Volunteer Opportunities at The SF/SPCA

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NEW: Featured Volunteer Opportunity

Would you like to help our homeless dogs and cats find homes this Holiday Season? Then sign up to volunteer at our 22nd Annual Holiday Windows Event. To learn more about this fun and festive volunteer opportunity and to sign up for a volunteer shift please click here now!

Dedicated volunteers have made the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals one of the country's most successful animal welfare organizations. Volunteers make at least a 6 month commitment with 3 hours of service per week. Please see below for some of the possibilities.

Foster Parenting

Foster volunteers provide a temporary home (usually 2-3 weeks) for animals who are either sick or injured or too young to be adopted. The vast majority of animals that need fostering are underage kittens, many with medical problems. The SF SPCA provides for the animals' medical needs. To learn more visit http://www.sfspca.org/foster/index.shtml or contact foster@sfspca.org. or call 415-522-3542 for more information.

Foster Volunteer description (.pdf)

Feral Cat Assistance Team

Volunteers needed to help trap feral cats, bring them to the Feral Fix Program, return and/or provide recovery care after spay/neuter surgery. Assist with socializing feral kittens or young cats. To learn more visit http://www.sfspca.org/feral/index.shtml or call 415-522-3539 for more information.

Feral Volunteer description (.pdf)

Community Veterinary Services [CVS]

The CVS Inpatient department are responsible for performing spay/neuter and specialized surgeries, treatment of all in-house and public/outpatient animals, as well as providing medical care for foster animals and recently adopted animals. As The SF/SPCA takes on more animals that need medical care, volunteer assistance in performing these lifesaving duties becomes increasingly important. We need dedicated volunteers to help with this lifesaving volunteer service. Please sign up for a Volunteer Orientation or call the Volunteer Coordinator at (415) 522-3543 for more information.

Clerical Volunteers

If you want to support the animals and have a love for all things clerical, then we have the perfect volunteer opportunity. Whether it’s filing, data entry, assisting with mailings or a special project, office volunteers help keep the SF/SPCA programs running around the clock. Please call Volunteer Services at 415-522-3543 to see what positions are available.

Community Events

Throughout the year, our Community Outreach Department hosts and participates in events to educate the public about our programs and the loveable animals available for adoption at The SF/SPCA. Volunteers help with various tasks including registration, set up and break down, tabling, working with the public and their companion animals, and helping staff handle shelter animals. Helping us out with events is a great opportunity for busy people who can only commit to occasional volunteering. Please sign up for a Volunteer Orientation to start!

Community Events Volunteer description (.pdf)

Shelter Basics Volunteer

Learn about the duties and tasks that must be performed on a daily basis to keep the shelter running smoothly. Assist various staff members with these in order to support the functioning of the shelter and allow us to care for and find homes for as many animals as possible. Shelter Basics volunteers assist with basic cleaning duties, stocking adoption packets and handouts, providing client service to our visitors and more. This volunteer position is the prerequisite for volunteering with the cats and dogs, as well as starting you out as integral part of the Adoptions team. Please sign up for a Volunteer Orientation to start this rewarding volunteer service. We encourage you to print out a volunteer application, fill it out and bring it along with you to orientation. Applications will also be available at Orientation.

Commitment: A regular shift of 2 hours per week for approximately 6 – 8 weeks. Once the initial four shifts are completed, volunteers have the option to train as either a Shelter Cat or Shelter Dog volunteer. Shelter Basics shifts will continue and additionally, you will learn to work with our shelter animals by taking a variety of classes. After all required classes are completed volunteers graduate to become Shelter Cat or Dog volunteers. At this time the commitment becomes 3 hours per week for the duration of your volunteering with us.

Shelter Basics Volunteer description (.pdf)

Shelter Cat Volunteer

Spend time with cats and kittens in the kitty lofts at Maddie’s Pet Adoption Center, giving them the love and attention they need as they wait for a home. Assist with direct care of the cats, staff the information desk at Maddie’s, greeting visitors and answering questions. Help match potential adopters with cats. We encourage you to print out a volunteer application for the Shelter Basics opportunity, fill it out and bring it along with you to the Volunteer Orientation you have signed up for. Applications will also be available at Orientation.
Please note that all new shelter volunteers must first complete the Shelter Basics Volunteer program (see Shelter Basics Volunteer description) to become a Shelter Cat Volunteer.

Commitment: We ask for an initial commitment of 6 months, including the Shelter Basics and Cat/Dog Volunteer programs. If you continue for a longer period of time (and we hope you do!) we ask that you continue to give us 3 hours per week for the duration of your volunteering.

Shelter Cat Volunteer description (.pdf)

Shelter Dog Volunteer

Provide shelter dogs and staff with direct care tasks such as feeding, grooming and kennel care, help potential adopters find their perfect companion, assist with public dog training classes, and teach basic skills that will help dogs find a home more quickly and stand them in good stead throughout their life. We encourage you to print out a volunteer application for the Shelter Basics opportunity, fill it out and bring it along with you to the Volunteer Orientation you have signed up for. Applications will also be available at Orientation.

Please note that all new shelter volunteers must first complete the Shelter Basics Volunteer program (see Shelter Basics Volunteer description) to become a Shelter Dog Volunteer.

Shelter Dog Volunteer description (.pdf)

Animal Assisted Therapy

Volunteers take their own pets to visit people with special needs including older adults, the seriously ill and patients in hospitals and rehabilitation centers. To learn more please visit http://www.sfspca.org/aat/index.shtml or contact jemmert@sfspca.org; 415-554-3060.

Humane Education

When did YOU first realize that you loved animals? Help The SF/SPCA's dogs and cats make friends for the future by becoming a Humane Education Volunteer. SF/SPCA Junior Volunteers (under 18) get their start through the Humane Education program. To learn more please visit Humane Education Program.

Other Ways to Help

If you don’t have time to become a regular volunteer, you can still help The SF/SPCA:

Become a foster parent. Provide a short-term home (usually for two to four weeks) for animals who are sick, injured or too young to be adopted.
Become a Community Events volunteer. No hourly requirement or long-term commitment, all you need is a smile and enthusiasm and a willingness to help.
Become an SF/SPCA donor. Your donation will support The SF/SPCA in its lifesaving work, responsible pet care and dog safety.

Volunteer Orientation Information:

Call Volunteer Services (415) 522-3543 for more information. Click here for information about upcoming volunteer orientation workshops.

Volunteers make a difference in the lives of homeless dogs and cats. You can help. Contact Volunteer Services at volunteers@sfspca.org formore information.