Working with Dogs

Giving Your Time to Homeless Dogs

Dog volunteer opportunities including caring for the dogs at our Medical Center and in Dog Town at our Adoption Centers, as well as helping potential adopters find the right match. Volunteers play an instrumental role in our mission of building a No Kill community by saving the lives dogs and puppies in need of loving homes.

Volunteer Opportunities

Dog Town Level 1 Volunteer

Overview

Looking to give back to man's best friend? {Buzz_Rescue_Name} is the place for you! As a {Buzz_Rescue_Name} Level 1 Volunteer, you will work hands-on with the homeless dogs and puppies in our Adoption Centers.

You will help with:

  • Caring for the dogs: Socialize, walk, play, reinforce basic commands, brush, feed and clean up as needed
  • Greeting visitors: Provide a welcoming, friendly, educational environment; help with adoption logistics, answer basic adoption questions, and talk about the animals and {Buzz_Rescue_Name}
  • Matchmaking: Support adoptions by listening to the needs of prospective adopters and introducing them to potential new canine family members
  • Keeping Dog Town clean: Pick up after our pups and keep their homes clean with fresh bedding and toys

Helpful Skills

Whether you're an experienced dog guru or a curious first-timer, homeless dogs need you. Our talented team of volunteers and staff will teach you everything you need to know. The following skills are helpful:

  • Customer service experience
  • Communication skills
  • Knowledge of dog behavior
  • Experience handling dogs

Training

  • New Volunteer Orientation
  • {Buzz_Rescue_Name} Level 1 Training (immediately follows orientation)
  • Being shadowed by a Mentor during your first two volunteer shifts

Location

Main Location
{Buzz_Rescue_Physical_Address}

Hours

Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Weekdays:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekends:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Dog Town Level 2 Volunteer

Overview

Ready to take the next step to work with more dogs? {Buzz_Rescue_Name} Level 2 is next on the list!

As a Level 2 Volunteer, in addition to everything you did as a Level 1 Volunteer, you will also be trained to:

  • Socialize, walk, play with and care for dogs who may exhibit behaviors such as fearfulness or reactivity, or may be very strong
  • Work with dogs who require a more experienced handlers. Work one-on-one with the dogs on behavior modification and teaching them basic obedience.
  • Work with a homeless dog in a formal training class, in which he will learn basic/intermediate obedience, nosework or agility.
  • Mentor and train new volunteers
  • Teach or support {Buzz_Rescue_Name} Level 1 training
  • Support adopters, providing individualized service for individuals or families who have special considerations

Helpful Skills

As you progress in volunteer leadership, the following skills are very helpful. If you'd like to further develop in any area, let us know, and we'll guide you to the right training program or pair you with a mentor:

  • Leadership skills
  • Knowledge of dog behavior
  • Experience with dog training
  • Experience handling dogs
  • Customer service experience
  • Communication skills

Training

  • {Buzz_Rescue_Name} Level 2 Training
  • Ongoing Behavior Modification Training

Location

Main Location
{Buzz_Rescue_Physical_Address}

Hours

Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Weekdays:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekends:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Behavioral Program Volunteer

Overview

As your dog training and behavior enrichment experience grows, take the next step by becoming a Behavioral Program Volunteer.

Behavioral Program Volunteers are specially trained to work with our Behavioral Program Dogs. Many of these dogs are overcoming neglect, trauma or abandonment or have not had the right socialization.

As a Behavioral Program Volunteer, you will continue to help with Level 2 Volunteer activities, but you will also:

  • Act as a leader in all Adoption Center and volunteer activities, serving as a mentor and role model for {Buzz_Rescue_Name} volunteers
  • Help manage {Buzz_Rescue_Name}, answer questions and operate as an important part of the {Buzz_Rescue_Name} leadership
  • Help coach, train and mentor Level 1 and Level 2 Volunteers
  • Give Behavioral Program Dogs the exercise, enrichment and training their Enrichment Plans outline
  • Pair suite-mates in {Buzz_Rescue_Name}, observing dog behavior to ensure appropriate pack behavior
  • Help prospective adopters with advanced questions and special needs

Helpful Skills

As you progress in volunteer leadership, the following skills are very important:

  • Leadership skills
  • Knowledge of dog behavior
  • Experience with dog training
  • Experience handling dogs
  • Customer service experience
  • Communication skills

Training

  • Behavioral Program Training
  • Shadow a Behavioral Program Mentor
  • Ongoing Behavior Modification Training

Location

Main Location
{Buzz_Rescue_Physical_Address}

Hours

Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Weekdays:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekends:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Medical Center Volunteer

Overview

Our Medical Center is the first stop for all dogs coming to PAWS Chicago. Some require just a couple days before being cleared for adoption. But others need extensive medical care, surgery, isolation or fostering before being ready to move to one of our Adoption Centers.

As a Medical Center Volunteer, your work may include:

  • Providing sick and injured dogs with much-needed socialization
  • Supporting our veterinary teams during exams and in administering medicine or hand-feeding
  • Assisting the animal care team with cleaning isolation suites
  • Helping our foster team recruit and place pets into foster homes

Helpful Skills

Requirements

Our Medical Center is a fast-paced, hospital environment. Volunteers must:

  • Be able to follow precise directions
  • Be comfortable in a medical environment with sick animals
  • Have experience with animals (which can be learned at our Adoption Centers)
Helpful Skills
  • An understanding of disease
  • Veterinary or medical experience
  • Experience as a Dog Town Volunteer

Training

  • Medical Center Orientation
  • Shadow training with an Animal Care Staff member during the first shift

Location

Main Location
{Buzz_Rescue_Physical_Address}

Hours

Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Weekdays:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekends:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Veterinary Support Volunteer

Overview

Do you have medical training you want to put to good use? Our shelter medicine veterinarians and veterinary technicians would love your help!

You can gain valuable experience in the growing veterinary specialty of shelter medicine while helping save lives. By becoming a Veterinary Support Volunteer, you will help treat and socialize our more critical animals and support our veterinary teams in day-to-day and advanced treatment.

Our Veterinary Support Volunteers start by shadowing our veterinary teams on their rounds, learning about {Buzz_Rescue_Name}’s shelter medicine program first-hand.

Depending on your level of experience, our team will train you to:

  • Medicate, feed and care for the pets at our Medical Center
  • Support our veterinarians with taking notes, procuring supplies and handling animals
  • Help with surgical prep, surgical support, treatment and medication administration of our more critical animals

In addition, volunteer veterinarians are welcome to assist with surgery, medical checks and a variety of other veterinary needs.

Helpful Skills

Requirements

Our Medical Center is a fast-paced, hospital environment. Volunteers must:

  • Have medical training or experience (human or veterinary)
  • Be able to understand and follow precise instruction
  • Be comfortable in a medical environment with sick animals
  • Be comfortable handling animals (which can be learned at our Adoption Centers)
  • Be able to work cooperatively in a team environment
  • Are reliable
Helpful Skills
  • An understanding of disease

Training

  • Medical Center Orientation
  • Shadow training with a Shelter Medicine staff member

Location

Main Location
{Buzz_Rescue_Physical_Address}

Hours

Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Weekdays:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekends:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Dog Adoption Counselor

Overview

Every homeless pet that walks out our doors with a new family is indebted to our Adoption Counselors, who are key to adoption success!

As an Adoption Counselor, you are part of a family milestone that has a huge positive impact on an animal.

By developing an understanding of an adopter’s experience with pets, home environment and family structure, you will ensure that the new family has the information and home environment that will lead to long-term success with the pet they have selected.

Helpful Skills

  • Great people skills
  • Customer service experience
  • Good listening & communication skills
  • Objectivity
  • Knowledge of dog behavior

Training

  • New Volunteer Orientation
  • {Buzz_Rescue_Name} Level 1 Training (immediately follows orientation)
  • Adoption Counseling Training and Shadowing

Location

Main Location
{Buzz_Rescue_Physical_Address}

Hours

Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Weekdays:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekends:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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