Volunteer applications are now open for December. Get started below!

Volunteer

Volunteering at Operation Kindness is rewarding and makes a huge difference in the lives of homeless animals. Caring and hard-working volunteers help in a variety of programs throughout the year.

Become a Volunteer

Our volunteer program is an essential part of Operation Kindness. Volunteers are involved in all aspects of the organization and enable us to save even more lives. In 2021, volunteers gave 16,700 hours of their time to help the animals!

By joining Operation Kindness’ team of dedicated volunteers, you’ll build strong relationships with other like-minded animal lovers, the community, and of course, the animals themselves. Working together, we can help match more pets with loving homes.

VOLUNTEER

Get Started

Ready to get going? Volunteers can start as young as age 16.

Step 1:

Watch our Introduction to Volunteering video.

This short video will give you an overview of the volunteer opportunities available at Operation Kindness.

WATCH VIDEO

Step 2:

Next, complete a registration form and pay your volunteer fee of $45 per person.

The fee covers your badge, t-shirt, training, and administrative costs.

After completing registration, you’ll receive instructions for completing an online training at your own pace.

Step 3:

Once you complete your online training, you will be able to sign up for training shifts to help one of our core teams. Volunteer shifts can be scheduled to fit your availability.

We do ask volunteers to serve at least 4 hours on their core team each month for the first 6 months with us.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Volunteer Opportunities

To keep the shelter running smoothly for the hundreds of pets in our care, there’s a variety of daily tasks that volunteers can help with. These tasks include cleaning kennels, laundry, dishes, shredding paper for puppy pens, bathing dogs, cleaning and distributing toys, walking dogs, socializing cats/kittens, and more.

Beyond the general tasks around the shelter, volunteers also receive additional training to help in specific roles.

Animal Care Support

You help clean kennels, wash dishes, do laundry, and shred paper. All things that are needed to help give our animals a clean, healthy environment to live in while they are here.

Adoption Contract Processor

You will help new adopters complete the paperwork necessary to take home their new pet.

Enrichment

Work with our behavior team to provide mental and physical enrichment to the animals in our care.

Foster

Fosters are needed for orphaned puppies and kittens, nursing mothers, animals recovering from a medical procedure, and animals that need behavioral support.

The typical foster stay is two weeks to two months, depending on the individual animal. Learn more and sign up.

Fundraising

Work with our development team to assist with our signature fundraising events, send mailings to supporters, and support admin/data entry work.

Greeter

Become a Greeter

Be the smiling face visitors see when they first arrive in the lobby! You will assist the Client Services team by greeting visitors, providing directions, and answering questions.

Intake & Foster Support

You help us process the paperwork when we bring in new animals. This role also takes photos of our animals and helps get supplies ready for our fosters.

Medical Support

With additional training, you can become a medical support volunteer and work with our veterinary team in our on-site hospital.

You will help with giving medicated baths, taking injured/ill dogs out for potty breaks, cleaning kennels, and scooping litterboxes.

Pet Food Pantry

Volunteers on this team help provide dog/cat food, treats, and litter to people in need.

Family Days Volunteering

Family Day volunteering is an interactive opportunity for families to participate in fulfilling volunteer duties with Operation Kindness. During Family Day volunteer opportunities, volunteers will be provided a behind-the-scenes tour of the shelter, hands-on volunteer activities, and ending the day with animal interactions.

Family Days will be focused on duties from kennel care support (dishes, laundry, sanitation), animal enrichment, adoption greeting, and basic sanitation aid. All volunteer activities are non-animal handling.

The next Family Day will take place in 2023. Check back in December for additional detail.

(Lunch break from 12:30 – 1:00 PM, please bring a packed lunch.)

Cost is $30 per family of 4, each additional child participant is $10.

Please contact volunteers@operationkindness.org for more information.

Corporate group volunteer with dog at Operation Kindness

Corporate Group Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering at our adoption center is an employee favorite! The Corporate Group Volunteering Program gives the maximum benefit to the animals and your employee team.

All volunteer group experiences start with welcoming remarks from our team and a behind-the-scenes tour of Operation Kindness. Then, your team will participate in a volunteer project and gets hands-on time with the dogs and cats. Groups of up to 40 people can be accommodated.

With a corporate group fee of $500 or more, a group of up to 20 participants can volunteer. With a corporate group fee of $1,000 or more, a group of 21-40 participants can volunteer. A minimum of 60 days notice is required. Note: The fee is waived for registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.

To schedule a group volunteer opportunity, please complete this form.

SCHEDULE A CORPORATE GROUP

Community service washing dishes at Operation Kindness

Court-Ordered Community Service

Operation Kindness provides court-ordered community service opportunities. These opportunities range from general sanitation, shelter maintenance, and shelter-related activities such as dishes and laundry. All community service activities are non-animal handling related.

All opportunities must be pre-scheduled through our Volunteer Software. Individuals interested in completing community service with our organization must meet the following qualifications:

Must be 16 years or older
Must complete Community Service Orientation
Not seeking community services hours for any violent misdemeanors or felonies

Sign up for community service here.