Become a Volunteer

When you volunteer at the Potter League, you are joining a family of volunteers and staff committed to providing love and support for the homeless pets in our care. Please take the following steps to begin the process

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Potter League for Animals! Our volunteers go above and beyond to ensure the health and happiness of animals in our care and contribute to the success of the lifesaving programs we deliver to the community. Through cleaning, clerical work, enrichment, reward-based training and community outreach, the support volunteers give helps us to save thousands of lives each year. We are always looking for more dedicated and compassionate folks to join our team.

General Information

Volunteers must be 15 years of age or older to work independently with dogs and cats. Youth volunteers age 10-14 years old may work with cats as a Pet Pals Team if volunteering with a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Parents/guardians of youth volunteers should submit applications in their own (the parent/guardian’s) name, as well as applications for the youth.

Approved volunteers will gain access to our online platform where they can view available opportunities, sign up for shifts, and track their hours. Volunteers will also receive a monthly email newsletter with updates and information about volunteer activities.

There is a$30 fee for individuals or $40 for Pet Pal Teams associated with becoming a volunteer, which covers the cost of name tags, handbooks, t-shirts, uniforms, training, and other program-related expenses. The fee is waived for college students.

Commitment

Potter League volunteers must commit to giving four hours of service each month for a period of six months. Failure to meet these requirements will result in account deactivation, and to resume volunteering you would need to restart the application process.

Greatest Needs

We are currently most in need of volunteers with weekday availability between the hours of 8am and 4pm. Specific shifts needed during this time include:

Morning dog cleaning & walking (weekday & weekend mornings 8:00 to 10:00 am)
Morning cat cleaning (weekend mornings 8:00 to 10:00 am)
Foster homes
Events, outreach & food pantries
Vet transport drivers

Application, Onboarding and Training

The first step to getting started as a volunteer at the Potter League is to register and attend a General Information Session.

Sessions are held virtually and cover information about our mission, programs & services, volunteer opportunities, and the minimum requirements for all volunteers.

Following the information session, you will then will self-schedule an in-person orientation class which are held three times monthly.

This orientation class includes a tour of the Animal Care & Adoption Center or one of the Veterinary Clinics and its inner workings and safety protocols, as well as an introduction to the many opportunities available to volunteers.

Once you complete orientation, you’ll have an active profile on our volunteer portal to begin signing up for shifts.

Shifts that involve working directly with animals do require additional training and are available weekly.

Ready to Get Started?

The first step to getting started as a volunteer at the Potter League is to register in our online portal and watch the information session. Once you’ve completed the online info session, you can schedule yourself for an in-person orientation which are held three times monthly at the Potter League Animal Care & Adoption Center.

Our amazing volunteers support all areas of the organization. Learn about the ways you can volunteer to help the animals.

Become a Volunteer