Volunteer Opportunities
Some of the most rewarding volunteer opportunities in Las Vegas are at The Animal Foundation, where you can help save the lives of lost and homeless animals every day and in many different ways.
Volunteering at The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas is not about one-size-fits-all volunteer solutions. We appreciate that volunteers give their hearts, their time, their talents, and their all to support our programs. That's why we make sure our volunteers have the opportunity to help with a wide variety of tasks that positively impact the lives of our animals — whether that is doing laundry so that each animal gets fresh linens every day, walking dogs to help their mental and physical health, deep cleaning kennels so new animals can live in a clean environment, socializing timid animals, supporting the enrichment team by training dogs, or helping out at special events.
Our goal is to find a volunteer opportunity worthy of your unique talents and one that excites and inspires you! By joining the The Animal Foundation's volunteer team, you will help transform the lives of animals and do good things for the community while making new friends and discovering new skills. Every day at the animal shelter is different, and every minute makes a difference!
Requirements to Volunteer
- Age
- 18+ in order to handle animals
- 12-17 (non-animal handling) and accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times
- 6-11 (non-animal handling) and accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Volunteers younger than 12 are only able to participate in our Reading to Animals and Sketch-a-Pet programs.
- Be able to work independently and meet the essential volunteer requirements.
- Treat animals with compassion, kindness, and concern for their welfare.
- Must represent yourself and The Animal Foundation in a professional manner and treat guests, team members, and other volunteers with respect.
- Must commit to 50 hours over the course of 6 months to be fully trained and integrated into the volunteer program.
- Must commit to a minimum of 2 shifts per month to remain an ACTIVE volunteer.
How to Apply to Volunteer
- We are currently accepting visiting groups! We will be able to accommodate a maximum of 10 individuals. A minimum of three individuals is required for group volunteering.
- Please carefully read and fill out the Volunteer Group Interest Form to book an available volunteer date.
- If you would like to schedule a group larger than 10 or need other accommodations, please email us at volunteer@animalfoundation.com. Please keep in mind that we may not be able to accommodate your request.
- Visiting Groups only participate in non-animal handling tasks due to lack of time for animal handling training and certification.
- Watch the New Volunteer Orientation.
- Complete the Fear Free Shelters Training and submit the certificate of completion to volunteer@animalfoundation.com. This is mandatory for all Long-Term Adult Volunteers.
- Lastly, submit our Adult Volunteer Application
- Await application processing (about 1 week).
- Watch the New Volunteer Orientation and submit the Junior Volunteer Application.
- Have the Junior Volunteer’s parent or guardian watch the New Volunteer Orientation and submit the Adult Application on the page following the orientation.
- All individuals who will be onsite must watch their own orientation video and submit their own application.
- Await application processing (about 1 week).
- Volunteers looking to complete court-ordered community service or school credit hours do not do any animal handling tasks.
- Please watch the New Volunteer Orientation and submit the School Credit/Community Service Volunteer Application.
- You will receive a notification via email if you are eligible to volunteer with us.
Book Buddies
Book Buddies is an especially great way to help animals who are displaying fear, stress and anxiety from being in the shelter. Talking to them in the steady voice we use when we are reading helps them to calm down and decompress.
Book Buddies is geared towards children ages 6-17 and their parents. It is also a wonderful way to help the animals if you cannot commit to becoming a long term volunteer.
Groups of 9 people or less are welcome to come in anytime between the hours of 11am and 6pm, Tuesday through Sunday.
Minors (under 18) require an adult chaperone. An adult can chaperone no more than 3 minors at a time.
Please complete the Reading to Animals waiver in advance. Paper copies are also available when you arrive.
For groups of 10 or more, please contact the volunteer team at volunteer@animalfoundation.com to set up an appointment.
Do you have an artistic child who loves animals?
Sketch-a-Pet
Sketch-a-Pet is the perfect way for them to showcase their talents while helping homeless animals!
Children can draw on our large sketchpads and take their drawings home with them, or we can provide them with smaller, prompted sheets that are sized to be displayed on our dog's kennels!
Your child's presence will help our shelter pets relax and get them used to children. Not only that, but if your child displays their art on a dog's kennel, it can showcase the dog's best qualities and make them more adoptable.
Sketch-a-Pet is geared toward children between the ages of 6-12. While there is no upper age limit, all children must be at least 6, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Click here to sign up for Sketch-a-Pet.
Visiting volunteer groups are able to come take dogs on a group field trip. Either take them to the park next to our campus or arrange separate transport for each dog to take them anywhere else!
Interested groups can sign up and complete a foster application here.
Participants must be at least 18 years of age. We will be able to accommodate a maximum of 10 individuals. A minimum of three individuals is required.
Watch the New Volunteer Orientation here!
New Volunteer Orientation