Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Sonoma County Animal Services. We have a number of ways for people 9 to 99+ to work with us. Scroll down to see our application process and voluteer roles .
Please Note: Our volunteer hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4:30pm. Sonoma County Animal Services is closed Sundays and Mondays and holidays. We require at minimum a 6 month and 30-hour committment from our volunteers.
Review the age and time requirements, and various volunteer roles to be sure that we are a good fit for the needs and wants.
Fill out the online volunteer application (an email address is required); if under 16 years old, a parent/guardian will also need to fill out an application.
If the application is approved, an email with an orientation sign-up link, along with additional information, will be sent.
If additional information is required, please follow the link in the email to provide a response.
Once a new volunteer orientation is attended, another email will be sent with links to:
Please Note: Our volunteer hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4:30pm. Sonoma County Animal Services is closed Sundays and Mondays and holidays. We require at minimum a 6 month and 30-hour committment from our volunteers. We do not have many on-site short-term opportunities for school/community service credits. Please refer to teachers and school counselors for short-term needs.
Our Dog Fitness Coaches provide exercise for the dogs including on-leash walking and off-leash playing in the exercise areas. Dogs are to remain on leash at all times when on walks. Field trips are also available if you would like to take one of our dogs to a park or hiking trail. Dogs will have "adopt me" vests to wear to wear when offsite. Please be prepared: most of our dogs are over 60 pounds.
All dog volunteer positions are for volunteers ages 14 and up only. Volunteers 14-15 must have a parent or guardian present. Our dogs are assigned a collar level based on their assessments: green, orange or purple. All dog volunteers, regardless of previous experience, start at the green level. Advancing to orange and purple level dogs requires assessment of your skills by the Shelter Supervisor or Animal Health Technician. Please note: most of our dogs tend to be orange and purple level so it may take some time to learn how to work with them effectively and safely.
Our Dog Companions provide hands-on care to the dogs, and assist with ensuring that their shelter living environment is as comfortable as possible. Companions help keep the animals socialized, work on reward-based basic obedience training, and provide valuable information for potential adopters by filling out the enrichment cards. Enrichment and positive-reinforcement training are two key cornerstones of the dog companion position.
All dog volunteer positions are for volunteers ages 14 and up. Volunteers 14-15 must have a parent or guardian present. Our dogs are assigned a color level based on their assessments: green, orange or purple. All dog volunteers, regardless of previous experience, start at the green level. Advancing to orange and purple level dogs requires staff assessment of your skills.
Please note: most of our dogs are orange or purple level, and learning to work with them effectively and safely takes time.
Our Dog Spa Attendants provide hands-on bathing of the dogs at the shelter. Spa attendants will utilize the enrichment cards to determine which dogs are in need of a bath. Spa services may include: bathing, towel drying, brushing, and pampering so these fresh and clean dogs can put their best paw forward.
Our animal friends like to keep their minds sharp while they are here. Whether you want to improve your reading skills or enjoy sharing your favorite stories out loud, our dogs, cats and bunnies will provide a non-judgmental ear (or two) to listen. Your storytelling will also help them improve their social skills. We will be holding a Paws on the Page event monthly for you to come read to our shelter animals. Please contact us for our next Paws on the Page day. Petting is not required but highly encouraged! Please bring your favorite books or choose from our selection. Volunteers ages 9 to 15 years old need a parent or guardian present.
Our Cat Companions provide hands-on care to the cats, and assist with ensuring that their shelter living environment is as comfortable as possible. Cat companions help keep the cats and kittens socialized, as well as provide valuable information for potential adopters by filling out the enrichment cards. Cat cuddles and attention are key cornerstones of being a cat companion.
Our cats are assigned a color level based on their assessments: green or purple. All cat volunteers, regardless of previous experience, start at the green level. Advancing to purple level cats requires assessment of your skills by a staff member.
Our Rabbit and Small Animal Companions provide hands-on care to the rabbits, Guinea pigs, and other small animals, and assist with ensuring that their shelter living environment is as comfortable as possible. Companions help keep the animals socialized as well as provide valuable information for potential adopters by filling out the enrichment cards. Socializing, cuddles and care are key cornerstones of being a companion.
Our Client Service Volunteers support the front office staff in the following ways:
Shelter Support includes help with laundry, washing dishes and kongs, preparing and distributing enrichment items, organizing, and yard clean up.
This on-call position will assist in transporting shelter animals to and from locations such as community partners, rescue organizations, and veterinarian appointments.