Volunteer
Volunteering at Paws4ever
Want to get more involved at Paws4ever? We rely on our amazing team of volunteers for support with animal care, cleaning, events, maintaining our ReSale Store, and more!
Interested in volunteering and want to know more? Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form and we’ll get in touch!
Ongoing Animal Volunteer Opportunities
We need volunteers to spend time with cats and dogs at Paws4ever and assist staff in providing them with top quality care! Animal volunteers are given comprehensive training about animal interactions and the Adoption Center environment.
In addition to spending time with the cats and dogs, animal volunteers are all expected to pitch in with cleaning and care tasks around the Adoption Center. A typical volunteer session may involve taking a dog for a walk and doing a load of laundry, or playing with kittens and scooping litter boxes.
Canine Companions
Canine Companions spend one-on-one time with dogs both in their kennels and out around the sanctuary. It is important to spend time with them in their kennels to promote a calm and enriching environment, as well as getting them outside. Other activities may include going for walks, playing in the off-leash fenced areas, spending quiet time together in a living-room to get them used to home life, and training sessions in or out of the kennel. Canine Companions also help with cleaning tasks as well as preparing food and enrichment treats and activities.
Age requirement: Must be at least 16 years old to volunteer alone. Under 16 may volunteer with a parent or guardian.
Training requirements: Volunteer Information Session, Hands-On Training, Canine Companion training modules.
Feline Friends
Feline Friends spend time with the cats and kittens at Paw4ever to promote socialization and provide opportunities for enrichment. Most of our cats live in community rooms with room to play and chairs to sit in and cuddle! Feline Friends also help with cleaning and care tasks in the Adoption Center.
Age requirement: Must be at least 16 years old to volunteer alone. Under 16 may volunteer with a parent or guardian.
Training requirements: Volunteer Information Session, Hands-On Training, Feline Friends training modules.
Foster
Have some extra love to share? Consider opening your home to a foster pet! Paws4ever’s Foster Program allows us to expand our capacity to rescue more animals and to support animals with special needs. Find out more about becoming a Paws4ever foster caregiver!
Other Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
ReSale Store
The Paws4ever ReSale Store in Hillsborough relies on a team of dedicated volunteers to lend a hand sorting, pricing, staging, and cleaning items. Proceeds from the Paws4ever ReSale Store support animals in need at Paws4ever.
Age requirement: Must be at least 16 years old to volunteer alone. Under 16 may volunteer with a parent or guardian.
Training requirements: Volunteer Information Session, Hands-On Training.
Ambassadors
Raise awareness about Paws4ever in the community at adoption and table events around the area.
Training requirements: Volunteer Information Session, shadowing other ambassadors, and reviewing organization talking points document.
Admin and Office
Volunteers are needed to help with some office tasks such as data entry, cleaning, distributing flyers, and organization.
Training requirements: Volunteer Information Session, Hands-On Training.
Occasional Volunteer Opportunities
Can’t commit to more than three months but still want to help? Attending a Volunteer Orientation Session is recommended, but not required, for the following:
Fundraising Events
Fundraisers would not be possible without the help of our volunteers! Help is needed in the weeks leading up each of our events as well as on the big day! Email volunteer@paws4ever.org for more information.
Grounds and Maintenance
Ongoing or one-time help is always needed for facilities and grounds maintenance tasks, including yard work, trail maintenance, item transport, and small repairs. Email volunteer@paws4ever.org for ways you can help.
Got a truck?
We often need help transporting large items that have been donated. If you have a truck or other large vehicle and are willing to serve on-call to help transport those donations, please email volunteer@paws4ever.org.
Group Volunteer Opportunities
Is your community group, office, civic group, church, neighborhood or friend group looking for ways to get involved in supporting animals in need? Contact volunteer@paws4ever.org to coordinate a group service project!
Host a Supply Drive
Read more about this opportunity here.
Get Started Volunteering
If you are interested in volunteering on an ongoing basis, please fill out a volunteer interest form (link) to create your volunteer account. You will be notified via email when the next Volunteer Information Session is scheduled.
1. Complete a volunteer interest form. We will notify you via email to let you know when the next Volunteer Information Session is available for sign-up.
2. Attend Volunteer Information Session. All new volunteers under 18 must have written parents’ permission to volunteer. A parent must accompany children under 16 during volunteer training and while volunteering.
3. Attend any position-specific training. Some volunteer positions may require additional training. If you have any questions, or if you are interested in a one-time volunteer opportunity or group volunteer opportunity, contact us at volunteer@paws4ever.org