Show All Answers

1. How often do I have to come to the shelter to volunteer?

Becoming a trained volunteer with our ongoing volunteer program is a big time commitment for our volunteers and for our staff. The animal shelter is an exciting and ever-changing place! In order for our volunteers to keep their skills current and to stay updated on any changes, we need all volunteers to commit to a weekly 2 hour shift. We also ask our volunteers to stay with the program for at least 6 months.

2. What if my schedule varies and I can’t come in every week?

In order to interact directly with the animals at the shelter, volunteers must meet the 2 hour per week volunteer requirement for a period of 6 months. If this won’t work with your schedule, don’t worry! There are lots of other ways to help the animals and the shelter such as at home service projects, the foster program, or the Loudoun Pet Pantry. If none of these seem right for you, there are many other animal welfare organizations in the area. A great place to start finding other animal related volunteer opportunities is Metro Pets online.

3. What kinds of things will I do as a volunteer?

There is a lot to know about volunteering at the shelter and caring for shelter animals. All volunteers get trained on one area of interest and volunteer for at least 10 hours doing that volunteer role. After that, volunteers can be trained in as many areas of the shelter as they would like. Volunteer roles vary from direct animal handling, socialization, and care to helping with behind the scenes tasks and administrative work like writing animal profiles and taking photos for the website to filing and helping support the Loudoun Pet Pantry. What you do as a volunteer depends on your interests and available volunteer positions.