Over the years, the volunteers of North Shore Animal League America have been essential to the organization’s rescue saving mission. On behalf of everyone at Animal League America®, we would like to say THANK YOU to our volunteers — for their continued support and dedication!
At Animal League America, we could not perform all of the hands-on work that we do without the help of an incredible team of dedicated volunteers!
In addition to possessing an abundant love for all animals, to be considered for a volunteer position, one must:
- Submit an online application
- Be 16 or 17 years of age for the VolunTEEN program. Please read about program below before applying.
- Be 18 years of age or older for the Adult Volunteer Program. The next orientations will be in January and March 2025.
- Be able to donate between 2 to 4 hours per week
- If selected, you will be required to attend an orientation and basic training class before starting to volunteer.
- Fully support all of Animal League America’s policies and philosophies.
Please Note: Volunteers must complete a criminal background check before being approved for assignment. Volunteers will be ineligible to enter the volunteer program if a background check shows any history of violent crimes, animal abuse/neglect, or drug-related charges. North Shore Animal League America reserves the right to deny eligibility to the volunteer program for any other criminal history not listed here.
Volunteer Opportunities
VolunTEEN Program
North Shore Animal League America’s VolunTEEN program gives high school students (ages 16-17) the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of homeless dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens awaiting responsible, loving homes at our Port Washington, N.Y. campus.
VolunTEENs are asked to commit to 2-4 hours each week for 3-4 months to assist our shelter staff in the adoption center with various tasks like cleaning cages, feeding and giving water to the animals, participating in enrichment and socialization activities, and creating bonds with grateful shelter pets that will last a lifetime.
The Volunteer Department recruits for the VolunTEEN program three times a year:
- The Fall Program: Recruitment for the fall program begins in August. The fall program is 2 hour shifts on the weekends September through December.
- The Winter Program: Recruitment for the winter program begins in December. The winter program is 2 hour shifts on the weekends January through April.
- The Summer Program: Recruitment for the summer program begins in May. The summer program is 4-hour shifts, any day of the week June through August.
There are many reasons why teens should be excited about joining the VolunTEEN Program at Animal League America. They’ll quickly learn that the work they are doing is not only meaningful and life-changing for our animals but can have a major impact on their own lives, as well. Besides being a great addition to a college application or a resume, it can also:
- Provide the vital skills necessary to properly care for future pets
- Teach responsibility and improve work ethic
- Encourage empathy and create kind, compassionate young adults
- Improve self-awareness
- Improve self-esteem
- Make a life-changing impact on countless dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens
- Cultivate a service-learning experience by providing optimal care for our rescue animals, while learning the importance of socialization, enrichment, and shelter functions
For more information, contact us directly at 516-373-3258, or e-mail [email protected] or fill out our online volunteer application.
Other Ways to Make an Impact
Students of all ages can help us create better lives for our deserving Mutt-i-grees at their own pace from wherever they live! Members of scout troops, sports teams, and all other community organizations and clubs across the country can create fundraisers or supply drives in support of Animal League America’s lifesaving mission.
Even the smallest contribution can create a world of difference in the lives of homeless animals. Below is a list of items you can donate to our shelter that will enrich the lives of all the animals we care for here. All items for collection should be new and unused.
Items for Collection
- Newspapers
- Towels
- Brushes/combs (cat and dog)
- Blankets
- Large metal serving spoons
- Paper towels
- Small hard plastic pet carriers
- Kuranda beds
For Cats
- Kitty litter boxes-all sizes, not hooded
- Cat toys
- Cat treats
- Small disposable cardboard scratching posts
- Hooded cat beds
For Dogs
- Dog beds
- Wee wee pads
- Kong toys
- Nylabones toys and bones
- Milk Bone dog biscuits
- Soft dog treats
- Peanut butter
Contact us directly at 516-373-3258, or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Preparing for Forever Homes One Adventure at a Time
The Adventure Club is dedicated to enriching the lives of our adoptable dogs by offering them a glimpse of the world beyond the shelter. Through positive, meaningful interactions with our trained volunteers, they get to experience new environments, fostering greater confidence and socialization. In addition to the joy these outings bring, they also offer our dogs valuable exposure to potential adopters in a relaxed, social setting—ultimately increasing their chances of finding a loving, responsible home.
For more information, contact us directly at 516-373-3258, or e-mail [email protected] or fill out our online volunteer application.
As a no-kill shelter, we make a commitment to care for all animals in need. As a result, we always have a group of special animals that need a level of individual care that is difficult to provide in a shelter environment, or the very small number of animals that have been in the shelter for an extended period of time that would benefit from a period of home care. All animals placed in foster care continue to receive the full range of services from the Animal League. Learn more.
Volunteers in the adoption center can help in the following areas: dog walking, socialization, feeding, cleaning, grooming, rescue, basic health care, training and obedience, adoption counseling, mobile adoption assistant, answering telephones, and making follow-up phone calls to adopters.
- Canine and Feline Pet Store Volunteers
- Community Outreach Feline Rescue Services Volunteer
- Community Outreach Feline Enrichment Volunteer
- Cat Area Volunteer
- Data Entry Volunteer
- Dog Walking Volunteer
- Feline Enrichment Volunteer
- General Reference Checking/Main Adoptions Volunteer
- Mutt-i-grees Education Program Volunteer
- Shelter Pet Outreach Team (SPOT) Volunteer
Volunteers in the medical center can help in the following areas: dog walking, socialization, vet tech aide, administrative assistant (includes record keeping, answering telephones, filing, scheduling appointments, etc.).
Can’t make it to our Port Washington campus? Here’s how you can become a virtual volunteer:
Join the ANIPALS™ Program: As an ANIPAL you can be a social media volunteer by sharing our posts and stories about the animals in our care and help them find loving homes.
Fundraise for Animals: You can help raise much-needed funds for our shelter pets by creating your own fundraising page in honor of a person, pet, or event. You can even raise funds while streaming you favorite online games!
Did you know that it costs an average of about $1,500 to prepare a homeless pet for adoption. Special needs animals cost much, much more. Because we receive no government funding, and precious little corporate support, we rely almost exclusively on individual donations and special events to support our lifesaving work. Volunteers aid our essential fundraising activities immensely, particularly helping out at our special events here at the Animal League, like our annual Pet Adoptathon™ and other adoption events throughout the year. Our events, and even office work, are always fun for everyone involved!
Volunteer opportunities in the Adirondack, NY Region.