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Volunteer Positions
Awards2007 Excellence in Nonprofit Volunteer Management 2008 Volunteer Choice Award 2009 Nominee Volunteer Choice Award 2010 Nominee Volunteer Choice Award 2011 Volunteer Choice Award 2012 Nominee Volunteer Choice Award Awarded by the Volunteer Center of San Francisco & San Mateo Counties |
Volunteer Positions |
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Volunteer Positions
Adoption Counselor
Animal Care
Behavior Consultation Assistant
Behavior Foster
Behavior Helpline (English and/or Spanish)
Clerical
Community Networking Volunteer
Development
Dog of the Week
Doggy Running Buddy
Dog Training Assistant
Enrichment
Exotic Animals
Foster Care
Greeter
Grooming
Growly Dog Class
Humane Education
Internet Examiner
Kitten Nursery (Seasonal)
Maintenance
Mobile Adoption Counselor
Outreach
Pet Assisted Therapy
Play Group
Publication Distribution
Puppy Pal
Retail Services
Second Chance Class
Small Animal Companion
Spay & Neuter (Reception)
Spay & Neuter (Clinic)
Special Events Adoption
Tender Loving Care (TLC) Cats & Dogs
Thrift Store
Vaccination Clinic
Veterinary Clinic
Videographer
Website
Wildlife
Wildlife Receptionist
Volunteer Position Descriptions in Detail
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT EVERY VOLUNTEER POSITION IS NOT AVAILABLE AT EVERY ORIENTATION.
Adoption Counselor
Adoption counselors work very hard placing companion animals into permanent, loving and responsible homes. Duties may include: making a list of all animals available for adoption in the shelter; answering the phone; contacting people listed in the "Pet Preference" file; carefully reviewing adoption applications; showing animals to potential adopters; and counseling potential adopters on expectations, animal behavior, needs, etc. This position requires an extensive training program and a commitment of three hours per week.
Animal Care
Someone who is ready to work, this is a very labor intensive position to even volunteer for. The essential duties would be to work closely with one of our staff members to help ensure that all animals’ cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice are getting a thoroughly cleaned kennel, fresh water, and fresh food, along with minimal TLC for the animals. Other duties that we could always use help with that are not as intense are doing laundry, loading the washer, dryer, and folding laundry. We could also use help with the endless amount of dirty dog dishes and cleaning our main kitchen area.
Baby Bird Volunteer (Seasonal April – August)
Our Wildlife Care Center needs extra assistance feeding and caring for baby birds during the busy season. We receive hundreds of wild birds from the counties of San Francisco and San Mateo as well as the South Bay who require our help to survive. In this unique opportunity to work directly with wildlife, volunteers will learn proper feeding techniques for baby birds and lend a hand with cleaning duties and general animal husbandry.
For more information on this program, please contact Pablo Lopez at PLopez@PHS-SPCA.org.
Behavior Consultation Assistant
You will take notes of the conversation, make sure the client has filled out the questionnaire, film part of the consultation when necessary, and follow the consultant instructions to handle another animal if needed.
Behavior Foster
To foster dogs or cats with certain behavior issues that will need to be modified/trained. Behavior foster volunteers train these dogs in a home environment following Behavior Department recommendations. They will also need to attend some of the shelter training classes while the animal is in their care.Behavior Helpline / Clerical (English and/or Spanish)
To assist the Behavior Department with office duties and/or answer helpline calls. Helpline and clerical volunteers help file and organize department’s information, make phone calls, video-tape classes, retrieve messages from the Helpline, learn what details to include in the log notes and assist with the returning of helpline calls.
Clerical Volunteer
We have several options for those volunteers who prefer behind-the-scenes work without interaction with animals. You will be typing, stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, photocopying, filing, computer data entry, mailing educational materials to schools, and assembling media packets. Volunteers must have the ability to follow instructions and work independently. Typing and/or computer skills are helpful.
Community Networking Volunteer
Volunteers will plan small, informal events (mixers, cocktail receptions, etc.) to help introduce PHS/SPCA to new audiences. Ideal volunteers must have existing contacts in the community – they will identify restaurant/bar managers, art gallery owners and other businesses willing to (a) host a small gathering to benefit the shelter and (b) invite their existing clients and customers to the event. These smaller events are not to compete in any way with PHS/SPCA’s major, annual fundraisers: our Auction/Gala, Mutt Strutt Dog Walk, Fashion Show and Critter Classic Golf Tourney. Volunteers will find businesses to host events, help publicize the event, work with PHS/SPCA’s Outreach Coordinator to create printed materials/signage for the event, and attend the event, helping with everything from set-up, greeting, nametags, and clean-up.
Development
To assist the Development Department (Fundraising) with data entry, filing, mailing and other clerical duties. Volunteers must accurately enter information in the Development Database. Fold and stuff letters. File departmental documents and other assignments. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance in this position.
Dog of the Week
Dog of the Week volunteers will help assist the Behavior staff in evaluating shelter dogs through working on basic commands; observing their behaviors; and socializing with them. Volunteers work with the Behavior staff, reporting improvement or change in the shelter dog’s behavior.
Doggy Running Buddy
Doggy Running Buddy volunteers will run dogs along various routes around the area. The goal of this position is to give dogs up for adoption increased physical exercise, which will help to alleviate their stress and boredom while here at PHS. They will focus on those dogs that require more physical exercise (i.e. pit bulls, hounds, terriers, etc.).
Dog Training Assistant
Volunteers assist at weekly evening dog training classes. It is the assistant's responsibility to observe each student during class and offer to help should questions or problems arise. Assistants must observe one full session of a class before they have direct contact with students and their dogs. Volunteers must have excellent communication skills, comfort working with both people and dogs, and a deep respect and understanding for dogs, as well as basic dog handling skills. Assistants must commit to at least one training class per week.
Enrichment
To stimulate the animals through novel sights, sounds and smells while in their kennels, allowing them to exercise choice and control over their environment and providing them with ways to engage in species-specific behavior. Volunteers will prepare, give out and clean various enrichment items for shelter dogs and cats and document your interaction with the animal.
Exotic Animal Volunteer
The shelter often has birds, reptiles, and amphibians available for adoption. Volunteers will get the opportunity to handle these animals, learn about their specialized care, and assist with their daily husbandry.
Foster Care Provider
The Foster Care Program is made up of those volunteers who offer temporary care for treatable companion animals during the period of time when they no longer require immediate veterinary supervision or behavioral evaluation at PHS/SPCA's shelter but are not yet ready for adoption. Each of our Foster Care Providers participates in an interview and training process that prepares them to bring a foster animal into their home. For more information on this program, please contact Pablo Lopez at PLopez@PHS-SPCA.org.
Fostering Kittens: Getting Started
Surrendering kittens
Greeter
Volunteers will welcome visitors to our Lantos Center for Compassion and address the questions and needs of the public as they enter the shelter, furnish them with relevant and specific information and point them in the right direction for assistance.
Grooming Volunteer
As a grooming/bathing volunteer, you will be cleaning, clipping, and any other tasks that will improve the appearance of shelter animals as well as the standard of life for them here at PHS/SPCA. Your main focus will be animals that are up for adoptions as well as animals that have not yet been cleared for adoption. Although adoptable animals will have priority, other animals will also be included. Staff will post a list of animals to be groomed before your volunteer shift and you will be expected to handle, clip, bath and complete whatever else may be necessary to ready them for adoption or improve their standard of living while up for adoption.
Growly Dog Class
The Growly Dog Class volunteer will aid the Behavior Department and help determine the source of a dog’s reactivity (fear, aggression, frustration). Decrease reactivity in dog-reactive dogs by teaching behaviors that are incompatible with being reactive and assess rate of dog’s progress in order to determine whether the reactivity can be effectively managed by potential adopters
Humane Education Volunteer
PHS/SPCA believes that attitudes can be positively influenced through education. As an Education Volunteer, your job will be to inform audiences (primarily children) about PHS services and heighten awareness of ways people can help animals. Our Education programs emphasize responsible pet care, respect for local wildlife, and compassion for all species. Volunteers usually specialize in one of the following areas: giving classroom presentations to school children (K-6); leading educational tours of our shelter; assisting with animal-related day camps and after-school programs. Humane Educators must be very reliable and communicate clearly and enthusiastically with both children and adults. Good judgment, a sense of humor, and a deep concern for the humane treatment of all animals are also essential. All volunteers provide their own transportation to and from scheduled programs.
Internet Examiner
People buy decorative items at online marketplaces often unaware that some products come from protected species and are illegal to buy or sell. Uninformed shoppers can mistakenly support a cruel and destructive industry. Because this is so common place, specially trained volunteers using their own computers examine specific internet auction sites to locate illegal wildlife offered for sale in the U.S. and internationally. Items suspected of being sold unlawfully will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
Kitten Nursery (Seasonal April – August)
Adults & Jr. Volunteers (16-17 year-olds; also available for 13-15 year-olds, but they must volunteer with a parent)
The kittens involved in this program are potentially able to survive without their mother as their food source. They may not have been exposed to eating on their own, but would be old enough to be weaned if fed a high density wet food regularly. They would need to be fed 3 times daily by hand with a syringe. There will be 3 feeding shifts. Depending on how many kittens are in each litter, this may take between 2-3 hours per shift. First, the kittens would need to be removed from their cages, placed in designated boxes, and the cages would need to be thoroughly cleaned. New bedding, fresh water, and a new litter box would be placed in the cage. Feeding is to be done one kitten at a time with a pre-prescribed mixture of food. The volunteer would mix the food freshly for each shift. Throughout the feeding, the volunteer would note any health issues that arise on a sheet located in the packet on the cage. This sheet will serve as the communication to the Vet Services Department. Additional duties may include bathing kittens and administering medications.
Shifts will be daily and the time will be approximately:
- MORNING: 7-10am
- MID-DAY: noon – 3pm
- EVENING: 5 – 8pm
Please note volunteers must commit to at least one weekly shift for the duration of the nursery “season” and vacation or time off is not available during the “season”.
For more information about this program, please contact Pablo Lopez at PLopez@PHS-SPCA.org
Maintenance Volunteer
Volunteers assist our Facilities Coordinator with a broad range of special projects to help maintain, expand, improve and beautify the shelter. You should have talents in one or more of the following areas: general construction skills, woodworking, painting, fencing, landscaping, flooring, welding, cement and block-work, electrical and plumbing. The time commitment will be determined on an individual basis depending on the work to be completed. Guidance, but no formal training will be provided.
Mobile Adoption Counselor
This program is to promote successful, lifetime adoptions for our adoptable animals offsite. Volunteers work very hard placing companion animals into permanent, loving and responsible homes. Duties may include reviewing adoption applications, showing animals to potential adopters, assisting the public in selecting a companion animal and counseling potential adopters on expectations, animal behavior, needs, etc., and educating the public on responsible guardianship.
Outreach Volunteer
As a PHS/SPCA ambassador, you will be helping us share our mission and services with the community. Duties may include helping at a mobile adoption, assisting at one of our community clinics, or representing PHS/SPCA at an information table like the ones at street fairs, art & wine festivals and other major community events. Volunteers in this area must be able to promote PHS/SPCA and all our services by speaking with members of the public one-on-one. This position requires training and a commitment of helping at one event every other month.
Pet Assisted Therapy Volunteer
Studies show that animals are good for our health. They lower our blood pressure, reduce stress and help us live longer. Volunteers and their pets in our Pet Assisted Therapy Program visit facilities such as hospitals and long-term care homes in San Mateo County to bring some joy and comfort to other people's lives and take part in our Reading to Dogs program, Paws For Tales in local libraries. Volunteers must be willing to work independently and along with their animals, be very comfortable with strangers, strange noises and objects such as wheel chairs, walkers, etc. Volunteers must attend our Canine Good Citizen Class (CGC) and pass the final evaluation along with a temperament evaluation and obtain a health certificate from their veterinarian to participate in this program. The CGC training class is offered several times a year by our Behavior Department. The commitment is at least two hours a month. more
Play Group
Play group meets once a week. The volunteers assist the Behavior Department socialize shelter dogs and help teach them better dog social skills. Volunteer’s goals are to help make the dogs more adoptable. Volunteers must commit to at least one 60-minute class per week.
Publication Distribution Volunteer
Volunteers help the Community Outreach Department promote the goals and objectives of PHS/SPCA by delivering shelter publications, such as our quarterly newsletter, Pawprint, throughout the community and monitoring the supply of publication materials. Volunteers commit to approximately two to six hours every other month. The schedule is flexible, but must fall within the business hours of the service location centers (libraries, pet supply stores, veterinary clinics, community centers, etc.). Volunteers must possess a valid California driver's license, have a clean driving record, and be able to provide their own vehicle.
Puppy Pal
The Puppy Pal volunteer will socialize puppies up to six months that are being housed at PHS/SPCA (in the back, not up for adoption). This is a critical 2-16 week time period where volunteer can offer much needed support so the puppies don’t miss out on socialization and good behavior skills.
Retail Services
Volunteers will assist customers and help them with purchases. They work with staff and other volunteers to keep the store attractive. Retired retail workers, artists, craftsmen and marketing volunteers help make the store successful in its mission to financially support programs and services at PHS/SPCA. This is a good position for a volunteer that loves animals, but may not be comfortable working with animals.
Second Chance Class
The Second Chance class is a twice weekly behavior class for shelter dogs. Volunteers train shelter dogs in basic commands, evaluate their behavior and socialize with them. Volunteers complete dog evaluation forms. The volunteer's goal should always be to make the dogs more adoptable. A deep respect for dogs and an interest in basic dog handling skills are prerequisites for this position. Volunteers must commit to at least one 60-minute class per week.
Small Animal Companion Volunteer
Small Animal Companion Volunteers provide companionship, exercise and socialization to the rats, rabbits and guinea pigs up for adoption. Volunteers must be interested in learning about these animals' special needs and be able to work independently.
Spay & Neuter Clinic Volunteer (Reception Area)
Volunteers provide assistance to the Spay and Neuter Clinic Receptionist and the public by scheduling surgery appointments; helping to educate people on pre- and post-surgical care for their animals; admitting and discharging animals to their guardians; assisting with the phone and paperwork of the clinic; filing shot clinic records and completing vaccination reminder cards. Volunteers should enjoy working with the public on the phone and in person and must have legible handwriting. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.
Spay & Neuter Clinic Volunteer (Surgery Area)
Your job is to provide assistance to the veterinarians, technicians and animal patients in the clinic by transporting animals to surgery and back to their kennels/cages; helping to prep animals for surgery; observing animals as they emerge from anesthesia; preparing injections; folding and wrapping surgical gowns and drapes; cleaning and sterilizing surgical area, instruments and equipment; cleaning animals kennels/cages; helping discharge animals back to their guardians; cleaning and folding laundry; and providing people with post-surgical care information. Volunteers must feel comfortable in a hospital setting. The surgery process should be something that greatly interests you and does not make you squeamish. Ideal candidates should have good physical agility and strength and must be able to follow exact instructions. This position requires a commitment of three hours per week. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.
Special Events Adoption Volunteer
Volunteers will help promote PHS/SPCA adoptable animals at our special events. The main purpose of the position is to raise awareness of the shelter and our animals. Volunteers will handle and transport adoptable animals to various special events and represent PHS/SPCA in a positive and informative manner. Volunteers will pick up animals from the shelter and bring them to the events, and return them back after the event is over. Duties may also involve reviewing and processing adoptions and educating the public on various pet ownership matters.
TLC Volunteer
The goal of the TLC program is to provide comfort, companionship and socialization to dogs and cats at PHS/SPCA. TLC Volunteers enjoy a great deal of physical contact with animals. The main duty of the TLC Volunteer is to make sure the animals are well cared for and comfortable. Basic duties include: exercising animals; cleaning cages and kennels; washing dishes and doing laundry for the animals; hands-on socialization to build confidence for some animals; minor grooming; assisting with feeding and watering; providing toys and fresh blankets for all animals, and completing volunteer visit/behavior cards. Volunteers must have good physical strength and be able to work independently. Volunteers will be required to complete an animal handling class and on-the-job training.
Thrift Store
(Pick of the Litter, PHS/SPCA's Resale Shop is located at 1127 Chula Vista in Burlingame)
Volunteers restock shelves and assist customers and donors. They work with staff and other volunteers to keep the store attractive. Retired retail workers, artists, craftsmen and marketing volunteers help make the store successful in its mission to financially support programs and services at PHS/SPCA. This is a good position for a volunteer that wants to make a difference in animals' lives, but may not be comfortable working with shelter animals
Vaccination Clinic
Vaccination clinic volunteers help setup and break down clinics; educate the public about pet responsibility and the importance of spaying and neutering; handle cash transactions, assist in filing syringes and hold animals while they receive their inoculations. Volunteers must have good interpersonal skills when working with the public.
Veterinary Clinic
Veterinary clinic volunteers will assist the veterinarians and our veterinarian technicians with sick and injured animals. Help care for the animals in our clinic and recovery room; provide treatments as prescribed by our veterinarians and maintain the clinic in a clean and sterilized condition.
Videographer
Film, edit, and provide 1-minute videos for dogs/cats to be used on adoption websites. The videos are intended to feature our overlooked animals outside of their kennels playing, listening to obedience commands and interacting well with humans. The 1-minute video should include text and music along with the video image. See current videos on dog adoption pages as a reference. A camcorder and editing software are available to use at the shelter. Volunteer must be able to film during public shelter hours. Animal handlers will be available.
Web Site Volunteer
Our web site is an invaluable outreach tool. The challenge is keeping it maintained, professional-looking and fun. We are always interested in borrowing volunteers' creative or technical skills. Duties may include taking digital photos of animals (and writing animal descriptions), writing HTML, or helping with the site's overall design. We can train people to take photos, but would prefer having people experienced in HTML or design for other duties. We are seeking a 1-2 hour per week commitment.
Wildlife Volunteer
(Seasonal April – October)
Adults & Jr. Volunteers (16-17 year-olds)
Our Wildlife Care Center is looking for extra hands to help with the influx of animals that we receive during our busiest months. Seasonal Wildlife volunteers will learn how to care for and feed baby squirrels and baby birds and will help with basic husbandry. This is a fast-paced volunteer position that will include a lot of cleaning and busy work in addition to feeding the baby animals, but it is a unique and rewarding opportunity to work directly with wildlife. Those volunteers who wish to make a longer commitment and stay beyond the busy season may have the opportunity to learn more advanced wildlife techniques such as handling raptors and seabirds as well as assisting with medical procedures. Wildlife Volunteers can work at our Burlingame or Palo Alto locations.
For more information about this program, please contact Pablo Lopez at PLopez@PHS-SPCA.org
Wildlife Receptionist
Volunteers will welcome customers to the second floor and provide information about the center and about our wildlife rehabilitation efforts. In addition, volunteers will assist with incoming wildlife and return calls received on our Wildlife hotline. As a wildlife receptionist, you will be trained by the Wildlife Department to answer all pertinent questions and how to accept patients to the wildlife hospital.
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