Volunteer | haywardanimals

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are vital to operations at the Hayward Animal Shelter. There are many ways you can help us humanely care for and place the more than 3,700 animals that come through the shelter each year. Without our volunteers, many shelter pets would never find a new, loving home. Come join us!

We are accepting volunteers for our Foster and TNR programs as well as our normal volunteer program.

To become a volunteer, please watch the video above in its entirety. After you have finished watching the video, you will be directed to Jotform where you will complete a volunteer application. The application will ask you to enter a password, which is located in the video.

All applicants ages 16+ must undergo a background check. All applications regardless of age are interviewed when they turn in their application.

What Time Can I volunteer?

Any day of the week, any day of the year, weekends included, between 8:15am and 5:00pm!

Trainings for new volunteers are primarily done before noon, Tuesdays-Saturdays, so make sure you are available at least one of those days while you are training.

About our volunteer programs:

Due to the time it takes to onboard and train new volunteers, you must be able to commit to staying with the program for at least 6 months, and be able commit to a certain amount of hours. These requirements, and more about our programs, are explained in the above information video.

Regular volunteer program

Kennel support (cleaning, feeding, and general animal care. This is the most important task at any shelter, and what we spend most of our time doing!)
Socializing and enriching cats, dogs, and rabbits
Transporting animals to local rescue partners and veterinary appointments
Assisting at adoption events and providing adoption support
Participating in community events and fundraising activities
Pet grooming and basic care
Photography and videography of adoptable animals
Contributing to the shelter newsletter
Supporting social media and website content
And more!

Volunteers between 16 - 17 years

may volunteer without an adult, provided they can demonstrate the maturity and ability to work safely and independently. This may include a brief working interview or skills test upon submitting your volunteer application.

We do require the legal guardian of teen volunteers attend the volunteer orientation and provide written consent for the teen to volunteer independently at the shelter.

Youth volunteer program

Volunteers between 10 - 15 years

must volunteer alongside an adult guardian.

Adults volunteering with youth volunteers are ACTIVE participants in our volunteer program and will be expected to be the primary animal handler if volunteering in areas of kennel support and animal socializing.

If the adult is not the legal guardian of the child, we request both the legal guardian and adult who will volunteer with the child attend the information session.

Internships

Each quarter we accept up to 4 interns to complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer work for school credit. Interns must have a school advisor, teacher, or counselor to sign off on their completed hours.

Internship hours are from 9 am - 12 pm Tuesdays through Saturday. Other days and hours are limited and cannot always be accommodated.

Internship duties consist primarily of cleaning dog or cat kennels, which is great hands-on training for becoming a kennel attendant or vet assistant. Interns will not have any direct contact with animals.

All interns must be 16 or older, able to lift a minimum of 20 lbs, and be capable of safely moving around the shelter and handling shelter animals safely and independently. Being comfortable around animals is also a must, as an animal shelter environment such as ours is not an ideal time to work on personal fear issues around animals.

All interns are expected to complete training for the duties they will be assigned. Internship Applications can be found here.

Group volunteer projects

Humane Education programs and group volunteer opportunities are available for teams, classes, and clubs looking to make a meaningful impact. Groups of 5–20 participants can schedule a shelter experience that includes a brief tour, along with a guided volunteer activity or organized donation drive. These experiences offer a unique opportunity to connect with the shelter’s mission, learn more about animal care and welfare, and contribute in a hands-on way.

Whether you’re looking to strengthen team bonds, provide an educational experience for students, or give younger participants a chance to learn compassion and responsibility, these group opportunities are both engaging and rewarding.

To schedule a group session or learn about ways individuals can support the shelter without a long-term commitment, please contact our volunteer office.

(510) 881-7927

Shelter.volunteers@hayward-ca.gov