Adult Opportunities

Listed below are the volunteer opportunity job descriptions. Please note: the availability of these opportunities changes monthly.

Adoption Counselor
Adoption Outpost Lead Volunteer
Animal Care Assistant
Auxiliary Thrift Shop Salesperson
Book Donation and Sale program volunteer
Cat Behavior Volunteer
Customer Service Greeter
Dog Training Assistant
Education Docent
Foster Care
Pet Pal - Cats
Pet Pal - Dogs
Pet Pal - Small Companion Animals
SHARE - Animal Assisted Therapy
SHARE - SHARE a Book
SHARE - Side-by-Side
Special Events Volunteer

Adoption Counselor
Find lifelong, loving homes for shelter animals by interviewing, evaluating and matching prospective adopters with the right animal for their family.

Time Commitment

• Weekly 4 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 public on pet care
• Previous animal handling experience
• Ability to handle strong, energetic dogs
• Able to lift 50 lbs

Training Requirements

• Interview with Adoption staff
• 2 days of observation at adoption desk
• Pet Pal Training – dogs, cats and SCAs
• 12-16 week apprenticeship – primarily shadowing senior volunteer

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
  

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Adoption Outpost Lead Volunteer
Take adoption animals out into the community to meet the public and perhaps their new family! Adoption Outpost locations include The Town Center and The Village shopping centers in Corte Madera, and downtown Mill Valley.

Time Commitment

• 6 hour shift off-site at various locations in Marin, 1 to 4 times a month

Qualifications

• Reliable
• Good people skills
• Excellent dog handling skills
• Ability to lead team of volunteer
• Clean driving record and willingness to drive MHS van

Training Requirements

• Pet Pal Training
• On-the-job training

Duties

• Selecting animals for Outpost event
• Driving van to and from event
• Supervising volunteer team at Outpost event
• Interacting with the public and adoption animals
• Educating the public regarding MHS services and programs
  

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Animal Care Assistant
Care for shelter animals by feeding and grooming them, cleaning cages and assisting with various kennel duties.

Time Commitment

• 2-4 hours per week

Qualifications

• Experience handling a variety of animals
• Energetic
• Able to lift 50 pounds
• Comfortable bending, squatting, kneeling

Training Requirements

• On-the-job training; the length of training will depend on your experience

Duties

• Assist Animal Care Technicians in working with a variety of animals
• Heavy cleaning, stock supplies, laundry, wash dishes and litter pans, hose dog runs, clean cat and small animal cages, record vital information
  

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Auxiliary Thrift Shop Salesperson
Volunteer as a salesperson in this busy San Anselmo store. Proceeds support the MHS's Spay/Neuter Clinic.

Time Commitment

• One day a month (11am to 4pm) at the shop in San Anselmo

Qualifications

• Good customer service skills
• Retail experience helpful, but not necessary

Training Requirements

• On-the-job training

Duties

• Sales
• Cashiering
• Pricing stock as it arrives
• Stock tables and shelves as needed
  

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Book Donation and Sale program volunteerVolunteer as part of a team to coordinate and oversee monthly on-site book sales. Or, volunteer once a week to help with sorting book donations.  Proceeds support the animals at MHS.

Time Commitment

• 4-6 hour shift once a month – book sales
• 2 hours once a week sorting books

Qualifications

• Retail and or flea market sales experience helpful
• Love of books and animals a MUST
• Must be able to lift minimum 25 lbs. (boxes of books)
• Good people skills

Training Requirements

• On site training

Duties

• Sorting of book donations at the shelter
• Boxing and storing sorted books for Book Nook, Dollar Sales and on-line sales
• Stocking and organizing Book Nook
• Working at monthly Dollar Book Sales and book sales at annual MHS Flea Market and Art Tails (multi-day sale)
  

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Cat Behavior Volunteer
Help people resolve common cat behavior issues by responding to questions via telephone and email. If you love cats and are a good listener, this may be the spot for you!

Time Commitment

• 2 hours per week

Qualifications

• Knowledge of cats is helpful
  
• Good communication skills
• Interest in learning about cat behavior
• Proficient on the computer – data entry

Training Requirements

• On-the-job training with cat behaviorist

Duties

• Follow up on behavior consults
• Office work to include: retrieving voicemail, data entry, filing, copying etc.
  

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Customer Service Greeter
Welcoming people to MHS is an important job. For many visitors, walking into 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

• 4 hour weekly shift

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills
• Experience working in customer service helpful
• Basic computer skills
• Bilingual a plus
• Positive, outgoing, willing to take initiative
• Minimum age 18 years

Training Requirements

• Interview with Customer Service Supervisor
• Observe 2 shifts in Customer Service Department
• On-the-job training by Customer Service staff
• 6-month minimum good faith commitment

Duties

• Meet and greet shelter visitors; provide assistance in friendly and positive manner
• Distribute information to visitors
• Direct visitors to appropriate staff/department; answer questions, receive questions, comments and concerns
• Monitor visitors and notify staff of any visitor problems, needs, questions or concerns
  

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Dog Training Assistant
Assist trainers in different levels of dog training classes and help guardians and their pets become better companions for one another.

Time Commitment

• 1.5 hours per week minimum (one dog training class)

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service and people skills
• Desire to learn dog training methods and educate the public
• Ability to lift and move heavy agility equipment
• Comfortable standing for 1.5 hours on cement floor; physically able to kneel, bend and jog
• Some dog training experience helpful

Training Requirements

• Observe a dog training class
• Attend DTA orientation meeting
• Shadow a senior volunteer in a 6-week dog training class

Duties

• Assist Instructor prior to, during and after class
• Work one on one with clients and their dogs
• Learn to use various training equipment/tools
  
  

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Education Docent
Educate children by bringing humane programs into the classroom. Tour Guides and Special Event volunteers are also needed.

Time Commitment

• As needed

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and/or education experience
• Willingness to learn
• Strong presentation skills
• Knowledge of basic animal welfare issues
• Experience handling animals a plus

Training Requirements

• Interview with Education staff
• Attend training orientation and meetings
• Shadow other docents
• Selected reading/videos

Duties

• Conduct tours of MHS
• Lead classroom presentations at Marin County Schools
• Conduct children’s birthday parties at MHS
  
  

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Foster Care
Provide shelter for sick, injured or very young animals in your home. Food, supplies and medical care are provided by MHS.

Time Commitment

• As needed

Qualifications

• Love for and patience with sick, injured and young animals
• Animal experience preferred
• Separate room in home for foster
• 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

Training Requirements

• Meet with Foster Coordinator to discuss program and sign agreement
• Review information and care handbook

Duties

• Provide care for sick, injured, or very young animals in your home
• Communicate promptly and clearly with Foster Program Coordinator with any questions or concerns
  

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Pet Pal - Cats
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

• 2-4 hours per week on a regularly scheduled shift
• Staff meeting and various seminars

Qualifications

• 2 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

Duties

• Socialize and groom cats
• Provide daily written updates on cat temperament, personality, and noticeable medical issues
• Answer questions about the cats in a positive and friendly manner
  

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Pet Pal - Dogs
Help us keep the adoption dogs healthy and happy! Our volunteers work year-round, rain or shine, exercising and socializing the adoption dogs. This physical job will give you a good workout, too.

Time Commitment

• 2-4 hours per week

Qualifications

• Previous experience handling dogs
• Physical ability to restrain 60 pound dog
• Physical ability to move easily in and out of dog runs, including stepping, squatting and kneeling
• Able to follow detailed procedures
• Able to work independently

Training Requirements

• Attend Dog Pet Pal training
• Work with senior volunteer mentors a minimum of 2 sessions

Duties

• Exercise and socialize adoption dogs
• Report any medical or behavioral issues to Adoption Supervisor
• Commitment to weekly shift, regardless of weather
  

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Pet Pal - Small Companion Animals
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

• 1-2 hours per week

Qualifications

• Experience handling small companion animals
• Able to work independently
• Willing to clean and organize animal housing area
• Good communication skills

Training Requirements

• Attend SCA Pet Pal Training
• Read literature on handling

Duties

• Socializing, cleaning and grooming small companion animals
  

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SHARE Program - Animal Assisted Therapy
Share your animal companion by visiting senior communities, convalescent centers, hospitals, schools and libraries.

Time Commitment

• 2-4 visits per month

Qualifications

• Love for both people and animals

Animal Qualifications

• Dogs must successfully complete “Your dog to SHARE” class
• 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, special care facilities, special day programs in schools and homebound individuals

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SHARE Program - SHARE a Book – AAT
Watch children improve their reading skills, develop confidence and build self-esteem while they read to you and your companion dog. A love for working with children and animals is a must.

Time commitment

• 2-4 visits per month

Qualifications

• Love for both people and animals
• Understanding of literacy skills and reading with children

Animal Qualifications

• Dogs must successfully complete “SHARE a Book” class
• Other pets will fulfill requirements of a temperament and behavior screening
• All pets must be spayed or neutered

Duties

• The SHARE a Book team visits school classrooms or reading/resource rooms, libraries, book fairs, read-a-thons and programs scheduled at MHS
  
  

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SHARE Program - Side-by-Side
Help seniors and people with disabilities care for their companion animals in their homes.

Time Commitment

• As needed, weekly or monthly

Qualifications

• Desire to work with individuals and the pets
• Good “people” skills

Training Requirements

• One-hour Share introduction meeting
• Additional training to fulfill pet care responsibilities

Duties

• Assist seniors, AIDS patients, and Hospice clients with the care of their pets. Needs will vary depending on the individual situation. For example, providing transportation to and from vet, walking/exercising dogs, bathing animals, delivering pet food and supplies
  

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Special Events Volunteer
Special events help support the programs and services at MHS. If you have experience planning and executing special events, we can use your help.

Time Commitment

• As needed, including nights and weekends

Qualifications

• Desire to work in the planning stages of special events
• Previous event planning experience required
• Computer literate and email access required

Training Requirements

• On the job training

Duties

• Planning and procuring items for special events – silent auction items, benefit drawing items, food and drink, sponsors, entertainment, data entry/ticketing