How to become a volunteer or foster family
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Homeward Pet. For the safety of our animals, staff and volunteers, all volunteers and foster homes must be trained in Homeward Pet’s procedures. Because of the time invested in our training, all volunteers are asked to make a minimum 3 month commitment; all fosters commit to foster an animal at least once per year. Please note that it may take 1-2 months before becoming a volunteer.
Here’s how to become a Homeward Pet volunteer:
- Visit the Volunteer Positions page to see if we have a position that matches your availability and area of interest.
- Complete the Volunteer Application.
- All applicants will be sent onboarding materials – including our volunteer agreement and a Washington State Patrol background check agreement – and invited to attend our General Orientation, held online monthly. At orientation, you’ll learn about Homeward Pet’s mission, programs, procedures and volunteer positions. You must attend the entire orientation.
- Following orientation, you will be sent an online training session for your Volunteer Assignment. You must attend the entire training session.
- Dog Care Volunteers are required to view Level 1 Dog Care Training.
- Cat Care Volunteers are required to view Level 1 Cat Care Training.
- Reception Volunteers are required to complete a personal interview following orientation, and, if accepted, are required to complete one-on-one and on-the-job training.
- Clinic Assistant Volunteers are required to view Level 1 Dog Care Training and Level 1 Cat Care Training, and complete on-the-job training with the clinic staff.
- Facilities Volunteers are required to complete on-the-job training with our Facilities Manager.
- Foster Volunteers are required to view Foster Care Training and complete our Foster Care Agreement.
- Following training, you will be given a specific, weekly 2-4 hour shift based on open volunteer positions and your availability. Your first two shifts will be spent with a Volunteer Mentor, receiving hands-on training and supervision from staff or an experienced volunteer.
- For foster care volunteers: After completing the online Foster Care training you will receive instructions on how to access our Pending Foster Board with information about all of the animals looking for foster placement. You will also be added to the foster email distribution list and receive any program updates or urgent requests.
- Required volunteer t-shirts are available at your first volunteer shift at the shelter, at no cost (a donation of $10.00 can be made towards the cost of the shirt).
- You must notify the Volunteer Manager of required Community Service hours, either court ordered or school requirements, ahead of time. Volunteer hours are not counted until you become a volunteer. Your hours will not be signed off until you have completed your 3 month commitment. A letter of intended completion or ongoing involvement is available.
Volunteer Hours Matching
Does your employer support the time you spend volunteering?
Volunteering not only provides our animals with tender love, care and socialization, volunteer hours can also result in a monetary gift on your behalf from your employer to Homeward Pet’s animals – maximizing your impact to help the homeless dogs and cats that need us.
Your employer may match your volunteer hours with a monetary gift in your honor – so the homeless animals in our care benefit two-fold! Use the tool below to see what sort of support your organization provides for your passion for Homeward Pet. If they aren’t on the list below, ask your Human Resources Department if they would consider adding this offering to your employee benefits.
