In Shelter

The Seattle Animal Shelter strives to have an enjoyable, innovative and organized volunteer program that benefits the animals and animal-lovers of Seattle.   Volunteers work 365 days a year and are extremely dedicated. 

To volunteer at the shelter, volunteers must:

• Be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
• Be able to commit to a weekly two-hour shift.
• Be able to commit to six (6) consecutive months of service.
• Be able to commit to scheduled volunteer times.
• Be able to squat, bend, twist, lift, and stand for long periods while working directly with the animals.
• Attend required training classes. 
• Be able to work independently without direct supervision.
• Have previous large dog handling experience if applying for a dog handling program (e.g. Dog Walking, Get Fit with Fido, Adoption Assistants-Dog)

For more information on volunteer opportunities, check out our Volunteer Opportunities Directory.

The Volunteer Application is available three times per year. The 2013 application opens at noon on February 15, June 17 and October 8. Applications are available for at least 7 days after the opening. Click to apply to become a volunteer. 

Please note that the shelter receives many more applications than it can accept. Programs in the most need of help are Special Projects (Event Planning and Fundraising), Pet Therapy, Pet Loss Support Group, Mascots, and our foster teams.