Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us! We love our volunteers and could not operate to the full extent that we do without them — they are the heart and center of operations here at Seattle Humane. Volunteers are involved in almost everything we do, from animal care to administrative support, our veterinary clinic to events, and more!
Join Our Team
We’re looking for new volunteers! If you’re over 18 and want to get involved with Seattle Humane, follow the steps below to get started.We’re currently accepting applications through October 3, 2021.
Step 1
Watch thisvideo to learn more about our organization and volunteer program to help you decide whether volunteering at Seattle Humane is the right fit for you.
Step 2
Take a look at our open positions below. Click the position description links for more details, and if you like what you see, submit an application!
Step 3
Keep an eye on your email. We’ll start reviewing applications on Monday, October 4, 2021 and will be reaching out via email throughout that week with the status of your application. If you’re accepted for a position, we’ll share more information on next steps through email.
We’re currently accepting applications for these positions:
Adoption Support Program (ASP)
Adoption Support volunteers help Seattle Humane provide a warm welcome for potential adopters and support them through the adoption process. If you’re a people person who wants to help pets find new families, this is the role for you!
COVID-19 Information: Vaccinations are required to participate in this position.
Cat Care & Enrichment (CCE)
These volunteers help with all the daily care of our cats at the shelter, including feeding, socialization and enrichment, and making sure their living spaces are as clean and comfortable as possible. If you want to work hands-on with cats at the shelter, this is the position for you!
COVID-19 Information: Vaccinations are required to participate in this position.
Delivery Driver
Interested in supporting pet owners in your own community? You can help by delivering pet food and other supplies to homebound clients of our Pet Food Bank, participating senior centers and food banks around the greater Seattle area.
Location: We currently need drivers to deliver to: Downtown Seattle, South Seattle/Renton, and Enumclaw. Volunteers choose which location you’d prefer.
Schedule: Deliveries occur between 12 – 6 p.m. any day Mondays – Saturdays. You choose a regular delivery day and staff will work with you to determine a mutually agreeable schedule.
Time Commitment: Frequency of deliveries vary by location; some locations need weekly deliveries while others might need monthly. We ask for at least 3 months commitment to a delivery schedule to ensure regular service for the clients that rely on it.
These volunteers help maintain a healthy physical, mental and emotional environment for dogs at the shelter by providing daily exercise and enrichment. If you want to work hands-on with dogs at the shelter, this is the position for you!
COVID-19 Information: Vaccinations are required to participate in this position.
Dog Foster Parent
Provide dogs with a loving, temporary home while they’re waiting to be adopted, or while their owners are experiencing housing insecurity, hospitalization or other personal crisis. Fostering is a rewarding and enriching experience that offers a great opportunity for families or individuals who love dogs, but cannot commit to having a full-time pet. We’re especially in need of foster homes for dogs who have particular health and/or behavior needs.
Schedule and Time Commitment: Schedule and time commitment varies by pet. Volunteers will be given more information on the needs and expected time commitment for available foster animals and can commit to taking pets home based on your own schedule and comfort level.
Our Donor Services team is looking for onsite help with data entry and other administrative tasks so they can focus on maintaining good relationships with Seattle Humane's supporters. This position is great for individuals who are looking to learn new skills or improve their current skills in a professional nonprofit environment.
Schedule: Shifts available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. Volunteers can choose their own 3-4 hour shift any time between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Time Commitment: Once a week on the same day & time through the end of February 2022.
COVID-19 Information: Vaccinations are required to participate in this position.
Fluff N' Fold
We go through a LOT of laundry at the shelter every day, and we could use some help keeping up with it! This is a great way to get involved if you’re looking for a short-term volunteer opportunity or aren’t able to commit to a regular schedule.
COVID-19 Information: Vaccinations are required to participate in this position.
Foster Support Volunteer (FSV)
These volunteers provide general help onsite around the shelter so our Foster team can focus on offering the best possible support to our Foster Parents and pets. This role is a great way to see behind the scenes of our Foster program!
COVID-19 Information: Vaccinations are required to participate in this position.
Surgery Pack Wrap
Surgery Pack Wrap volunteers work closely with veterinary staff during our daily surgery shift to clean, wrap, and sterilize our surgical instrumentation. It's a fun, fast-paced job that helps us tremendously in our efforts to provide affordable spay-neuter services to low income families and perform needed surgeries on the pets in our care. This is a great opportunity to learn about surgical instrumentation, sterile techniques, and, if interested, observe surgical procedures.
COVID-19 Information: Vaccinations are required to participate in this position.
Vet Clinic Care Assistant (CCA)
These volunteers ensure the smooth running of our veterinary clinic by cleaning, organizing supplies, and more. This allows our vet staff to focus on providing high-quality medical care. This is a great opportunity to learn about the inner workings of a vet clinic. This position is also ideal for people who want to volunteer with a friend or family member!
COVID-19 Information: Vaccinations are required to participate in this position.
Cat Foster Parent
We’re in need of foster homes for cats and kittens with ringworm. Did you know ringworm is not actually a worm, but a fungus? It’s better for these cats to recover from their condition in a loving temporary home, rather than the isolation ward on campus. Oftentimes, they are perfectly healthy otherwise and they don’t feel sick. We’ll provide all training needed to care for them.
Schedule and time commitment varies by pet; treatment for ringworm can last anywhere from two weeks to several months. Volunteers will be given more information on the needs and expected time commitment for available foster animals and can commit to taking pets home based on your own schedule and comfort level.
To volunteer, you must be at least 18 years of age. However, through our youth and educational programs, we have many opportunities for those under 18 who want to get involved and earn community service hours. To learn more, check out our Youth Programs or contact [email protected].
Group Opportunities
If you are looking for a group service project for your company or organization, check out our Group Volunteer Opportunities.
Please note that Seattle Humane does not offer volunteer opportunities for court-ordered community service.
Volunteer FAQs
Can I apply for more than one position?
Yes! Feel free to submit as many applications as you’d like. However, if you are new to Seattle Humane and looking to volunteer in any of our weekly scheduled positions, we may offer just one for you to start with.
I’m not interested in these positions – do you have anything else I could do?
At this time, we only need help with the assignments listed above. However, our volunteer needs are always changing and we’ll likely have different opportunities later! Open volunteer positions will be posted here on a monthly basis, so we encourage you to check back later to see what’s new.
If my application is accepted, when do I start volunteering?
You can expect to start volunteering sometime after Oct. 8, 2021, though your exact start date will depend on what position you’re volunteering for. There is general training and onboarding materials that need to be completed by all volunteers prior to joining the program, and many assignments have online training specific to that position which will need to be completed before you report for your first shift. You’ll receive info on all necessary training via email.
Give our adoptable animals additional exposure by printing out online profiles and posting them at work, school, your place of worship, or your favorite local businesses.
Passionate about Seattle Humane’s life-saving services, care for homeless and abandoned pets, and ensuring that all pets have a loving home? You can help by featuring our pets on your website! Choose our Shelter ID (WA06).
Hold a Pet Food Drive
Throughout the year, we rely on groups and individuals to help us meet the needs of the animals served through our Pet Food Bank. If you are interested in organizing a pet food drive in your community, school, church, or business, please contact our Community Outreach Coordinator at (425) 649-7566.
Hold bake sales, yard sales, craft sales, participate in walk-a-thons, and much more! Feel free to use your imagination to come up with a fundraising idea.
