Volunteer Opportunities

• Dogs thrive on routine and this is especially true for dogs in animal shelters as their world have been turned upside-down!  
• At VAS, the dog gets yard time at least 3x day and the length of time depends on the weather and amount of dogs in the shelter but it does not compare to getting a break from the shelter environment and going out for a walk.
• Walking is a great way for us to learn more about the dogs, how they react to the world around them to help us find them the right home to thrive in.
• Walking also is a great bonding time for the dogs! It's good for them to see volunteers = walkies!
• A tired dog is a happy dog! Letting them sniff on walks helps with sensory enrichment. Hanging out with different volunteers help with their social enrichments and of course physical and mental enrichment too!

1. Sign up for shifts that you are available for and check in on our volunteer app for updates on dogs to be walked
2. Come in, gather up the items you'll need (leash, harness, poo bags & kibbles/treats) all provided by VAS
3. Take out dogs from their kennel and have a fun bonding walk with them! 
4. Provide them with multiple different enrichment (social, physical, sensory) that will help them thrive while they wait for their furever home!

Please note: Vancouver Animal Services is a small shelter and we may have somewhere between 1-10 dogs available for walks at any time. We also have 3 different levels of dog walking.

• Must be at least 19 years old to walk dogs. 
• Someone who is committed and does not mind walking in rain or shine! 
• Someone that have a lot of patient and understanding that the dogs in shelter react differently from a dog that you are familiar with or own(ed).
• Must have understanding of dog behaviors.
• Be comfortable with all types of dog breed and size. If you are not comfortable with a specific dog at the shelter, that is completely okay! You will not be forced to walk a dog you are not comfortable with.  
• Must have awareness of surroundings at all time and full attention on the dogs while on walks.
• Must be able to have strength to handle dogs as many will jump on you or pull on the leash. 
• Need to be able to guide them away from other dogs or members of the public for the safety of everyone. 

• Minimum of 1-2 hours per week for 6 months after orientation is done.
• This can be with any volunteer roles and not specifically just one.

• After you have sent in your application, we will review it and put you on the list for the upcoming orientation.
• Once we have reached the # of people for the orientation, you and others will be invited to VAS to learn more and get a tour of the shelter.
• For your first Dog Walking Volunteering shift, you will be paired up with someone (Senior Volunteer or Canine Kennel Supervisor).
• If you need more paired up volunteering shifts, you absolutely can, just ask the Canine Kennel Supervisor or a Kennel Tech on duty.

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• If you are unable to walk dogs for any reasons, you could hangout in the yards with them instead!
• The shelter dogs love getting extra attention whether it's being brushed, chasing toys, sniffing for kibbles scattered around, being petted or just simply having your companionship is enough!  

1. Sign up for shifts that you are available for and check in on our volunteer app for updates on available dogs 
2. Come in and speak with the Kennel Tech on duty to ask which dog and the yard you can hangout in. 
3. They will bring the dog out for you or let you know which dog is already out and ready to hangout with you.
4. Provide them with multiple different enrichment (social, physical, sensory) that will help them thrive while they wait for their furever home!  
5. Feel free to bring a book, grab some toys from our toy bins or brushes too! 

• Must be at least 19 years old.
• Someone that have a lot of patient and understanding that dogs in shelter react differently from a dog that you are familiar with or own(ed).
• Must have understanding of dog behaviors.
• Be comfortable with all types of dog breed and size. If you are not comfortable with a specific dog at the shelter, that is completely okay! You will not be forced to walk a dog you are not comfortable with.  
• Have understanding that the dog may jump on you in excitement! 
• Be okay with knowing that some of our dogs loves to bark and bark at different things going by (due to reactivity to certain things such as people, bikes, etc. or because of their guardian breed traits of needing to alert bark).

• Minimum of 1-2 hours per week for 6 months after orientation is done.
• This can be with any volunteer roles and not specifically just one.

• After you have sent in your application, we will review it and put you on the list for the upcoming orientation.
• Once we have reached the # of people for the orientation, you and others will be invited to VAS to learn more information and get a tour of the shelter.
• For your first 'Yard Hangout' Volunteering shift, you will be paired up with someone (Senior Volunteer or Canine Kennel Supervisor) to go over everything to ensure you understand this volunteer role. 
• If you need more paired up volunteering shifts, you absolutely can, just ask the Canine Kennel Supervisor or a Kennel Tech on duty.

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• If you are unable to walk dogs for any reasons, you could hangout in the VIP Room with them instead!
• The shelter dogs love getting extra attention whether it's being brushed, playing with toys, sniffing for kibbles/treats in a mental enrichment puzzle, being petted or just simply having your companionship is enough! 
• You can bring a book or put on a VHS movie on our little TV and relax on the couch with the dogs.

1. Sign up for shifts that you are available for and check in on our volunteer app for updates on available dogs 
2. Come in and speak with the Kennel Tech on duty to ask which dog is available to hangout in the VIP Room. 
3. They will bring the dog out for you or let you know which dog you can grab from the kennel.
4. Provide them with multiple different enrichment (social, mentality, sensory) that will help them thrive while they wait for their furever home!  
5. Feel free to bring a book, grab some toys from our toy bins or brushes too! 

• Must be at least 19 years old. 
• Someone that have a lot of patient and understanding that dogs in shelter react differently from a dog that you are familiar with or own(ed).
• Must have understanding of dog behaviors.
• Be comfortable with all types of dog breed and size. If you are not comfortable with a specific dog at the shelter, that is completely okay! You will not be forced to walk a dog you are not comfortable with.  
• Have understanding that the dog may jump on you in excitement! 

• Minimum of 1-2 hours per week for 6 months after orientation is done.
• This can be with any volunteer roles and not specifically just one.

• After you have sent in your application, we will review it and put you on the list for the upcoming orientation.
• Once we have reached the # of people for the orientation, you and others will be invited to VAS to learn more information and get a tour of the shelter.
• For your first 'VIP Room Hangout' Volunteering shift, you will be paired up with someone (Senior Volunteer or Canine Kennel Supervisor) to go over everything to ensure you understand this volunteer role. 
• If you need more paired up volunteering shifts, you absolutely can, just ask the Canine Kennel Supervisor or a Kennel Tech on duty.

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• Small Animals are still animals that needs daily socialization and enrichment to not get bored.
• Many small animals come in without much socialization therefore adopting out scared/hiding animals is difficult for possible adopters to know the animals' personalities. This is where this volunteer role really helps! The more in-depth information and videos we can share to the public, the quicker they will get adopted.
• You can sit down (chair or sofa) or even lay on the blanket covered floor in the ex-pen to let the small animals get used to a human presence being around. It's fun when the rabbit hops on-top of you to explore. 
• If you loves animals and don't have any experience, this is a good place to start! Start slow with the small animals and watch them show their quirky unique personalities and learn more about their care! 

1. Sign up for shifts that you are available for and check in on our volunteer app for updates on # of small animals we have.
2. Come in and speak with the Kennel Tech on duty to ask about which small animal you would like to hangout with. 
3. You can either set up a play area to put the small animal in or sit outside of their cage giving them socialization in their safe space. 
4. Provide them with multiple different enrichment that will help them thrive while they wait for their furever home!  
5. Feel free to bring a book, grab some veggies (ask the Kennel Tech for some!) or brushes too! 

Please note: Vancouver Animal Services is a small shelter and we may not always have multiple small animals for you to hangout with. 

• Great for anyone! If younger than 19 must have adult supervision with you.
• Bonus if you have previous small animals experience but not required! 
• Must have a calm personality as small animals are easily startled and do well with quieter talking and slower movements. 

• Minimum of 1-2 hours per week for 6 months after orientation is done.
• This can be with any volunteer roles and not specifically just one.

• After you have sent in your application, we will review it and put you on the list for the upcoming orientation.
• Once we have reached the # of people for the orientation, you and others will be invited to VAS to learn more information and get a tour of the shelter.
• For your first 'Small Animal Socialization' Volunteering shift, you will be paired up with someone (Senior Volunteer or Canine Kennel Supervisor) to go over everything to ensure you understand this volunteer role. 
• If you need more paired up volunteering shifts, you absolutely can, just ask the Canine Kennel Supervisor or a Kennel Tech on duty.

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• This role is very important and have a huge impact on the shelter animals - who doesn't like yummy treats and doing some mental work to get them? (Okay maybe not all of us but many animals do!)
• A super fun way to help animals out, mental enrichment is just as important as exercise for the animals! How bored would you be, being stuck in a small room all day/night with some interaction with people? You probably at least have a phone or TV or a book to keep your mind busy - the animals need the same. One of the best way to keep the animals busy and tire them out mentally is enrichment toys/puzzles!!  This could be stuffing Kongs, making pupsicles in the summertime, making a chew toy for the small animals and so on! 

1. Sign up for shifts that you are available for. 
2. Depending on the # of dogs or small animals, the Kennel Tech will give you a few different options on printed paper of things you could stuff/make that shift.
3. Gather up all the items you'll need and go to the destination station outside.
4. Have fun making/stuffing food/toys!
5. Depending on the day and items made, you may be able to hand them out to the small animals or to the dogs afterwards! Talk to the Kennel Tech on shift to see if this is possible!  

• Great for anyone! If younger than 19 must have adult supervision with you.
• No skills needed, just be committed to coming.

• Minimum of 1-2 hours per week for 6 months after orientation is done.
• This can be with any volunteer roles and not specifically just one.

• After you have sent in your application, we will review it and put you on the list for the upcoming orientation.
• Once we have reached the # of people for the orientation, you and others will be invited to VAS to learn more information and get a tour of the shelter.
• For your first 'Making Enrichment Food/Toys'  Volunteering shift, you will be paired up with someone (Senior Volunteer or Canine Kennel Supervisor).
• If you need more paired up volunteering shifts, you absolutely can, just ask the Canine Kennel Supervisor or a Kennel Tech on duty.

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