There are many opportunities to help the shelter animals, at the shelter, from an adoption center or from home! For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator Celeste Ingrid at (916) 875-5848. Some of the most popular activities are...
Adoption Counseling
Making appropriate matches between adopters and animals is critical to ensuring good life-long matches. Adoption volunteers must have actively volunteered for a period of six months, attend a Adoption Counseling Workshop and be approved by staff.
Events
All skills are needed to help make our events a success. While we host many events at the shelter, we also attend off-site adoption events and community events providing resources to the public.
Animal Care
The most basic of functions within the shelter is the daily care of the animals. Following completion of initial cat or dog socializing training, volunteers are invited to train on morning feeding/cleaning and afternoon cage refreshing protocols. Help is desperately needed in this area due to severe cuts in staffing.
Cat Socialization
Petting, playing and socializing with our cats can help put them at ease in the shelter. Volunteers can also help clean and feed the cats. Three consecutive two-hour training sessions addressing safety, policies and procedures and handling/behavior lessons as required.
Clerical Assistance
Clerical volunteers assist with essential projects including adoption follow-up calling, data entry, mailings and general office work. Training is based upon the assigned project.
Dog Walking & Socialization
Spend time with our dogs on leisurely walks, playing ball, or just relaxing under a tree. Dogs are social animals and require lots of interaction. Volunteers must possess basic dog-handling skills and three consecutive two-hour training sessions addressing safety, policy/procedure and handling/behavior are required.
Foster/Sponsor Care Programs
Foster/sponsor care providers give our animals a chance for a new life by taking care of the animals until they are ready to be adopted. Go to the Fostering Animal page to learn more. Basic animal handling skills are required and training consists of an initial two-hour Foster Parent workshop and additional advanced level classes.
Fundraising
We need enthusiastic and professional people to help T.E.A.M (Teaching Everyone Animals Matter), the 501 (c)(3) non-profit shelter's primary fundraising entity in raising funds to support programs of the shelter.
Greeter and Information Desk
Our greeters help visitors and assist them with finding animals, answer questions and provide information. Training consists of three two-hour group or individual sessions.
Humane Education
Help educate children in our community about important animal issues through in-school presentations. Volunteers must be free of an criminal record and undergo a background check, and have basic animal skills.
Lost & Found Coordination
Help reunite lost pets with their families by matching Lost & Found animal reports with the animals in the shelter and lost animal ads posted in various community sites. Training consists of 1 to 3 one-on-one training sessions with a shelter staff person or L & F volunteer.
Sewing and Cooking
Have you ever made homemade dog biscuits? We have two great recipes for you. Dogs just love our homemade 
Veggie Biscuits recipe and our Peanut Butter biscuits recipe. If sewing is more your thing, check out how you can create a custom cat bed for our shelter cats to snuggle in for a catnap.
Stuff Kongs
Kongs are wonderful for giving dogs "something to do" by stimulating their minds. Help stuff Kongs with peanut butter and goodies as a special treat to help dogs pass the time while at the shelter. You can also donate peanut butter and canned dog food; drop them off at the shelter anytime during open hours.
