In-Shelter Volunteering

Did you know? Many companies will match employees’ volunteer hours with a donation. Learn more.

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 do I start?

Our Winter recruitment starts February 2025.

We have three recruitment periods each year. 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. 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.