Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Animal Services, located in Olympia, WA!
Animal Services looks for dedicated, long-term volunteers.
What does a volunteer do?
Dog Adoptions – includes dog walking, kennel cleaning, and working with interested adopters to match them with their future fur baby
Cat Adoptions– includes cat kennel cleaning, providing cat enrichment, and working with interested adopters to match them with their future fur baby
Champion Dog Program (CDP) – dogs who are chosen to be part of the Champion Dog Program are dogs who may be at risk for euthanasia who require more specialized attention to allow them the best chance to have a pathway to an adopter or rescue group.
Dog Play Groups are run every Wednesday from 2 pm – 4pm, Thursday from 4 pm – 6 pm, and every other Saturday (timing changes Saturday to Saturday based on adoption events and outreach events)
Lobby Greeter– 1ˢᵗ point of contact for people coming into our shelter. They direct the public and are available as a resource to those visiting our shelter. Volunteers who are outgoing and comfortable greeting new people strive in this role!
Transportation:
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- Community Cat Program– these volunteers assist with the Trap, Sterilization, Vaccination, and Return (TNVR) of community cats throughout the city limits of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and the Unincorporated Thurston County.
- Northwest Spay & Neuter– responsible for transporting up to 17 cats from Northwest Spay and Neuter Clinic (NWSN) in Tacoma back to Joint Animal Services on Wednesday mornings. We have found that 15 small carriers and two humane traps will fit in multiple different types of SUV type vehicles with the seats folded down.
- Transport Volunteer Requirements:
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- Be 18+ years old.
- Have a valid Washington Driver’s License, reliable transportation, and automobile liability insurance with minimum coverage and limits as required by Washington State.
- Have a driving record that includes no more than 4 minor convictions in the last 12 months or 5 minor convictions in the last 24 months provided that not more than one of the minor violations is for negligent driving.
Clinic: we have a veterinarian clinic on-site to help the animals in our care as well as preform on-site spay and neuter to most of our animal population. Volunteers can help on Tuesdays & Wednesdays in our clinic by making medical packs, cleaning up and so much more!
Additional Volunteer Help:
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- Foster parents – provide a short-term home for animals;
- Grounds helpers – maintain the grounds;
- Office helpers – clerical work;
- Project helpers – assist with special projects as needed;
- Public events – help staff information booths at community events;
- Photography – take pictures of our animals for online postings and create educational posters and campaigns;
…and much more!
When can I be at the Shelter?
Volunteers can help at the Shelter 7 days a week! Volunteer hours: Tuesday-Saturday 8:00am -5:30 pm Sunday-Monday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. Closed state holidays.
What kind of commitment?
Volunteer hours: Tuesday-Saturday 8:00am -5:30 pm Sunday-Monday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. Closed state holidays
We require volunteers to commit to a reoccurring schedule- this can be the same time every week, every other week, or even once a month. We require this to establish the best care for the animals in our shelter. If you have not volunteered for a consecutive 3 months, your volunteer status will change to inactive. Considerations are granted on a case-by-case basis.
If you are a volunteer who is inactive and interested in becoming active again, please complete our Volunteer Orientation and submit a new Volunteer Application (found in the Volunteer Orientation).
How old do I have to be?
You must be at least 14 years old to volunteer at the shelter. Junior volunteers, 11-13 years old, must be accompanied by a responsible adult volunteer at all times while at the shelter, including the Volunteer Tour.
What if I have community service hours to complete?
We welcome school-based community service hours! If you need to fulfill community service hours, please indicate that in your Volunteer Application.
Court required community service: can’t be offered these volunteer hours at this time.
How do I become a Shelter volunteer?
To get started, please follow these steps:
- Watch the Volunteer Orientation Presentation here: Volunteer Orientation Presentation
- Complete the Volunteer Application at the end of the presentation
- You will receive an automatic email, typically within 12 hours, confirming that your application has been received and required next steps.
- Once backgrounds checks are clear, volunteers will receive a separate email with additional information (including how to sign-up for our in-person Volunteer Tours).
Unable to volunteer at the Shelter?
Would you like to help the animals, but are too young to volunteer at the shelter or you don’t have the time? Don’t worry, there are many ways to help the animals cared for by Animal Services. Here are some ideas, but feel free to think of your own!
Foster homes are needed to care for animals in your own home. Click HERE for more information.
Donations
We always need SUPPLIES and money to properly care for all the animals that enter our shelter each week. With all the economic problems our community and country currently face, homeless animals and their needs are often overlooked. We can always use blankets, towels, quality canned and dry pet food and other pet supplies. Like most shelters, our greatest need is money–medication and veterinary care are costly. We appreciate any support you can offer!
Donations can be dropped off at or sent to:
Animal Services, 3120 Martin Way, Olympia, WA 98506.
You can also donate by phone at (360) 352-2510. Please have your credit card ready.
Fundraisers
Please make sure you have permission from your school/office before beginning a fundraiser.
Organize a Walk-a-thon: Organize a walk-a-thon in your neighborhood or at your school/office. To hold a walk-a-thon, simply invite others to participate in collecting donations from friends and family, and walk on the event day!
Hold a Wish List Drive: Click on our current WISH LIST to find out what supplies are needed and hold a donation drive to collect those items. Advertise at your school/office or in your neighborhood and put a marked collection container in a busy area for people to see. Get a few representatives to take the supplies to Shelter and see the animals who will benefit from your hard work. You can also hold specific drives such as a used towel drive or food drive.
Some groups have received permission from local businesses (Petco, Petsmart, etc.) to hold a fundraising drive at their store. They handed out fliers listing the Shelters needs to shoppers heading into the store. Please contact the EDUCATION & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR if you would like a sample of the flier.
Coin Drive: Hold a coin drive with a clever name such as Pennies for Pets, Dimes for Dogs or Cash for Cats. Place canisters in your classroom/office to collect money for the animals.
Giving Tree: Decorate a small tree with our special ornaments, then ask friends, family and co-workers to select an ornament from the tree. Each ornament lists an item the shelter animals need. Then have them purchase and drop off the gift under your tree. If you are in need a bigger list of ornaments please contact the Volunteer Coordinator. Here’s a link to our Shorter Winter Giving Tree packet.
Birthday Donations: Ask that friends and family make a donation to the Shelter instead of birthday gifts.
Other Ideas: You can also hold car washes, bake sales or other events to raise money for the animals.
Even More Ways to Help Animals
Tell People about the Shelter: If someone you know is considering getting a pet, encourage them to come to the Shelter. We not only have dogs, cats, puppies and kittens, we also often have rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and sometimes birds! Check out our adoption page link to adoptable animals to see some of the currently available animals.
Keep pets and people together: Do you know someone who is sick or a senior citizen in need of some help? Why not help them by feeding, walking or brushing their pet? It can be fun for everyone and might help that person keep their pet.
Spread the Word about Important Animal Issues: Add a tagline to your e-mail signature that gets out important messages about spay/neuter, adopting a shelter pet, etc.
Organize an Animal Awareness Week: An animal awareness week in a school, or with the entire community, will encourage animal lovers to spread the word about the importance of being kind to all living things. Be Kind to Animals Week starts on the first Monday of each May, but feel free to choose your own week!
Be Creative: Design a poster about pet overpopulation or pet safety, and post it on a bulletin board at your school/office. Create and post a pet of the week poster that features one of our adoptable animals. Create a newsletter, blog, or website about animals.
Come up with your own idea! If you have questions, please contact the Volunteer & Foster Team at volunteer@jointanimalservices.org
