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It's a big job to take care of all the animals at The Washington Animal Rescue League, so we welcome your help! The League depends heavily on volunteer support to care for the animals and to help them find their forever homes. Volunteers can help with the animals whenever the shelter is open, but the greatest need is Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
League volunteers perform the following duties:
Dog Walker: Volunteers provide socialization and vital exercise to keep dogs healthy and happy until their transition into new homes. Dog walkers may assist potential adopters with dog introductions and interactions. The position requires willingness and ability to handle all breeds and sizes of dogs.
Cat Socializer: Volunteers socialize cats and kittens with affection, interaction, and grooming to keep them content and healthy until their transition into new homes. The socialization enables the cats and kittens to thrive, both behaviorally and physically, in a shelter environment.
Adoption Counselor: Volunteers help patrons select a suitable animal. They answer questions, show animals, and make recommendations of appropriate animals. This position requires familiarity with the animals and their temperaments in addition to an understanding of WARL’s adoption procedures.
Development: Volunteers answer phones during Radio-thons, hand out information, collect donations, make phone calls to donors, and help with mailings. Volunteers who have database skills, web maintenance skills, prospect research and special event coordination experience are also needed.
Adoption Event Coordinator: Volunteers work with the volunteer manager and the adoptions manager to plan and execute offsite adoption events. They are there from start to finish and direct other volunteers. Most events are on weekends and utilize one of the WARL vans.
Special Events: Volunteers set up and break down equipment for special events, staff tables, sell raffle tickets, manage registration or sign-up tables, collect donations, etc
Offsites: Volunteers represent the League at stores and businesses by handing out information, showcasing available pets, collecting donations, and answering basic questions.
Animal Hospital: Volunteers help hospital staff with answering phones, administrative duties, and limited handling of the animals.
Administrative: Volunteers provide support for a variety of tasks as directed by development department, executive director, volunteer manager, adoption manager, and/or kennel manager.
Fostering: These volunteers must be 18 years old. They take special needs or under-socialized cats, dogs, puppies, or kittens into their homes for an average stay of 1-2 weeks. They also give more in depth attention to foster animal to help increase its adoptability. All supplies and information are provided by the League.
All volunteers must attend a general orientation to learn about the League, and the work we do here. Orientations are held twice a month. They last 1 1/2 hours. At the orientation, volunteers who want to work with the animals will be provided with the dates and times for the next mandatory classes: Dog Walking or Cat Socialization.
If you would like to become a League volunteer, please fill out the volunteer application form and send it back to us, via e-mail, fax, or mail, or drop it off at the front desk of the shelter. We will contact you with the date and time of the next orientation session to begin the training process and welcome you as a volunteer!
Please Note: Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Parents and legal guardians may bring children older than 12 with them when they volunteer, but the children must have attended the relevant trainings.
Volunteer Application
Junior Volunteer Application
(ages 12-17)
Why Should You Volunteer?
"Becoming a volunteer at the League is one of the best things I have ever done! I enjoy it so much and feel that I'm a part of something wonderful! I'm a part of a team of people both on staff and who volunteer that are doing something to ensure the well-being of animals that under other circumstances might have otherwise had a very bleak outcome… [You] are doing such a great service to all concerned, both human and animals." -Karen Koostra, volunteer
Volgistics Link for Existing Volunteers |
