Volunteer Orientation

  • Volunteer Orientation

  • Thank you for wanting to get involved with Pets In Need!

    The application for summer recruitment will stay open until May 15th at 5pm. 

  • Available Roles & Shifts

  • Before moving forward, please first check the available shifts below to see if any of them work for you. Training is in May and June, with a 4-month committment to weekly volunteering after completing training. So to volunteer in this recruitment, you should be able to consistently attend one of the shifts below from June to September.

     

    Cat Matchmaker & Socializer

    Help our kitties meet their new families! When you're not showing off our fine felines to adopters, you'll take the kitties out for playtime and socialization. Minimum age is 16 years old by June 2026.

    Palo Alto:

    • Monday, 3pm-5pm or 5-6pm
    • Tuesday, 3pm-5pm
    • Wednesday, 3pm-5pm
    • Thursday, 5pm-6pm
    • Friday, 1pm-3pm or 5-6pm

    Redwood City:

    • Monday, 3pm5pm or 5pm-6pm
    • Tuesday, 5pm-6pm
    • Wednesday, 3pm-5pm, or 5pm-6pm
    • Thursday, 11am-1pm, 3pm-5pm, or 5-6pm
    • Saturday, 1pm-3pm or 5pm-6pm

     

    Dog Matchmaker & Walker

    Help our doggies meet their new families! For the first hour of your shift, you'll take dogs on walks. For the second hour, you'll stay onsite and introduce them to potential adopters, cuddle in their kennel or take them out to the yard for playtime. Minimum age is 16 years old by June 2026.

    Palo Alto:

    • Monday, 1pm-3pm or 4pm-6pm
    • Tuesday 12pm-2pm, 1pm-3pm, 2pm-4pm, 3pm-5pm, or 4pm-6pm
    • Wednesday 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm, 3pm-5pm, or 4pm-6pm
    • Thursday, 4pm-6pm
    • Saturday, 1pm-3pm, 3pm-5pm, or 4pm-6pm

    Redwood City:

    • Thursday, 12pm-2pm or 2pm-pm
    • Friday, 3pm-5pm or 4pm-6pm
    • Saturday, 11am-1pm, 1pm-3pm or 2pm-4pm 

     

    Cat Caregiver

    In one of our most crucial roles, you will ensure our kitties have a clean and comfortable place to stay while at the shelter. You'll clean kennels, feed, and give cuddles to our kitties. Minimum age is 18 years old by June 2026.

    Palo Alto:

    • Monday, 8am-10am or 4pm-6pm
    • Tuesday, 4pm-6pm
    • Wednesday, 8am-10am or 4pm-6pm
    • Thursday, 4pm-6pm
    • Friday, 8am-10am or 4pm-6pm
    • Saturday, 8am-10am or 4pm-6pm

    Redwood City:

    • Thursday, 1pm-3pm, 2pm-4pm or 4pm-6pm
    • Friday, 1pm-3pm, 2pm-4pm or 3pm-5pm 

     

    Dog Caregiver

    In this extremely essential role, you will ensure our doggies have a clean and comfortable place to stay while at the shelter. You'll clean kennels and feed dogs, and afterward you'll have time to cuddle and play with the dogs. Minimum age is 18 years old by June 2026.

    Palo Alto:

    • Monday, 8am-10am
    • Tuesday, 8am-10am, 8am-10am or 4pm-6pm
    • Wednesday, 8am-10am or 4pm-6pm
    • Thursday, 8am-10am or 4pm-6pm
    • Friday, 8am-10am or 4pm-6pm
    • Saturday, 4pm-6pm
    • Sunday, 8am -10am or 4pm-6pm
       

    Redwood City:

    • Monday, 8am-10am
    • Tuesday, 8am-10am
    • Wednesday, 8am-10am
    • Thursday, 8am-10am or 4pm-6pm
    • Friday, 8am-10am or 4pm-6pm
    • Saturday, 8am-10am, 4pm-6pm
    • Sunday, 8am-10am 

     

    Dog Field Trip Coordinator

    Help our pups kick off their day with our Doggy Day Out program! In your first hour, you'll take the dogs on walks or play with them in the yard. In the second hour, you'll get them harnessed up, prep their Doggy Day Out supplies, and send them off to their friends for the day! Minimum age is 16 years old by June 2026.

    Palo Alto:

    • Monday, 8am-10am
    • Tuesday, 8am-10am
    • Thursday, 8am-10am
    • Friday, 8am-10am
    • Saturday, 8am-10am

    Redwood City:

    • Monday, 8am-10am
    • Tuesday, 8am-10am
    • Friday, 8am-10am
    • Saturday, 8am-10am

     

    Development Administration Volunteer

    Support the behind-the-scenes work! Help ensure our donors and supporters feel appreciated, informed and connected. Minimum age is 18 years old by June 2026.

    • Tuesdays, 10am-12pm 

    Marketing Analytics Volunteer

    As a Marketing Analytics Volunteer, you will work with our Marketing team to track performance and uncover insights that shape our storytelling and outreach. Minimum age is 18 years old by June 2026.

    • Weekly shift, day is flexible 

    Volunteer Photographer

    Help our animals be seen and find the homes they deserve. Minimum age is 18 years old by June 2026.

    • Weekly shift, day is flexible

    Special Event Volunteer

    Be part of the moments that bring our community together. As a Special Events Volunteer, you will help create meaningful experiences that connect people to our mission and the animals in our care. At least 16 years old by June 2026, or at least 7 years old with an adult.

    As-needed, with opportunities on weekends, evenings, and some weekdays.

     

    Surgery Assistant

    Volunteers assist with maintaining a clean and organized surgery suite, preparing supplies, and supporting animal recovery. Minimum age is 18 years old by June 2026.

    • Mondays, 9am-1pm 

    Public Surgery Check-In

    These volunteers help our vet team make low-cost spay and neuter possible! Responsibilities include greeting clients, verifying paperwork, labeling carriers, confirming patient identification. Minimum age is 18 years old by June 2026.

    •  Thursdays, 7:30am-9am

    Vaccine Clinic Expeditor or Parking Commander

    These volunteers bring low-cost vet care to the community by helping at our weekly vaccine clinic. These are great opportunities for people who like to meet animals in the community! Minimum age is 16 years old by June 2026.

    • Wednesdays, 9:15am-12pm

     

  • Orientation

  • Completing this orientation is required before you can submit the volunteer application for weekly in-shelter volunteering.

    The orientation is about 30 minutes and can be watched by clicking the video below.

    After you complete the short quiz, you will be directed to the volunteer application and receive an email with a link to the application if you want to complete it later.

  • Which common shelter diseases can your own pets at home be exposed to through you?

  • X Incorrect

    Ringworm is passed directly from one infected individual to another, it is highly unlikely for you to bring it home to your own cat unless you yourself develop the infection.

  • X Incorrect

    Intestinal worms are generally not transmitted by touch.

  • X Incorrect

    Dogs are mostly vulnerable to this disease in a kennel environment, when they are in close contact with other dogs.

  • Correct!

    Parvovirus is transmitted through fecal matter and can infect other dogs when they come into contact with contaminated objects or surfaces.

  • When an animal is on bite quarantine, what guidelines do we have to follow?

  • X Mostly Right

    This is one guideline, but it isn't the only one.

  • Correct!

    Animals on bite quarantine are legally required to be kept isolated in their kennels  for a full 10 days and can only be interacted with by staff for the bare necessary care, such as potty breaks. Volunteers must not work with these animals.

  • What is the minimum commitment for weekly in-shelter volunteers?

  • X Incorrect

  • Correct!

    Because there is a good amount of training required, we ask for a minimum commitment of weekly volunteering for at least 4 months.

  • What can you do to prevent disease spread and bites?

  • X Mostly Right

    This is one way to practice prevention, but it isn't the only way!

  • Correct!

     

    Reading posted signs prevents you from working with animals on quarantines.

    Working with animals in the color code you're trained on helps to prevent bites.

    Following procedures and reading signage to work with contagious animals last prevents spreading contaminants to healthy animals.

  • If you need to cancel your shift, what do you do?

  • X Incorrect

    While email is our primary form of communication, this is not the quickest way to open up your shift and make it available for other volunteers.

  • X Incorrect

    The reception staff are not always available to answer calls, and there may be a delay in getting your shift open for other volunteers.

  • X Incorrect

    By no-showing for your shift, you make it so no one else has a chance to fill in for your shift, and the animals are left with no one to work with them.

  • Correct!

    Canceling on the volunteering app VicNet immediately opens up your shift for another volunteer and notifies the staff so they know you won't be coming in.

  • Your Score Is {score}/100

  • Enter your name and email address below to receive a certificate of completion and link to the volunteer application by email.

  • Completed
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  • After you hit submit, you will be directed to the volunteer application and receive an email with a link to the application if you want to complete it later.

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