Opportunities

Volunteers are a vital part of life at BEBHS, both as caretakers of our animals and as members of our outreach team. Because our volunteers' work is so essential to the operation of our agency, we ask for a minimum commitment of two hours per week for six months, though most of our volunteers stay with us for much longer. Each volunteer signs up for one two-hour shift then works that same time each week. Students and other volunteers on an academic calendar may work for two periods of three months each, for example September-November and February-April.

Canine & Feline Friends

Volunteers wanting to work directly with the animals are trained as Canine Friends or Feline Friends. Friends provide our animals with affection, environmental enrichment, exercise, training, and general care such as feeding, basic grooming, and kennel cleaning.

NOTE: Because of the fire at our facility on May 20, 2010, we are not currently training new volunteers for direct animal care. To learn more about the other volunteer opportunities described below, and to be notified of new orientation dates when they become available, and please send your name and contact information to volunteer@berkeleyhumane.org.

Outreach

Not all volunteers help our animals by direct, hands-on care. One of the most important services a volunteer can provide is to act as the public face of BEBHS during community outreach events, whether by hosting an informational table and collecting much-needed donations, or by assisting at a large annual event such as Bay to Barkers. Equally important are the volunteers who work behind the scenes, assisting staff with the administrative work necessary to keep our agency running smoothly.

PAWS/East Bay

In keeping with our mission of caring for our community's neediest cats and dogs, BEBHS counts among our programs Pets Are Wonderful Support/East Bay, or PAWS/EB. For pets belonging to seniors and persons with disabling conditions, PAWS offers in-home support, including exercise, litter box cleaning, basic grooming, food delivery, and transport to and from veterinary appointments. In many cases, the care PAWS volunteers provide enables an owner to keep a cherished pet at home, rather than relinquish that pet to the shelter system.