Life-skills Enrichment Volunteer – Prepare Shelter Pets for Real Life
Help shelter pets gain the confidence and skills they need to succeed in a home.
Walks and cuddles are great — but this role goes deeper. As a Life-skills Enrichment Volunteer, you’ll help prepare our animals for real-world living by teaching them how to be calm, confident, and responsive. You’ll work hands-on with dogs or cats to build basic manners, reduce anxiety, and promote adoptable behavior — giving them the tools they need to thrive beyond the shelter walls.
Who We’re Looking For
This opportunity is ideal for volunteers who:
Are comfortable handling dogs and/or cats of varying sizes and temperaments
Are patient, consistent, and willing to learn from staff and mentors
Are passionate about animal behavior, training, or adoption success
Want to make a meaningful impact through structured, hands-on work
Are 18+ and able to follow shelter training plans and handling protocols
Are open to eventually participating in off-campus outings (with staff approval)
Volunteer Duties May Include:
Practicing leash skills and basic obedience commands like sit, stay, and recall
Building confidence through exposure to new sights, sounds, surfaces, and objects
Using enrichment games and tools to reduce stress and provide mental stimulation
Helping dogs and cats develop calm, appropriate behaviors through positive reinforcement
Assisting with real-life skill-building through guided enrichment sessions
Participating in approved off-campus field trips to parks, trails, or pet-friendly stores to simulate home life experiences
The Impact
Dogs and cats who learn coping skills, leash manners, and confidence are more likely to get adopted and stay adopted. By helping our animals develop “life-skills,” you’re easing the transition into home life, reducing returns, and setting each animal up for long-term success. You’ll become a vital part of their progress — and often, the reason they catch the eye of their future family.
What you need to get started:
Animal Health Training - Animal Health
Animal Handling - Animal Handling
Animal Behavior Training - Animal Behavior
Lifeskills Training - Lifeskills Enrichment
Volunteer duties, access and privileges are only valid for the duration of the assigned shift in which they have chosen on the on-line volunteer scheduling system. There is a 15-minute grace period before and after each shift so that the volunteer may prepare and/or end their volunteer assignments.
