Note: New volunteer applications are currently closed until further notice. We anticipate accepting new volunteers in mid-2021.
Please check back periodically for updates.
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.
VOLUNTEER
Get Started
Ready to get going? Volunteers can start as young as age 6, if accompanied by a responsible adult who has also completed volunteer training.
Step 1:
The first step is to complete a registration form and pay your volunteer fee of $35 per person. The fee covers your badge, T-shirt, training materials, and administrative costs.
Step 2:
Next, you’ll receive instructions for completing an online training at your own pace.
Step 3:
Your orientation concludes with a hands-on training at the shelter. Once you are onboarded, you can schedule volunteer shifts that fit your availability. We ask that volunteers maintain a minimum of 4 hours per month to remain active.
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.
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.
Front Desk Administrator
You will help answer phones, look up pet information in the computer system, and support the Client Services team with visitors and adopters.
Dog or Cat Assessor
With additional training, you will work directly with the dogs and/or cats to perform a behavioral assessment. This helps us gain information about each animal so that we can match them with their perfect new family.
Clever Canine
With additional training, you can become a Clever Canine volunteer. These specialized volunteers work with dogs who need basic manners training and sometimes more complex behavior training. You will work with each dog in the program on their behavior plan to help them become more adoptable.
Smarty Cat and Frisky Kitty
With additional training, you can become a Smarty Cat or Frisky Kitty volunteer. Smarty Cat volunteers work with cats who are fearful or under socialized. Frisky Kitty volunteers work with cats that get overstimulated easily and may bite or swat. You will work with each cat in the program on a behavior plan to teach them to trust and help them become more adoptable.
Medical Ambassador
With additional training, you can become a Medical Ambassador 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.
Adoption Counselor
With additional training, you can become an Adoption Counselor. You will work directly with clients to help them find the animal that they want to adopt. This includes reviewing their adoption questionnaire, introducing them to prospective pets, guiding them towards the perfect match, and processing their adoption contract and payment.
Foster
Sign up as a foster and you will receive one-on-one training on how to care for foster pets in your home. 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.
Enrichment
Work with our behavior team to provide mental and physical enrichment to the animals in our care.
Fundraising
Work with our development team to assist with our signature fundraising events, send mailings to supporters, and support admin/data entry work.
KINDNESS FOR KIDS
Humane Education
Teaching our children to become the next generation of responsible pet owners is the foundation of our Kindness for Kids Humane Education program. We deliver our popular programs at area schools, community recreation centers and at our adoption center.
Experienced volunteer teachers partner with friendly shelter dogs to help teach the fun, engaging lessons. Through these lessons, children learn how to care for the family pet and develop greater compassion and empathy for animals. Presentations include entertaining visuals and are modified to appeal to different aged children. Key elements include:
- How to be a responsible pet owner
- How to care for your pet
- How to interact safely with animals
- Take-home handouts/materials
To schedule your school or after-school care program, contact our Director of Volunteer Services.
volunteers@operationkindness.org
Kindness for Kids is in schools and after-school centers in Southwest Dallas, Dallas, Coppell, Irving, Lewisville, Carrollton/Farmer’s Branch and Richardson.
Group Volunteer Opportunities
Due to COVID-19, group volunteer opportunities have been suspended until further notice.
Volunteering at our adoption center is an employee favorite! The Corporate Group Volunteering Program has been created to give the maximum benefit to the animals as well as your staff.
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 donation of $500 or more, a group of up to 20 participants can volunteer. With a corporate donation of $1,000 or more, a group of 21-40 participants can volunteer. Note: The donation is waived for registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.
