Want to get some outdoor exercise while spending quality time with a canine companion?  DEVs  walk, or run if you prefer, with dogs while providing socialization and basic training to help the dogs put their best “paw” forward while waiting for their “perfect match.”  There are three DEV levels available to suit your goals in working with our dogs.  Advancement opportunities are available.  This position requires a regular weekly schedule, even during inclement weather, and Pet Partner teams are welcome. 

Canine Enrichment Specialist (Advanced DEV Opportunity): Want to do more for our dogs by focusing on enrichment?  CES volunteers provide both behavioral and environmental enrichment to our dogs through consistent training methods, play groups, relaxation sessions, and toy rotation. These efforts help to maintain and improve the dogs’ behavior and health during their stay at the VV APL, potentially making them more attractive to adopters. This advanced position requires DEV experience and a regular weekly schedule upon acceptance by supervisor, and you must be age 18 or older. 

Canine Enrichment & Transfer Coordinator Assistant (Limited, Advanced DEV Opportunity): Want to help support the behavioral testing of dogs at our shelter?  CETC Assistants work closely with the Canine Enrichment & Transfer Coordinator to complete necessary evaluations and administrative processes associated with behavioral testing of dogs.  This advanced position requires DEV experience and a regular weekly schedule upon acceptance by supervisor, and you must be age 18 or older. 

Cat Care Volunteer: Want to help provide some TLC and a clean, healthy home for our cats?  Cat Care Volunteers socialize, enrich, groom, feed, water and maintain clean feline kennels at our shelter to help our cats “put their best paw forward” while waiting for their “purr-fect match”.  This position requires a regular weekly schedule, and Pet Partner teams are welcome.    

 Animal Welfare Clinic Support Technician: Want to gain some experience or use your skills to help support high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for other shelters/rescues and feral cats?  AWC Support Technicians assist the veterinary staff with patient check-in and/or discharge, preparing animals for spay/neuter surgery, data entry of animal medical records, patient recovery, and other clinic duties. This position requires a regular weekly schedule, and you must be age 18 or older. 

 Animal Photographer: Like to capture photographs of animals that express their personality?  Animal Photographers beautifully photograph shelter animals in teams for marketing and promotional purposes and for our website’s Adoptions page. Using their own digital photography equipment and software, they   take the photos and download, edit, and upload them for distribution.  This position requires a regular weekly commitment in addition to animal handling training upon acceptance by supervisor.  

Adoptions Specialist – Greeter: Excited to begin volunteering in animal welfare, but want to start in an entry-level position?  Our Adoption Specialists in the Greeter role help to form a bond with shelter visitors and give them a positive experience at the APL!  Greeters perform a variety of duties, including welcoming guests to the shelter, directing potential adopters to the Adoption Floors, and providing guests with information and education about our shelter and other animal services.  This position requires a regular weekly schedule, and Pet Partner teams are welcome. 

Adoptions Specialist – Front Desk: Want to help animals – dogs and  cats,   – find their “fur-ever homes”?  Adoption Specialists at the Front Desk perform a variety of duties, including assisting potential adopters in finalizing their decision to adopt an animal, reviewing adoption information with clients, processing sales, answering phones, and making follow-up calls to continue our relationship with our adopters.  This position requires a regular weekly schedule, and you must be age 18 or older. 

Fundraiser and Special Event Associate:  Have office skills or development experience that you would like to gain or share to help support our animals?  Development Associates provide support for the Development Department and for APL fund-raising events and activities through various administrative tasks, including opening mail, copying, preparing deposits and mailings and filing documents. This position requires a regular weekly schedule during weekday office hours. 

Working FOR the Animals Working FOR the Animals Working FOR the Animals