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Becoming a Woods Volunteer

Welcome! Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Woods Humane Society. We’re pleased that you’re thinking about joining our team. Volunteers play a crucial role at both Woods locations– we could not accomplish our work on behalf of homeless animals without you. Please check out all the Volunteer Opportunities listed below and then follow the link to sign up for one of our Volunteer Orientations at the location you desire, to get started!

We are currently hosting our new volunteer orientations in person. Volunteers are a vital component to all that we do at Woods Humane Society and we ask that anyone who is interested in joining our Volunteer Programs start by submitting an RSVP to one of our Volunteer Orientations through the link to our Calendar of Events below. Thank you for your interest and for wanting to support the life-saving work of Woods.

So many ways to help the cats and dogs of Woods!

Canine Enrichment

Our goal is to have all of our adoptable dogs touched by people every day. That means they get love in their kennels, walks on our walking path, playtime, massages, bathing, brushing, toy time and lots of pets!

Surgery Support

Our busy staff is always looking for support with various tasks including cleaning instruments, laundry, and helping our animals through recovery.

Customer Service

Join our staff at reception, our kennel desk, where you can assist with every day projects, greet visitors, give tours, answer common questions, share Woods' mission and talk about our wonderful animals.

Behind the Scenes

There are many ways volunteers help with the running of the shelter including cleaning kennels and the cattery, laundry. administrative tasks, Humane Education support, grounds keeping, sorting donations, photography and so much more.

Special Events

Volunteers can help from set up to break down, work in a Woods' booth, assist with animal handling of help with promotion and fundraising.

Cat Ambassador

Our feline volunteers help socialize cats and kittens, assist adopters in finding the purrfect cat, keep the cattery tidy and provide much needed human-animal bonding.

Volunteer Opportunities

On Site Volunteers

How to Get Started

Visit our Calendar of Events and register for one of our Volunteer Orientations at the location you prefer. We have volunteer orientations for both our SLO location and our Atascadero location. At the orientation, you will learn about volunteering at Woods Humane Society and the many roles available for volunteers. You’ll also find out about the training required to work with our animals.

Calendar

OF EVENTS

Youth Volunteers

*We currently do not have any scheduled on-site youth volunteer programs. Stay tuned for our next sessions, TBA, by subscribing to the newsletter, or following us on Instagram or Facebook at @WoodsHumaneEducation.

Please see our Virtual Camps, Youth Fundraisers and Independent Community Service Projects to help from home!

Woods offers interactive, supervised volunteer and community service opportunities for kids ages 6-18 through our Humane Education Program's Youth Volunteer Team.

Woods Humane Society offers community service-oriented youth volunteer programs for First Grade through High School! Read below to sign up for an upcoming program to help animals in need. To hear about upcoming events, sign up for our newsletter!

Jr. Volunteers - Middle & High School (Grades 7th-12th)

Video making, light cleaning and/or event support. $10 per session, Space Limited

Woods North County: TBA
Woods SLO: TBA

Critter Crew - 1st Grade-6th Grade

Toy making, reading to the animals, & other projects. $10 per session, Space Limited

Woods North County: TBA
Woods SLO: TBA

Space is limited. Please sign up online. Events are subject to cancellation without refund. $10 per program. Scholarships available; email us for information.

Guidelines:

Students must be signed in and out by a parent or guardian.
Please wear closed toe shoes and long pants.
This program is not appropriate for those with severe allergies to dogs, cats, rabbits or hay.

Looking for Volunteer opportunities for KIDS and TEENS?

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Foster Volunteers

Foster Volunteers play a crucial role in saving animals' lives. They take animals into their own homes and care for them on a short-term basis until they are ready to enter our adoption program. In spring and summer, we have many kittens in need of foster care because they are not yet old enough for their spay or neuter surgeries. Throughout the year, adult cats and dogs may also need to be fostered as they receive medical care, socialization to overcome shyness, or behavior modification and training. Woods trains foster volunteers and provides all of the pet care supplies necessary.

Want to help?

We have foster opportunities in both San Luis Obispo (cats & dogs) & Atascadero (cats only). Please click the button below to submit a foster interest form. You can also find a wish-list of our most needed foster care supplies here.

Foster for

Woods Humane Society

Community Service Hours for College Students and Volunteer Groups

Woods Humane Society welcomes groups and individuals (such as clubs, companies, and college students) interested in completing community service to join us in helping to provide a premier level of care for the dogs and cats at Woods.

College Students and Other Adult Groups

Volunteering together can be fun! "Done-In-a-Day" – special half-day project assignments for college groups, corporate groups, or clubs often include helping with administrative tasks, making toys, organizing a fundraiser, deep cleaning, gardening, special projects, or events. Time permitting we provide a quick tour and a hello to some of our animals. Most often done-in-a-day opportunities do not include direct animal care or handling. The maximum number of people for these opportunities is 15. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate larger numbers. Please fill out the form below, and we’ll be in touch. *We do not offer Court-ordered Community Service Hours