volunteer
Volunteers Make a Difference!
If you want to be part of a dedicated team helping homeless dogs and cats in our community, meet people who hold similar interests, share special skills/talents or learn new ones, help children develop a sense of community and responsibility, or just have fun loving animals, become a Central Texas SPCA volunteer!
Volunteers are a vital part of the CTSPCA. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on volunteers to help plan or participate at special events, work on special projects and/or advocate our mission. The small paid staff we have is primarily responsible for taking care of our animals although, occasionally, they may ask a volunteer for assistance with the animals. There are so many things we need help with on a daily basis: cleaning kennels, dishes, cleaning, organizing, yard work, running errands and so much more. We are a community that makes a positive difference in the lives of the dogs and cats in our care.
We classify shelter volunteers on three levels:
Youth Volunteers between the ages of 10-14 years old. Allowed to visit with both cats and dogs but must be supervised by a parent at all times.
Regular Volunteers over the age of 15. If between the ages of 15-17, no parent supervision is required, though a parent must sign a parental release at orientation.
Lead Volunteers are highly experienced volunteers who are trained and knowledgeable on all aspects of the organization, available to answer questions, and provide direction or guidance as needed to new volunteers and/or visitors to the shelter.
Board of Directors are responsible for the financial and operational health of the organization and setting the strategic direction for the future. Directors serve 3-year terms and must serve on at least one committee, which include Operations, Fundraising & Marketing, and Finance. Service on our hands-on Board is immensely rewarding and a great way to build your resume for career opportunities. For more information on Board opportunities, email President@CentralTexasSPCA.org.
All volunteers are asked to make a commitment of at least 2 hours per month for at least 6 months each year and are required to attend both a Basic Orientation class and a Dog Handling class. This covers all aspects of volunteering and all areas where we can use help. Both classes are required to be completed within a 2-month window before you may volunteer with our dogs and cats.
Want to get started?
Please complete and submit the Volunteer Application Online, though you can download and complete the Volunteer Application PDF. Note that the online application is handled faster than the submission of a paper application.
Volunteer Application PDF (paper version)
Once your application has been received and reviewed, our Orientation Coordinator will invite you to the next available training class.
One-Time / Limited / Individual or Group Volunteer Opportunities
For groups or individuals who are interested in volunteering on a one-time basis or for a limited number of hours, the shelter offers an opportunity for those working on a special project, interested in team-building or community outreach. These types of projects are defined and limited to a set number of hours (up to 4 hours). If the service project involves anyone under 18-years of age, a parental release is required. Due to space limitations at the shelter, groups are limited to a maximum of 10 people. All service projects must be scheduled when the shelter is closed to the public. If interested in this type of project, please complete and submit the Service Project Form. Please submit your request at least 3-4 weeks in advance of your requested date so that we have the best opportunity to accommodate your request.
Upon receipt of your group/individual project request, a shelter representative will contact you to schedule a date/time and/or discuss specifics of the project.
Other Special Volunteer Opportunities
We need volunteers who have skills and experience including event planning, marketing, fundraising, serving on our Board and more! Please review our documents that describe these needs and see how you can best help! If you wish to learn more or communicate with someone regarding how you can join these teams or our Board, contact information is shown in each document.
Court-Mandated Community Service
For those needing to complete court-mandated community service by Travis or Williamson County, you must be at least 18-years of age and must be assigned a probation officer. Please contact the Central Texas SPCA at 512-260-7722 or info@CentralTexasSPCA.org for more information.
Still have questions?
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at Volunteer@centraltexasspca.org.