what can i do to help as a volunteer?

Listed below are all of the current DPVHS volunteer positions. As we expand our services to Hampden County, more volunteer opportunities will become available. Please check back frequently to find out about new volunteer opportunities!

foster care

Minimum Age: For everyone! Primary foster parent(s) must be 18 years or older, however, children are very welcome to assist with foster care when safe and appropriate. Primary foster parent must have transportation.
Commitment Level: You choose! You can decide to foster anywhere from two weeks to two months or more. And you can choose to foster just one time or many, many times. The more you foster, you more lives you help save!
Availability: Always available!

Do you love the antics of kittens but don't want your own cat to have a litter? Do you have a soft spot for shy or senior animals? Foster parenting might be for you!

Foster parents usually care for animals too young to be placed immediately up for adoption. Most of our fostering needs are temporary homes for litters of kittens. Some litters will have a mother, while some will need to be bottle fed. Some kittens will only need a week or two of foster care, while some may need as long as eight weeks before they are ready for adoption.

Our foster parents also help with special-needs animals. They might care for shy or nervous animals, who do not respond well to the adoption center environment, until they can find their forever home. Or they might provide long term (i.e. six months) temporary care to adult cats and dogs as part of our Safety Plan for Animals. Sometimes foster parents help an injured animal recover from surgery.

In all cases, foster parents provide food, cat litter, and other supplies for foster animals. DPVHS make arrangements for and pays for all medical care.

Our foster parents help DPVHS save hundreds of lives each year. If you want to be a part of this tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the life of an animal in need, click here to fill out our foster care application.

pet taxi driver

Minimum Age: 16 years of older with valid driver's license and insured vehicle
Commitment Level: You choose!
Availability: Always available! Click here to e-mail Coordinator of Volunteer Services.

Pet Taxi volunteers provide vital assistance with DPVHS transportation needs. Typical transports include: bringing animals to and from veterinary appointments; moving animal(s) and/or supplies between our Springfield and Leverett facilities; escorting an animal to and from a local groomer. there are also periodic transport needs that include longer trips between animal care facilities across the region or state.

Pet Taxi volunteers must have an e-mail address and regular e-mail access, as this is our means of communicating transport needs. Pet Taxi volunteers are "on call", therefore days and times (usually early morning or afternoon) will vary.

pet food bank program

Minimum Age: All ages welcome for pet food collection and bagging. The minimum age for a Pet Food Bank transport driver is 16 years- must have a reliable vehicle, valid driver's license and current e-mail address that is checked regularly.
Commitment Level: Pet food collection and bagging can be done a single time or on a regular basis. Transport drivers are signed up for a regular shift of two to four hours per week including driving. You choose!
Availability: Varies. Click here to e-mail Coordinator of Volunteer Services.

We are looking for groups and individuals who are interested in helping with our Pet Food Bank program. There are two ways to be involved: collecting and/or bagging food, and signing up for a transport shift.

We need volunteers who are interested in collecting dry cat food from relatives/friends/community members, and then coming in to our Springfield adoption center and bagging it for transport. Generally we are in greater need of dry cat food for this program, but dry dog food is also needed periodically. After the food collection, an appointment will be set up a time for you to come in, a tour of our building is given (if applicable), and then you would work on bagging the food you collected. Depending on whether or not you would like a tour, the total time you should plan to be here should be between one and three hours (no less than two hours if you would like a tour).

Transport drivers are also needed to pick up specially packaged cat and dog food from DPVHS and transport the food to an assigned location. The food is usually picked up from DPVHS Springfield, but, depending on the route and the driver’s needs, may be able to be picked up at DPVHS Leverett. Drivers transport the food to an assigned location, unload food, and place in handled bags for delivery drivers. Deliveries to homes are taken care of by a separate program, not DPVHS.

Pet Food Bank volunteers are encouraged to attend a welcome session, but it is not required. Please contact the Coordinator of Volunteer Services for more information on this program.

organizing projects, fundraisers, and "friendraisers"

Minimum Age: For everyone!
Commitment Level: You choose!
Availability: Always available! Click here to e-mail Coordinator of Volunteer Services.

The animals in our community need lots of friends and support to improve their health, safety, and welfare, as well as to help homeless animals find their forever homes. Your creativity and energy can make a tremendous difference to animals in need.

Collecting Wish List items is a very popular and easy way to make an immediate difference for DPVHS. You may also choose to work towards increasing awareness in our community of DPVHS and animal welfare. Possible focal points include promoting animals currently available for adoption at DPVHS, encouraging people to spay/neuter their animals, alerting people to the services that DPVHS provides, and much more!

If you would be interested in organizing a project to benefit DPVHS, please contact the Coordinator of Volunteer Services to get started.

DPVHS community spay/neuter clinic volunteering in springfield

Minimum Age: 18 years or older
Commitment Level: Long-term preferred (6+ months, one shift a week)
Availability: Varies

The DPVHS Community Spay/Neuter Clinic is looking for volunteers to supplement staff resources so more animals can be spayed/neutered each day and to increase the effectiveness of the clinic. No experience is required, but volunteers must be able to work independently, be motivated and detail-oriented. Primary volunteer duties for all clinic volunteers include: laundry washing/drying/folding, cage & floor cleaning, and surgical instrument prep & pack. Please note, the clinic only operates during the week and volunteers are only needed between the hours of 10am and 4pm (no evenings or weekends). If you are interested in pursuing a volunteer position in the clinic, please click here to e-mail Coordinator of Volunteer Services for more information.

adoption center greeter

Minimum Age: 18 years or older
Commitment Level: Long-term (6+ months, one shift a week)
Availability: Varies. Attend a Welcome Session to find out more.

Adoption center greeters are often the first point of contact for adoption center visitors. Greeter volunteers help the adoption center staff by welcoming and assisting our visitors, as well as direct the flow of traffic in our adoption areas during busy times. Greeters must enjoy working with the public and have customer service experience. Greeters must be able to understand and professionally communicate DPVHS policies and procedures. This position is available only during Adoption Center open hours.

After volunteering for at least a year, greeter volunteers may be eligible to train to become an Adoption Matchmaker. Adoption Matchmakers work in-depth with adoption applicants to find the perfect, forever adoption matches. Extensive knowledge of animal behavior, care, and DPVHS policies and procedures is required. This knowledge would be gained through initial volunteer work as a greeter and through additional Matchmaker training.

adoption center helper

Minimum Age: 16 years or older
Commitment Level: Long-term, or as needed
Availability: Varies. Attend a Welcome Session to find out more.

Adoption center helpers assist the staff with a variety of tasks. Responsibilities will vary depending on DPVHS's needs, but can include general cleaning, laundry, dishes, photocopying, putting away donations, etc. Days and hours for this position are flexible depending on DPVHS needs.

closing helper

Minimum Age: 16 years or older
Commitment Level: Long-term (6+ months, one shift a week)
Availability: Varies. Attend a Welcome Session to find out more.

Closing helpers assist with general cleaning of the facilities and with animal care. Tasks can include cleaning dog kennels and cat cages, feeding/watering dogs and cats, doing laundry and dishes, and general cleaning. Closing helpers must be comfortable working around and cleaning animal waste; must be able to bend, stoop, and lift awkward objects. Closing helper shifts are 3-6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,, 4-7 p.m. Thursday, and 3-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

morning animal caregiver

Minimum Age: 16 years or older
Commitment Level: Long-term (6+ months, one shift a week)
Availability: Varies. Attend a Welcome Session to find out more.

Animal Caregivers maintain cleanliness and perform a variety of jobs that help make the adoption centers a comfortable and healthy place for the animals and our customers. Tasks can include cleaning dog kennels and cat cages, feeding/watering dogs and cats, doing laundry and dishes, and general cleaning. Animal caregivers must be comfortable working around and cleaning animal waste; must be able to bend, stoop and lift awkward objects.

After volunteering at least one year, animal caregiver volunteers may be eligible to train to become an Enrichment Volunteer. Enrichment Volunteers work in-depth with adoption center animals to improve adoptability and decrease stress. This is an advanced position that is held by experienced DPVHS volunteers, or volunteers who come to DPVHS with appropriate professional experience and/or training.

office assistant