In-Shelter Volunteering
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In-shelter volunteers work directly with animals in both the Redwood City and Palo Alto shelters in a variety of roles: providing exercise and socialization, introducing pets to potential adopters, helping prep for surgery in the vet clinic, cleaning and caring for the pets, and more.
There are opportunities to work with cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, and people!
Email volunteer@petsinneed.org for any questions. Please remember that we are not able to bring on in-shelter volunteers outside of our recruitment periods noted below.
How to Volunteer/FAQs
How do I start?
Our next recruitment starts February 2025.
We have three recruitment periods each year and we will post the application here and our main volunteer page.
Because of the training provided, we are only able to bring on new volunteers during these periods, which start on the first day of the following months: February, May, August, and November.
Please note that we are not able to bring on new volunteers outside of these recruitment periods.
What is the onboarding process?
You will have the opportunity to choose which roles and shifts you are interested in on the application. After the application closes, our Volunteer Coordinator will reach out to you to let you know if we were able to find a placement for you.
The onboarding process is slightly different for each role. Each role will complete an orientation, then trainings based on your role. Once trainings are complete, then you can start your shift!
Who can volunteer?
The minimum age is 16 years old (or turning 16 in the next 6 months). Please note that the minimum age for the in-shelter volunteer program is strictly upheld; underage volunteers cannot volunteer with an adult. We welcome youth volunteers to check out our other opportunities, such as Doggy Day Out!
There is no maximum age and no prior experience required.
What is the committment?
Due to the level of training that we provide, we ask for a minimum commitment of 2 hours every week for 4 months.
If you aren’t able to make this commitment, we encourage you to take part in our drop-in opportunities.
What are the requirements?
We ask that you have an email address and are able to access email and notices via the internet. We use email as our main form of communication.
You must be able to work independently with little to no staff supervision. You must be able to read, comprehend and comply with all procedures and protocol, and stay up to date by reading all communication (newsletters, updates, emails, notices and posted signs).