Get Involved
Our volunteers do more than walk dogs and cuddle kitties – although that is a perk!
Take a look at some of the ongoing opportunities available at Marin Humane for adults 18+. Please note: the availability of these opportunities changes monthly.
Ready to Volunteer?
➡️ Sign up for a volunteer orientation in Marin or the East Bay
Marin
Time Commitment: Weekly four-hour shift; Staff meetings and seminars
Qualifications: Prior customer service experience a plus; must enjoy working with both adults and children; good problem-solving skills; interest in educating the public on pet care; previous experience handling all kinds of animals
Duties: Greet the public, answer phones, maintain files; evaluate and match adopters with shelter pets; handle cats, dogs, and small companion animals; provide education on care, handling, and behavior
Share your animal companion by visiting senior communities, convalescent centers, hospitals, schools, and libraries.
Time Commitment: Two to four visits per month
Qualifications: Love for both people and animals
Animal Qualifications: Dogs must have a specific skill set before attending the Animal-Assisted Therapy training, usually acquired through Family Dog classes; dogs must successfully complete the “Your Dog to Share” class – six Monday evenings and one Saturday morning (plus an off-site graduation); other pets will fulfill requirements of a temperament and behavior screening; all pets must be spayed or neutered
Duties: The AAT team visits community facilities, including senior residential programs, hospitals (graduate position), special care facilities, special day programs in schools, and homebound individuals. Other assignments may include Marin Humane special events. Our hospital programs are graduate positions and require that you are active as an AAT team for one year before being considered.
Want to make a direct impact on the daily lives of our shelter animals? As an Animal Care Volunteer, you would be providing hands-on care by feeding, cleaning cages/kennels, restocking supplies, and monitoring animal health. You can choose to work with dogs, cats, small companion animals, or all of the above! Help is needed throughout the day as early as 8:15 am or as late as 4:30 pm, seven days a week.
Time Commitment: Minimum of two hours per week
Qualifications: Comfortable bending, squatting, and kneeling; may need to lift 10 lbs. or more; will require standing/walking for the majority of the shift; experience handling a variety of animals
Duties: Assist Animal Care Technicians in caring for a variety of animals directly impacting their physical and emotional well-being; clean cat rooms or cages, hose-down dog runs, clean small animal cages, and stock supplies; help monitor our animal population, providing real-time feedback to staff about concerns and observations
Time Commitment: Two days a month (11 am to 4 pm) at the shop in San Anselmo
Qualifications: Good customer service skills; retail experience helpful, but not necessary
Assist with data entry projects in a Marin Humane office.
Time Commitment: As needed, minimum two hours per week
Qualifications: Accurate keyboarding skills; attention to detail; comfortable with Microsoft Word and basic computer skills; ability to work independently
Assist trainers in different levels of dog training classes and help pet guardians and their dogs become better companions for one another.
Time Commitment: Three hours per week minimum
Qualifications: Excellent customer service and people skills; desire to learn dog training methods and educate the public; comfortable standing for one and a half hours; able to kneel, bend, and jog; good dog handling skills
Duties: Assist instructor prior to, during, and after class; learn to use various training equipment/tools
Duties: Conduct onsite tours of Marin Humane; introduce tour groups to animals when appropriate and/or available
Time Commitment: As needed
Qualifications: Experience working with children and/or in education; comfortable and confident when speaking to large groups; willingness to learn; strong presentation and interpersonal skills; knowledge of basic animal welfare issues; animal handling experience a plus; experience with PowerPoint
Mobile adoption events provide a great opportunity for dogs to find great homes. The Dog Handler’s role is to keep the dogs safe and comfortable and introduce them to people in a friendly and professional manner.
Time Commitment: Shifts are 3 hours on Saturdays only; at least one shift per month preferred
Qualifications: Excellent customer service and “people” skills; comfortable standing for 3 hours; physically able to kneel, bend, stoop; must have dog handling skills and basic knowledge of dog body language
Duties: Familiarize yourself with your assigned dog(s) and be able to answer basic questions about them; familiarize yourself with adoption protocols; keep your dog under control, safe and comfortable; clean up after your dog and keep dog areas clean and accessible; help with setup and breakdown of adoption site
Provide shelter for sick, injured, or very young animals in your home. Food, supplies, and medical care are provided by Marin Humane. Learn more about our foster program.
Time Commitment: As needed, depending on the animals in our care
Qualifications: Love for and patience with sick, injured, and young animals; animal experience preferred; resident animals must be fully vaccinated; ability to adjust your schedule to meet the needs of the animal; ability to recognize animals in need of medical attention
Do you love felines? Spend a couple of hours each week socializing and entertaining cats of all sizes and ages while they await their “forever home.”
Time Commitment
- Two to four hours per week on a regularly scheduled shift
- Staff meetings and various seminars
Qualifications
- Two years of cat-handling experience
- Enjoy working with both cats and people
- Able to work independently
- Good communication skills
- Ability to lift 25 pounds comfortably, as well as bending, reaching, and squatting
Training Requirements
- Attend Cat Pet Pal training
- Shadow Cat Pet Pals in a variety of shifts
- Mentoring with senior volunteer
Duties
- Socialize and groom cats
- Provide daily written updates on cat temperament, personality, and noticeable medical issues
- Answer questions from potential adopters about the cats in a positive and friendly manner
Help us keep the adoption dogs healthy and happy! Our volunteers work year-round, rain or shine, exercising and socializing the adoption dogs. This job will give you a good workout, too!
Time Commitment: Three hours per week
Qualifications: Previous experience handling large, adolescent dogs; ability to restrain 60-pound dog; ability to move easily in and out of dog runs, including stepping, squatting, and kneeling; able to follow detailed procedures; able to work independently; basic understanding of dog body language
Training Requirements: Attend Dog Pet Pal training; work with senior volunteer mentors for a minimum of six sessions; continuing education (workshops, training, meetings) as required; hands-on training and evaluation with B&T staff member
Duties: Walk and socialize adoption dogs approved for volunteers; commit to a weekly shift, “rain or shine;” report any medical or behavioral issues to staff members; use positive reinforcement and force-free handling methods whenever possible, and follow dog-specific walking plans; handle and put walking equipment on dogs; regularly check emails and update Dog Pet Pal calendar shifts as needed; attend dog training/dog behavior
Did you know that working with small companion animals like rabbits, rats, and guinea pigs will lower your blood pressure? Learn how to handle these little critters, then sign up to volunteer and get rid of stress at the same time!
Time Commitment: Two hours per week
Qualifications: Experience handling small companion animals; able to work independently; willing to clean and organize animal housing area; good communication skills
Duties: Socializing, cleaning, and grooming small companion animals
Welcoming people to Marin Humane is an important job! For many visitors, coming to the shelter is their first contact with us. The greeter provides assistance and direction to the public in a friendly and positive manner.
Time commitment: Weekly three-hour shift
Qualifications: Excellent communication skills; experience working in customer service helpful; bilingual a plus; positive, outgoing, willing to take initiative
Duties: Meet and greet shelter visitors; provide assistance in a friendly and positive manner; distribute information; direct visitors to appropriate staff/department, answer questions, and address comments and concerns
East Bay
Want to make a direct impact on the daily lives of our animals? As an Animal Care Volunteer, you’ll provide hands-on care by feeding, cleaning cages, doing laundry and dishes, and socializing kitties temporarily housed at Hopalong’s Oakland office. Help is needed throughout the day as early as 8 am or as late as 7 pm, seven days a week.
Time Commitment: Two hours per week, or every other week on a regularly scheduled shift – occasional need for ad hoc support.
Qualifications: Comfortable bending, squatting, and kneeling; ability to lift up to 15 pounds comfortably; will require standing/walking for the majority of the shift; ability to work independently; experience handling cats preferred but not required!
Duties: Help staff in caring for the physical and emotional well-being of cats and kittens in the Oakland office; provide kitties with clean water and food, clean cat rooms or cages, do laundry, wash dishes; groom and socialize kitties; help monitor our animals, providing valuable feedback to staff about concerns and observations.
Time Commitment: Two hours per week, or every other week on a regularly scheduled shift – occasional need for ad hoc support.
Qualifications: Comfortable bending, squatting, and kneeling; ability to lift up to 25 pounds comfortably; will require standing/walking for the majority of the shift; ability to work independently; experience handling dogs preferred but not required.
Duties: Help Hopalong staff in caring for the physical and emotional well-being of dogs and puppies in the Oakland office; walk dogs, provide dogs with clean water and food, clean dog pens, do laundry, wash dishes; groom and socialize dogs and puppies; help monitor our animals population, providing valuable feedback to staff about concerns and observations.
Mobile adoption events are a great opportunity for dogs to find their forever homes! The Dog Handler’s role is to keep the dogs safe and comfortable and introduce them to people in a friendly and professional manner.
Time Commitment: Shifts are three hours on Saturdays only, from 12-3pm.
Qualifications: Excellent customer service and people skills; comfortable standing for three hours; physically able to kneel, bend, stoop; must have dog handling skills and basic knowledge of dog body language.
Duties: Get to know your assigned dog(s) and be able to answer basic questions about them; familiarize yourself with adoption protocols; keep your dog under control, safe, and comfortable; clean up after your dog and keep dog areas clean and accessible; help with set-up and break-down of adoption site.
Time Commitment: Flexible – most screening conversations last 15-30 minutes
Qualifications: Phone and email access, great communications skills via phone and email; ability to accurately and positively represent Hopalong and answer questions about our program; ability to assess if potential fosters are a good fit for our program; ability to work independently.
Duties: Review foster applications and call potential fosters with information about the guidelines and expectations for Hopalong’s cat and dog foster programs; ask questions to ensure you have a good understanding of the potential foster and foster home; ensure potential fosters are a good fit for the program; summarize your conversations and recommendations via email to the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator.
Provide shelter, care, and of course love to cats or dogs in your home while they await adoption. All types of dogs and cats need foster homes; this may include sick, injured, or very young animals. Food, supplies, and medical care are all provided by Hopalong and Marin Humane.
Time Commitment: As needed, depending on the animals in our care.
Qualifications: Love for and patience with sick, injured, and young animals; animal experience preferred; resident animals must be fully vaccinated; ability to adjust your schedule to meet the needs of the animal (including transportation to and from our offices for medical care and adoption opportunities); ability to recognize animals in need of medical attention.
Mobile adoption events are a great opportunity for dogs to find their forever homes! The Mobile Adoption Event Coordinator manages the overall event, providing guidance to the Dog Handler volunteers, ensuring safety, and screening, approving, and finalizing adoptions at the event.
Time Commitment: Shifts are three hours on Saturdays only, from 12-3pm.
Qualifications: Excellent customer service and people skills; ability to interview potential adopters and approve adoptions or redirect adopters; comfortable standing for three hours; physically able to kneel, bend, stoop; must have dog handling skills and basic knowledge of dog body language.
Duties: Set up, staff, and take down mobile adoption sites, including organizing supplies and managing the volunteers and animals at the event; help pair adoptable animals with their forever homes; interview potential adopters, approve adoptions; ensure the safety of animals at the event.
Pet Chauffeurs provide transportation of our cats and dogs from our office in Oakland to veterinary appointments, foster pick-ups, adoption sites, and mobile adoption events. Occasionally, we also need help transporting donated supplies and food. Although most transports are completed using a Hopalong vehicle, some can be done using your personal vehicle, if you prefer.
Time Commitment: Time Commitment: Variable, depending on the destination. Most transports are between Hopalong in Oakland and Marin Humane in Novato, or Woodlands Pet Food & Treats stores in Marin, which is roughly a two- hour round trip (depending on traffic), and take place during the day, Mondays through Saturdays.
Qualifications: Valid Driver’s License and comfortable driving with potential animal noise; careful and defensive driving abilities; ability to lift and carry animals in crates and/or supplies up to 25 pounds preferred, but not required.
Duties: Provide transportation of animals from Hopalong’s office to veterinary offices, clinics, foster home pick-ups, adoption sites, and mobile adoption events. The majority of transports will be completed using a Hopalong or Marin Humane vehicle, although some drives may be completed using your personal vehicle, if you prefer. Some trips may also be needed to pick up donated supplies or food. Most transports involve some level of lifting or carrying animals or supplies as part of loading and unloading the vehicle.
