C.A.R.E.S. is an active shelter where animals may behave unpredictably. These requirements protect our volunteers, employees, visitors, and animals.

All volunteers must follow employee instructions and perform only the duties for which they have been trained and approved.

Age Requirements

• Volunteers must be 18 or older to handle animals or enter animal kennel areas.

• Students ages 16–17 must receive advance approval before registering. The student must attend orientation, and a parent or legal guardian must complete the required release forms.

• Youth may assist with safe, non-animal tasks with approved parent or guardian. An older sibling, relative, family friend, or other adult may NOT substitute for a parent or legal guardian at the shelter. The accompanying parent or guardian must be an active C.A.R.E.S. volunteer in good standing, have completed all required training, and generally have at least six months and 30 hours of volunteer experience. Advance approval is required.

Why Minors Cannot Work With Animals
For safety and liability reasons, minors are not allowed in animal-handling or kennel areas. Animals may react suddenly to unfamiliar people, movement, noise, or other animals. Dogs may also be moving through hallways or exiting kennels unexpectedly. An accompanying adult cannot eliminate these risks.

After completing orientation and required training, volunteers must be able to perform their assigned duties safely and independently, with or without a reasonable accommodation.

C.A.R.E.S. employees cannot provide continuous one-on-one supervision, personal assistance, or physical support to volunteers. All volunteers must be able to:

• Work independently after receiving instructions and training;

• Remain aware of animals, people, equipment, and activity around them;

• Understand and promptly follow safety instructions;

• Navigate their assigned work area safely;

• Move promptly to a safe location if an animal becomes loose or another unexpected situation occurs;

• Use the tools and equipment required for their assignment; and

• Complete the essential duties of their assignment without ongoing individual assistance from employees or other volunteers.

Reasonable accommodations will be considered individually. An accommodation cannot eliminate an essential safety requirement, transfer a volunteer’s essential duties to an employee, or require continuous supervision or personal assistance that C.A.R.E.S. does not ordinarily provide.

Available assignments depend on the volunteer’s ability to perform the duties safely, the physical layout of the work area, current shelter operations, and available volunteer roles.

Dog walking requires additional training beyond the general volunteer orientation. Attending orientation or one dog-walking demonstration does not authorize a volunteer to handle or walk dogs independently.

Before walking dogs independently, each volunteer must:

• Complete the general volunteer orientation;

• Complete the required dog-handling training;

• Complete at least five supervised shadow shifts on separate days;

• Complete at least 10 total hours of supervised dog-handling experience;

• Shadow an employee or experienced volunteer specifically approved by C.A.R.E.S. to train dog walkers;

• Demonstrate safe use of kennels, leashes, gates, and the designated dog-walking entrance;

• Demonstrate the ability to maintain control of an assigned dog and respond appropriately to unexpected behavior;

• Complete a final skills check conducted or reviewed by an Animal Control Officer; and

• Receive express approval from an Animal Control Officer before walking dogs independently.

Five shifts and 10 hours are minimum requirements and do not guarantee approval. Additional training or supervised shadow shifts may be required based on the volunteer’s demonstrated skills and readiness.

Each volunteer is trained and approved individually. A spouse, partner, friend, or other volunteer may not train, supervise, or authorize another person unless C.A.R.E.S. has specifically approved that individual as a dog-walking trainer.

Until formally cleared by an Animal Control Officer, volunteers must remain with their assigned trainer and may not remove a dog from its kennel, walk a dog alone, or handle a dog without direct supervision.

Shelter employees may provide instruction, correct unsafe practices, and report concerns, but only an Animal Control Officer may grant independent dog-walking privileges.

Once approved, volunteers may walk only dogs assigned or authorized by shelter employees and within any handling level or restrictions established by an Animal Control Officer. Volunteers must review and follow all posted handling instructions and ask an employee before changing dogs or assignments.

Shelter animals may have unknown histories and can react unexpectedly to people, animals, sounds, movement, touch, or unfamiliar surroundings. Training reduces risk but cannot eliminate every possibility of a scratch, bite, fall, or other injury.

Volunteers working directly with animals must also be able to:

• Safely enter, exit, and move through assigned animal-care areas;

• Operate kennel doors, gates, leashes, and other required equipment;

• Maintain control of the animal assigned to them;

• React promptly if an animal jumps, pulls, lunges, or becomes startled;

• Maintain balance and move out of an animal’s path when necessary; and

• Follow animal-specific handling restrictions and employee directions.

Animal-handling approval is based on demonstrated ability, completed training, and the requirements of the specific assignment.

Volunteers may perform only the duties for which they have completed training and received approval.

For example, a volunteer trained to assist with cats may not switch to walking or handling dogs because the cat duties have been completed. Dog walking requires separate training and employee approval. The same rule applies when changing between any animal-handling or shelter assignments.

Before changing duties, volunteers must ask an employee and receive permission. Assignments are based on current shelter needs, safety considerations, and each volunteer’s training.

Volunteer service may be restricted, suspended, or ended when a volunteer disregards instructions, performs unapproved duties, enters restricted areas, or creates a safety concern.

Phone Use and Situational Awareness

Volunteers must remain aware of their surroundings while on shift. Animals, employees, and other volunteers may move quickly or come around corners unexpectedly.

Please keep phones put away except for brief, necessary use. Step away from animal and work areas if you need to take a call or send a message.

Available assignments depend on current shelter needs, staffing, training, and the volunteer’s age and abilities.

Animal Care

Animal-care assignments may include:

• Dog walking and exercise;

• Cat care and socialization;

• Cleaning animal areas;

• Preparing food and supplies; and

• Other duties assigned by shelter employees.

Animal-care roles are available only to volunteers age 18 or older who have completed the required training for that specific role.

Animal Transport

AUG 2026: Animal transport positions are currently full. When openings are available, we need reliable adult drivers to transport animals to and from spay-and-neuter appointments.

Typical transportation times are:

• Fridays: Approximately 6:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

• Other days, as needed: Approximately 6:30–8:30 a.m. and 2:00–4:00 p.m.

Transport volunteers may help monthly, weekly, or as their schedules allow.

Non-Animal Volunteer Roles

Depending on current shelter needs, non-animal assignments may include:

• Event and fundraising assistance;

• Retail store or Pet Pantry organization;

• Laundry and cleaning;

• Sorting donations;

• Preparing toys, treats, and activity items for animals; and

• Other general shelter-support tasks.

These roles may be appropriate for volunteers who cannot safely handle animals. Youth participation remains subject to the age, supervision, and advance-approval requirements above.

C.A.R.E.S. has limited capacity to accept court-mandated community-service hours.

Participants must:

• Contact us in advance to request approval and scheduling;

• Complete a volunteer application;

• Attend a volunteer orientation;

• Be prepared to complete shifts of two to four hour blocks; and

• Perform the duties assigned by shelter employees.

Dog walking, cat socialization, and other animal-interaction activities do not count toward court-mandated hours.

C.A.R.E.S. cannot accommodate last-minute requests or guarantee that enough shifts will be available to meet a required deadline.

To begin volunteering with C.A.R.E.S.:

1. Complete the Volunteer Application online at the top of this page or in person at the shelter.

2. Sign up for a Volunteer Orientation.

3. Complete all required release forms and training before beginning your assigned duties.

Students ages 16–17 must receive advance approval and have a parent or legal guardian complete the required release forms and orientation before volunteering.

Completing an application or attending orientation does not guarantee acceptance into the volunteer program or a particular assignment. Opportunities depend on current shelter needs, available supervision, age requirements, demonstrated readiness, and completed training.

Once approved, volunteers may use the SignUpGenius portal to register for available shifts and assignments.