Volunteer Opportunities

At Pets In Need, volunteers are essential to our mission of caring for animals, supporting families, and strengthening our community.

Volunteer Opportunities

Every day, volunteers make a meaningful impact in many ways, from introducing pets to their new families to caring for pets by cleaning and feeding, to supporting our veterinary team behind the scenes. Their time and compassion help animals feel safe, build trust, and prepare for their next chapter.

Whether you are offering hands-on care, helping with medical support, or creating positive experiences for animals in a shelter, your presence helps give every animal the best chance at a healthy, happy future. Ready to get involved? Learn more about our volunteer roles below

Available Weekly Volunteering Positions

Thanks so much for your interest in volunteering with Pets In Need! Our next round of volunteer recruitment will not open in September as previously planned. We’re taking some extra time to develop new, more comprehensive training and prepare an even better experience for our future weekly volunteers. As such, we plan to begin recruiting for weekly volunteer roles again in spring 2027.

Next Recruitment:

Spring 2027

Commitment:

2 hours/week for 4 months

Age Requirement:

16+ years old

Experience:

None required

Cat Caregiver

Cat Matchmaker

Dog Caregiver

Dog Matchmaker & Walker

Rabbit Matchmaker

Surgery Assistant

Ringworm Treatment Team

Public Spay & Neuter Check-In

Public Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic

Cat Caregiver

Help keep our cats happy and comfortable! Cat Caregivers clean cat rooms, provide fresh food and water, and create cozy spaces for cats while they wait for their forever homes.

Cat Matchmaker

Spend time socializing and playing with cats while helping potential adopters meet their perfect match. Cat Matchmakers help showcase each cat’s personality to visiting families.

Dog Caregiver

Support our dogs by providing meals, cleaning kennels, and helping keep their spaces comfortable while they wait for adoption.

Dog Matchmaker & Walker

Take dogs out for walks, give them exercise and enrichment, and introduce them to potential adopters. Volunteers walking dogs must work with large dogs and those who may be untrained, jumpy, rowdy, or mouthy.

Rabbit Matchmaker

Help rabbits stay active and engaged by providing exercise and enrichment, while introducing them to potential adopters.

Surgery Assistant

Support our medical team on surgery days! Surgery Assistants help keep the surgery suite clean and organized, prepare supplies, and assist with animal recovery—an excellent role for anyone interested in veterinary care.

Ringworm Treatment Team

Help cats recover from ringworm so they can be adopted! Volunteers provide treatments and clean kennels to prevent reinfection while cats recover from ringworm, a
treatable fungal skin infection.

To learn more and sign up, visit this form.

Public Spay & Neuter Check-In

Be the welcoming face of surgery day! Volunteers greet clients, check paperwork, label carriers, confirm patient IDs, and help keep the clinic organized and running smoothly.

Public Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic

Help bring essential preventive care to pets in the community. Volunteers assist with tasks like drawing vaccines, managing parking, running the donation giveaway, or checking in pets—while meeting lots of adorable animals.

Available Drop-in Volunteer Positions

Doggy Day Out

Minimum age: 5 years with an adult

Saturday - Sunday, 9:15 am - 12:30 pm

Make a shelter dog’s day with Doggy Day Out! Take our active dogs on fun field trips outside the shelter. Enjoy a relaxing morning at home, visit a park for playtime, or explore the Bay’s dog-friendly trails together. What to know: These high-energy dogs typically aren’t leash-trained and will pull. We’re prioritizing our stronger, rowdier dogs who need this most. If you’re comfortable handling these pups, we’d love to have you! Sign up to make a dog’s day!

Support and Welcome Volunteer

Minimum age: 12 years

Monday - Sunday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Help keep our shelter running smoothly. Greet guests, organize supplies and paperwork, and set up for events. Get involved today!

Animal Ambulance

Minimum age: 16 years old

Monday - Sunday, 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Transport animals to life-saving care. Drive animals to vet appointments and take wildlife to the Burlingame rehabilitation center. How it works: Receive texts when transport is needed. Accept if you’re available. No obligation if you’re not. You’ll only get messages on days you choose. Start saving animals today!

Clinic Flow Volunteer

Minimum age: 16 years old

Wednesdays, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Our weekly low-cost vaccine clinic brings accessible, essential preventive care to the community. A big team of volunteers make this very busy clinic possible! We’ll train you on-site. Please park in the gravel lot to the right of the main parking lot and check in with either RJ or Sophie.

What you’ll do: Use pagers to call visitors to check in and direct them to vaccine stations. Answer questions from visitors. And of course, meet adorable pets! Sign up to volunteer!

Did you know?

Many companies will match employees’ volunteer hours with a donation. Learn more about our volunteer grants.