Volunteer Information
Many of our programs and services are run by our supportive volunteers. Here's where you can find out about volunteering your time to help animals.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR: Dedicated individuals over 17 years of age who can make a one year commitment of 8 hours a month to help the many abused and unwanted animals in our care. Youth volunteers, ages 12-16, must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Special Note for Students: Due to the overwhelming number of requests, we can no longer accommodate school or college students who are required to fulfill short-term community service hours. The increased number of community service volunteers, their short term needs, and the restricted days and times in which they can complete their hours has placed a burden on our staff. As stated above, spcaLA will not grant community service hours for any volunteer unless they are willing to give a one year commitment of 8 hours per month.
Help wanted
Latest Opportunities for spcaLA Volunteers
In order to make the most of your time and energy volunteering with the spcaLA, I have been conducting meetings with our management team in order to find out the specific needs of our organization. Currently, our shelters in Long Beach and Hawthorne are in need of volunteers to perform the following tasks*:
* “ WED-SUN ” means this task needs to be done Wednesday through Sunday, but you can choose to sign-up for any one (or more) of those days.
LONG BEACH
Needs:
• WED-SUN , 9:30am to 10:30am à feeding dogs the proper food, cleaning all dishes and utensils after feeding
• WED-SUN , 3:00pm to 4:00pm à feeding dogs the proper food, cleaning all dishes and utensils after feeding
• WED-SUN , 11:00am to 12:00pm à stuffing kongs with food (kongs=toys for the dogs)
• WED-SUN , 8:00am to 10am à cat/rabbit care: cleaning cages (cat or rabbit), changing litter boxes, feeding cats, cleaning dishes and utensils after feeding
• THURSDAYS , 2:30pm to 3:30pm à unloading pet food (sometimes up to 50 lbs.)
• SAT & SUN , 11:30am to 3:30pm à one Adoption Assistant volunteer to answer phone calls pertaining to: adoption interests, adoption process, or those who need to be directed to LB Animal Control.
-Volunteers who want to work with ISO dogs must be in the Isolation Puppy/Dog Socialization Program (IP/DSP)
-Volunteers who want to work with ISO cats will be given protective garments
HAWTHORNE
Needs:
• WED-SUN , 11:00am to 1:00pm à stuffing kongs, picking up and cleaning up
• WED-SUN, 3:00pm to 5:00pm à stuffing kongs, picking up and cleaning up
• WED-SUN , 9:00am to 11:00am à walking, socializing, letting ADOPTION dogs run off leash in the play yard; you must be a HEAL I volunteer for this task.
• WED-SUN , 1:00pm to 3:00pm 1:00pm to 3:00pm à walking and socializing PC dogs (PC dogs are walked in the back lot and NOT in the play yard); you must be a HEAL II volunteer for this task.
• WEDNESDAYS , 11:00am to 2:00pm à brushing cat furniture
• WEDNESDAYS , 3:00pm to 5:00pm à performing clicker-training with the cats; you must have clicker-training experience with the Behavior and Training Department for this task.
If you are able to volunteer CONSISTENTLY during a specific shift and have an interest in the task(s) to be performed, please contact me so that I may inform the shelter staff.
Additionally, we need volunteers to help us in different programs that are not specific to either shelter:
Foster Program: You DO NOT need to attend a volunteer orientation to be a foster parent! For those of you interested in temporarily taking care of young or special needs animals in your home and would like to sign up for a foster class, please contact Arlene Hall at ahall@spcaLA.com or call her at (310) 676-1149.
Humane Education Volunteers: HE volunteers help to administer short presentations to classrooms (grades K-5) and help to educate the public on proper animal handling through love and compassion. If you are interested in more details about the HE program, contact me by email or phone.
Thanks!
Maggie Shehata
Volunteer Coordinator
(323) 730-5300 x255
mshehata@spcala.com
www.spcala.com
BEFORE VOLUNTEERING: SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER
Volunteering can have a positive effect on your community AND yourself. But before you make the decision to create the time to volunteer, stop and ask yourself a few important questions:
- Do I have any previous/current volunteer experience or will this be my first experience volunteering?
- Do I have skills that could be used by spcaLA?
- Would I like to learn new skills, and am I willing to take the time to learn them?
- Do I enjoy interacting with people? Am I friendly and outgoing?
- Why am I interested in volunteering at the spcaLA? What do I know about the spcaLA's services and programs?
- Do I accept the philosophy of the spcaLA regarding its animal receiving, adoption, spay/neuter and euthanasia policies?
- Do I want to work directly with animals? Am I comfortable handling dogs, cats, puppies and kittens of all sizes, ages and personalities?
- Do I have any allergies or conditions that I should consider before working directly with the animals?
- Would I prefer to volunteer directly at the shelter or to volunteer in the community with animals? Or would I prefer to support the spcaLA“s work "behind the scenes", helping with other tasks?
- Can I commit to being a volunteer on a consistent basis for at least 1 year? Are there personal or professional obligations that would routinely be a barrier to being able to commit to my volunteer responsibilities?
If you love animals and enjoy working with them, WE NEED YOU! Volunteers can help in many ways and no matter how you choose to help, the animals benefit.
STEPS TO BECOMING A spcaLA VOLUNTEER:
1. Fill out applications (See below)
- Ages 12-16 must fill out the “Youth Volunteer application”
- Ages 17 and older must fill out the “Adult Volunteer application”
2. Attend our orientation for new volunteers. This orientation will familiarize you with our organization's volunteer policies and help prepare you for your work with spcaLA. This is a general orientation for all new volunteers. Volunteer orientations are held at least once a month. You will receive a letter informing you of the next available dates.
AN ALTERNATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN:
We have found that our Humane Education Program provides a very enriching alternative experience for children. If your school, church or temple group, Girl or Boy Scout troop, or any other type of club or group is interested in attending a humane education presentation – or having our humane educators visit you, please contact our Humane Education Department at humaneeducation@spcaLA.com for additional details and information.
VIEW AVAILABLE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS BY CLICKING HERE
VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS:
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 Foster Care application Download Word Doc [More info] |
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE spcaLA VOLUNTEER PROGRAM:
Contact the Volunteer Services Department at 888-SPCA-LA1 ext.255. The spcaLA operates many shelters in Southern California. They provide safe shelter, food, medical care and love for stray and homeless animals seven days a week. We need volunteers to assist staff in caring for these wonderful animals. Volunteers enrich all the lives they touch - both animal and human.
