  
The Houston SPCA Volunteer Program
Making a Difference
Thank you for your interest in the Houston SPCA Volunteer Program! The Houston SPCA has hundreds of dedicated volunteers helping us help the animals. Without these compassionate, caring people, we couldn't continue our efforts on behalf of the animals. The following volunteer positions assist with the daily operation of the Houston SPCA, and are available to qualified applicants.
We are always looking for volunteers to help further this mission, however we ask that all volunteers be able to commit to a recurring two-hour shift each week and be at least 15 years of age.
Available Volunteer Opportunities:
Direct Animal Care
Assist potential adopters find companion animals, clean cages, socialize animals, and walk animals.
The areas in Direct Animal Care include:
- Large Adoptable Dogs & Puppies
- Small Adoptable Dogs & Puppies
- The Cattery
*You must complete 20 hours in one of these three areas before moving on to any other area.
Other Volunteer Opportunities after 20 hours are completed
Admissions
Receive incoming animals, and assist in completing necessary paperwork. You must be 18 years of age, have 20 hours volunteer experience in adoption counseling/front desk and 20 hours in direct animal care.
Barn
These volunteers assist in the barn with feeding, bathing, and socializing the farm animals. Must be 18 years of age and have completed at least 20 hours in an animal care area to be considered for this position.
Clinic Technician Assistant – Surgery & Clinic
Help the veterinary staff process incoming animals and prepare them for adoption. Includes preparing vaccinations, cleaning ears, and general grooming. Must be 18 years of age and have a minimum of 20 hours in an animal care area is required for this position.
Foster Care
Care for shelter animals in your home. These animals are future adoption candidates that may be too young or ill at the time of admission. Any medicines are provided by the Houston SPCA. Additional training is required.
Front Desk/Adoption Counselor
Help process adoption paperwork (including counseling), answer phones, take cruelty and lost & found reports and assist the public with general questions/directions. Must be 18 years of age and have completed at least 20 hours in an animal care area to be considered for this position.
Humane Education
Assist with tours of the facility and Critter Camp (summer, spring break and Christmas holiday). Must be 18 years of age and have completed at least 20 hours in an animal care area to be considered for this position.
Mobile Adoptions
Held at various locations throughout Houston, volunteers work to find homes for Houston SPCA animals. Examples of locations include Neiman Marcus and Toyota Center.
Special Events
Held at different locations throughout the year. Examples of special events include microchip clinics, Gala, and other community events. A minimum of 20 hours in an animal care area is required for this position.
**** Please read the entire message before signing up to become a volunteer ****
There are multiple steps to becoming a volunteer.
REGISTERING
- You must e-mail Volmgr@houstonspca.org to RSVP for a volunteer date, the earliest available date is the date listed below on available orientation times.
- When you RSVP you will receive a confirmation e-mail as well as a link to fill out a volunteer application.
- One week before orientation a second confirmation e-mail will be sent confirming your spot in orientation. You must confirm this second e-mail for your space to be reserved. This is very important so that we can make sure everybody is getting an opportunity to come to the orientation that wants it.
AVAILABLE ORIENTATION DATES:
March 1st 6:00-8:30pm
March 17th 10am-12:30pm
ORIENTATION
- You will attend the orientation date that you have registered for. If for some reason you have to cancel your orientation please send an e-mail.
- Please arrive 15 minutes before orientation to get signed in.
- The orientation will consist of a PowerPoint presentation about the organization, a discussion about fostering, a discussion from our VP of Animal Welfare about being an open admissions shelter, and a tour of the shelter. The orientation lasts two half hours at maximum.
- If you decide you would like to continue on to become a volunteer of the organization we will collect schedule materials after the tour and will discuss the next step of the process.
*Please Note: Youth volunteers 15-17 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the orientation process. You will not be permitted to complete the orientation without your parent or guardian.
TRAINING SESSION
- The final step in the volunteer process is a two hour training session with one of our volunteers. This is the time you will pay your $25, get your t-shirt, badge, and learn about your area.
- The Manager of Volunteer Services will contact you after the orientation to set up the training session in your area of interest (large dogs and puppies, small dogs and puppies, or cattery).
- The training session will be at a beneficial time for yourself and another volunteer trainer.
- After this training session you will be able to come in for your set two hour shift each week of your choosing and will become a regular SPCA volunteer.
Inviting Guests - Please refrain from inviting friends, children and other relatives to attend the orientation with you. If they wish to become a volunteer with the Houston SPCA, they must sign-up to an upcoming orientation as we only have space for those who sign-up and parent/guardians (if needed).
Cruelty Investigations - Please note that volunteers do not get to accompany our cruelty investigators on ride-alongs nor do volunteers get the opportunity to work with the investigators or volunteer with any animals involved in active cruelty cases.
Thank you,
Tiffany Buford
Volunteer Services Manager
Volmgr@houstonspca.org
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