Volunteer Needs

Volunteer Opportunities

Below are a few of our opportunities currently available through the RVSPCA. More are found on the Volunteer Application. You can participate in one or all of them, but we do ask for a regular time commitment and some require extra training as specified on the application.

Pet Therapy

The National Institutes of Health has recognized human-animal interaction as a form of therapy since 1987. Animals provide a way of reaching people when traditional methods fail. Animals are nonjudgmental and offer unconditional acceptance of all people, regardless of age or disability. Take your pet and visit residents of local nursing centers, adult day care centers, and other facilities.

Special Events

Special events include Information Booths, Satellite Adoptions, and the various fund-raisers held throughout the year. Duties vary according to the event, but may include transporting animals and education materials, answering questions and distributing information, and caring for the animals while away from the shelter. Before becoming a Special Events volunteer, a thorough knowledge of the RVSPCA services, mission, and goals is necessary. Whenever we are in contact with the public, we become ambassadors and educators for the RVSPCA.

Foster Care

Often the shelter takes in animals in need of extra care and attention, such as orphaned animals, newborn litters of puppies or kittens, and animals recovering from illness or injuries. Fostering may be needed from 2 weeks to 6 weeks, depending upon the need of the animal (s). We also look to foster out animals for short periods of time (2 weeks) until kennel space is available. The shelter provides you with food, medication (if needed) and veterinary care. Volunteers who have filled out an application and have been approved as foster care givers provide the extra TLC these animals require until they are ready for adoption. This volunteer activity requires extra time and commitment, but is very rewarding! Please fill out our Foster Care Application.
 

If any of these volunteer opportunities appeal to you, please complete an online application contact our Volunteer Coordinator Ann Marie Sweeney at 540-344-4840 Ext. 208 or via email at asweeney@rvspca.org