Wallis Annenberg PetSpace

A Volunteering Update from Wallis Annenberg PetSpace

Dear Valued Volunteers of Wallis Annenberg PetSpace –

We want to thank each of you for complying with our COVID-19 safety protocols which help ensure the safety of all. As you know, the world is continuing to contend with this dangerous epidemic. Public health officials are encouraging the community to use all the tools in our arsenal to help slow the spread of this highly contagious disease including receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, mask wearing, socially distancing, COVID-19 testing if experiencing symptoms or exposed and quarantining per CDC guidelines if testing positive.

With the trajectory of cases in Los Angeles County on the rise, we want to do absolutely everything we can to protect our volunteers, staff, and guests, especially as many of our visitors are too young to be vaccinated. As such, we will require that all volunteers be fully vaccinated by Monday, October 18^th to continue volunteering at PetSpace.

For those of you who are already fully vaccinated, please submit a copy of your vaccination records to mruiz@annenbergpetspace.org by October 18^th.

If you are currently unvaccinated and have questions or any concerns, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

Thanks in advance for your continued support and commitment to keeping each other as safe and healthy as possible.

We look forward to working with you soon, as we continue furthering the human-animal bond.

Volunteer Orientations: TBD

Animal Care Volunteer Positions

CLEANING MVP

Position Overview: It is the entry level position to all Animal Care Volunteers (similar to Level 1 volunteer position).

Volunteers will assist with:

Cleaning and Sanitation
Laundry Assistance
General Animal Care Staff Assistance

Purpose of the Position:

Improving animals’ health and well-being.
Minimizing chances of infectious diseases.
Increasing chances of adoption due to optimal animal health conditions.

Schedule:

Monday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Tuesday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Wednesday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Thursday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Friday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Saturday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Sunday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm

Requirements: Volunteer Orientation, Cleaning MVP Training

Time Commitment Requirement: 2 hours/once a week for a period of 6 months

CAT SOCIALIZER

Position Overview: The purpose is to facilitate enriching activities to provide cats with social interaction, mental stimulation and exercise in order for them to remain psychologically and behaviorally healthy. Volunteers will assist with:

Cleaning, sanitizing and preparing enrichment items
Delivering enrichment toys and products to cat suites
Observing and reporting cat behavior during interaction
Assisting staff and/or guests at the Scratching Post when needed
Spending quality time with cats under the guidance of Animal Care staff
Following instructions regarding positive reinforcement training/interactions

Schedule

Wednesday	11:00 am–1:00 pm
Thursday	11:00 am–1:00 pm
Friday	11:00 am–1:00 pm
Saturday	11:00 am–1:00 pm
Sunday	11:00 am–1:00 pm

Requirements:

Must be 18 and over
Volunteer Orientation
Cleaning MVP Training
Cat Socializer Training
Animal Care Interview

Time Commitment Requirement: 2 hours/once a week for a period of 6 months

DOG SOCIALIZER

Position Overview: The purpose is to facilitate enriching activities to provide dogs with social interaction, mental stimulation and exercise in order for them to remain psychologically and behaviorally healthy. Volunteers will assist with:

Providing dogs with quality social interactions following safe handling guidelines
Cleaning, sanitizing and other training activities as needed

Schedule

Wednesday	11:00 am–1:00 pm
Thursday	11:00 am–1:00 pm
Friday	11:00 am–1:00 pm
Saturday	11:00 am–1:00 pm
Sunday	11:00 am–1:00 pm

Requirements:

Must be 18 and over
Volunteer Orientation
Cleaning MVP Training
Dog Socializer Training
Animal Care Interview

Time Commitment Requirement: 2 hours/once a week for a period of 6 months

DOG WALKER

Position Overview: This position involves assisting Animal Care Staff with dog walking and socializing. Volunteers will assist with:

Taking dogs out for a walk by following Animal Care Staff’s guidelines and procedures
Follow all Animal Behavior & Training Coordinator instructions
Assist with cleaning, sanitizing and other training activities as needed

Monday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Tuesday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Wednesday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Thursday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Friday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Saturday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm
Sunday	7:30 am – 10 am, 10 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm

Requirements:

Must be 18 and over
Volunteer Orientation
Cleaning MVP Training
Dog Socializer Training
Animal Care Interview
40 + hours as an Animal Care Volunteer
Dog Walker Training

Volunteerism by the Numbers to Date

27031

TOTAL HOURS GIVEN

Volunteering FAQs

What do volunteers at Annenberg PetSpace do?

Volunteers assist staff with a wide variety of activities from cleaning to dog training, reading to kids and assisting our guests. To read more about our volunteer job descriptions, please visit our online volunteer portal, Better Impact.

We are always looking for volunteers with special skills as well! If you have any special skills like event management, educational programming, etc. please contact our Volunteer Coordinator.

How do I apply to be a volunteer?

You can apply to join our volunteer team by completing the online application found on our volunteer portal, Better Impact. Please note that we are currently experiencing a high volume of volunteer applications and will be sure to get back to you as quickly as possible.

In the meanwhile, visit our calendarto check on our daily and/or special events.

Looking for more volunteering opportunities? Check out our partners at the Los Angeles Animal Servicesand the LA County Animal Care & Controlfor additional volunteering opportunities.

I want to volunteer but can’t find any open positions. What should I do?

We love hosting our volunteers and wish we could accommodate everyone.

We strive to provide the best care to our animals and at the same time, provide rewarding experiences to our volunteers, which limits the number of volunteer opportunities. We strongly encourage you to continue checking our page for updates on upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Looking for more volunteering opportunities? Visit our partners at the Los Angeles Animal Servicesand the LA County Animal Care & Controlfor additional volunteering opportunities.

I would love to walk the dogs and interact with animals. Can I just do that?

At Annenberg PetSpace, our priority is to provide the best care for our animals and the volunteer team plays a vital role in making that possible.

We are grateful to have a full-time Animal Care team specifically dedicated to handling the health needs of our pets, training, interacting and preparing our animals for adoption. With this is mind, our Animal Care volunteer opportunities focus on supporting our staff with their efforts which means there is limited one-on-one interaction with pets.

Those looking for additional opportunities to engage with our adoptable animals are encouraged to attend our Pet Encounters. These occur Wednesday through Sunday. Check our calendarof eventsfor more information.

Will I have training before I start volunteering?

Yes. Volunteers are required to attend an Information Session and an Orientation Session before starting. We intend on providing as much guidance and resources needed to equip all volunteers to thrive in their roles.

How often do I need to volunteer?

Each role has different requirements. Most roles, however, require volunteers to fill a regularly-scheduled shift at least once a week. Volunteers are welcome to sign up for more shifts when needed, either in a regularly-scheduled shift, or by signing up for open shifts online.

How long and when are the volunteer shifts?

Each role has a different schedule depending on need. Shifts typically last 1-3 hours.

What is the time commitment?

We require volunteers to commit to at least 6 months of volunteering on a regularly set schedule in order to provide PetSpace animals with the best care.

This requirement also allows volunteers and staff to minimize time spent with training and more time with hands-on activities.

We know life happens, however, and so we will work with you to cover regularly scheduled shifts due to personal reasons.

Do you allow people under 15 to volunteer if they are accompanied by a parent who is also a volunteer?

PetSpace loves kids and provides year-round activities and events suitable for children. To learn more please check out ourcalendarof events.

Volunteers age 13 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers 15 and over may volunteer alone.

I have a group that is interested in volunteering at one of your locations. What do you have available for group volunteering?

If you are interested in group volunteering opportunities, please email our Volunteer Coordinator directly.

Will I have to go through a background check?

Yes. We require all volunteers to go through a background check before starting. The process is done online, and it is completely confidential.

We will not have access to your information.

I don’t have a computer or email. Can’t I just fill out a paper application form?

We use an online service to schedule our volunteers and thus computer access is required. We also believe in minimizing the use of paper to conserve the environment.

What if I don’t want to interact with animals?

PetSpace has plenty of volunteering opportunities which do not include any animal interaction, such as assisting with special events, guest experience, deep cleaning, etc.

I can’t commit to volunteering regularly; how else can I help?

We appreciate your commitment to supporting our animals! There are many ways in which you can help:

Come by and see if you are a perfect match for one of our adorable adoptable animals
Spread the word! Tell your friends and family about Wallis Annenberg PetSpace to help us increase adoption chances
Follow us on social media and share your love for PetSpace with the world!

Have more questions or don’t find the information you're looking for on this page? Send us a message!

Volunteer Opportunities