The gift of time and attention is one of the most important ways you can help the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society.

Volunteers are vital to our mission of caring for homeless canines and felines and working to create a more compassionate and humane community. We would not be able to provide the care needed without the commitment, dedication, and reliability of volunteers who invest their time and energy.

Listed below are several tasks that volunteers do at BEBHS. Some activities involve working directly with the dogs and cats waiting for new homes. Others are tasks that indirectly assist the animals, but are still critical to their well-being. Please take a look at these volunteer activities, and follow the steps to sign up and get started. Whatever you choose to do will make a huge difference!

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Volunteer Job Opportunities

Canine Associates
Volunteers work with dogs that are temporarily housed in the BEBHS Adoption Center, teaching good kennel manners to them. Canine Associates are trained to use the correct equipment and give individualized attention to the dogs, including comforting, walking, feeding, grooming and cleaning.

Feline Associates
Volunteers work with the cats housed in the shelter, providing them with cuddling, comforting, playing, grooming, feeding, and cleaning.

Grooming
Sometimes our canine and feline guests need some beauty spa time. A bath, comb, and haircut helps with appearances and adoptions.

Mobile Outreach
Volunteers travel to popular shopping areas areas where we take a few of our dog and cat guests to meet the public. This outreach increases community awareness of BEBHS and facilitates adoption of our animals. Volunteers help keep the animals calm, assist with future adoptions and interact with the public. Mobile Outreach events are typically held on Saturdays and Sundays, with an occasional weekday event.

Fostering
Volunteers who decide to become foster parents are providing a temporary home for canines and felines with special needs - those who are very young, ill or need individual help with socialization. Sometimes animals are fostered when they just need a home environment prior to being adopted.

Humane Education
Volunteers assist with teaching young children the importance of compassion and respect for animals. They provide in-classroom instruction at local elementary schools and help with educational tours.

Special Events
Volunteers provide invaluable assistance in planning, implementing, and staffing fundraising, outreach and educational events to raise funds and/or awareness of BEBHS and animal welfare.

Administrative Support
Volunteers provide clerical, data entry and data management support for regular BEBHS administrative functions, as well as doing special projects.

Handy Person
This essential role, fixing what needs to be fixed in our building, is addressed by volunteers working with BEBHS staff.

PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support)/East Bay
This is a special program run by BEBHS that serves low-income persons with disabling illnesses or conditions and low-income seniors by helping to care for feline and canine companions. Please see the PAWS/East Bay page for information about volunteer opportunities.

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Getting Started

Volunteering at BEBHS is fun and very rewarding. You will not only be helping the animals, but will meet others who share your interests. The staff, Board of Directors and our four legged residents are deeply appreciative of the commitment of time, energy and attention by volunteers.

The first step in volunteering is to attend an orientation. Orientations are about an hour and a half, and are held on the first Saturday of each month (except December) or on the Wednesday following the first Saturday. For information on the next scheduled volunteer orientation and to register to attend, call 510-845-7735, ext. 13, or email volunteer@berkeleyhumane.org. Volunteers who want to work with the animals will then take training classes to prepare for safe and effective interactions with the dogs and cats in our care.

We ask that volunteers make a commitment to BEBHS of at least six months, although many volunteers stay with us for much longer. The work of volunteers (and of staff) goes on 365 days a year. Volunteers sign up for a 2 hour shift, at the same time and day of each week.

Junior volunteers are welcome. A junior volunteer between the ages of 10 and 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Volunteers between the ages of 16 and 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the orientation and training classes and then may come on their own. You must be 16 to enter a dog kennel and to walk a dog on leash.

If you have any questions or would like to sign up for an orientation, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator by phone at (510) 845-7735, ext. 13, or by email volunteer@berkeleyhumane.org.

Thank you for your interest in the Volunteer Program at the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society!