Every dog and cat who finds a second chance through Operation Paws for Homes has a team behind them. Our volunteers are that team. Every hour helps. Every task matters. Every volunteer makes a difference.
Whether you have a few hours to give each month or you're ready to take on a leadership role, there's a place for you at OPH. You don't need to be an animal rescue expert or have a particular skill set. Bring your time, your talents, your ideas, or simply your willingness to help and we'll help you find the right fit.
All volunteers begin with our virtual volunteer orientation to learn more about OPH and all the ways you can get involved,with additional training provided for specialized roles.
Find your place. Join our team. Together, let's save lives.
Volunteer Opportunities
Animal Care
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Foster - Open your home to a dog or cat while they wait for their forever family.
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Transportation - Transport pets where they need to go (vet, new foster, etc).
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Boarding Buddies - Visit dogs and cats staying at one of our partner boarding facilities.
Shelters / Adoptions
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Adoption Coordinator - Conduct phone interviews with applicants, answer questions, and help match families with the right pet.
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Shelter Puller - Work with our shelter partners to select pets that are candidates for foster care.
Community Outreach
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Youth Experiential Learning - help the younger generation learn compassion in action by promoting and leading out humane education programs for children and teens.
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Hands-On Shelter Support - work alongside staff at partner shelters to help with animal care and socialization and tackle priority projects within the shelter.
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Community Support - work in targeted partner communities in Virginia providing trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) for community cats and pet owner support to help keep pets out of overcrowded shelters.
Fundraising & Development
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Grants - Research and write grant proposals to help secure funding for our lifesaving programs.
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Sponsorships - Develop relationships with businesses and community partners interested in supporting OPH through sponsorships and partnerships.
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Fundraising Campaigns - Help organize and promote fundraising efforts including Giving Tuesday, auctions, and seasonal campaigns.
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Reporting - Assist with tracking fundraising, grant, and event metrics to help evaluate and improve our programs.
Events
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Adoption Events - Help introduce adoptable pets to potential families, answer questions, and create a welcoming experience for visitors.
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Special Events - Support special events such as 5Ks, virtual auctions, and other community events.
Marketing & Communications
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Social Media - Create engaging content for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms to help pets find homes and grow our community.
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Graphic Design - Design social media graphics, flyers, event materials, merchandise, website graphics, and other creative assets.
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Photography - Capture high-quality photos of adoptable pets to help showcase their personalities and increase adoption opportunities.
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Content Writing - Write website content, pet biographies, educational resources, newsletters, blog posts, and social media copy.