VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES

ANIMAL CARE

Cat Enrichment

Love cats and kitties? Well we can’t think of a better task for you! Help socialize and play with the cute, little critters!

Dog Enrichment

Love dogs and puppies? Here at BARCS, we have over 100 dogs that need walked daily. What could be more rewarding than taking a doggie out for some fresh air? Hmmm… nothing I can think of!

Transporter

Got a car? Volunteer transporters will assist taking animals from the shelter to vet appointments, rescues, foster parents, events, etc. Transporters also assist in picking up donations for the shelter.

Dog/Cat Caretaker

Volunteers can help keep the dog kennels and cat cages clean and safe for the little fuzzies. You can deliver toys and blankets to them too… they love that!

Dog Trainer

After volunteering with the dogs for a while, you can become involved with helping to train them on basic behaviors! This really helps keep them mentally stimulated and happy, and increases their chances of being adopted.

Offsite Cat Caretaker, Petco in Halethorpe

Shifts are available in A.M. and P.M., 7 days a week at the Halthorpe Petco, which houses some of the BARCS cats. You will clean the kitties’ cages, and play/socialize with them too!

Play Group

Talk about fun! After volunteering with the dogs for a while, you can get involved with our off-leash play group. The dogs are allowed to play together in an environment that focuses on behavior, training, and fun!

Foster Parent (Note: There is a separate application to become a foster parent).

Foster parents will open their home to an animal until the animal is adopted. Foster parents will be in charge of feeding, exercising, training, socializing and taking care of the animal as if it where their own. They will also be responsible for talking with potential adopters by giving them information about the animal and taking the animal to adoption events. Foster parents should know that adopting an animal out to a good home can take just a few days or up to several months.

CUSTOMER SERVICE VOLUNTEER
Greeter

Welcome customers and keep them informed of where they are in the adoption process. Smile!!

Matchmaker

Matchmakers escort customers into the shelter and assist them in selecting an animal. Matchmakers will also give out information on animal care, answer questions, and give suggestions. You must be trained in animal handling in order to become a matchmaker.

Adoption Counselor

Adoption counselors are quite lucky, as they get to witness a BARCS animal leaving to go to their new home! Duties include educating about animal care (preventative care, food, exercise, training, socialization, crating, grooming, vet visits, etc) and reviewing adoption paperwork, such as the animal’s medical history.

Office Assistant

Assist with general office duties such as greeting guests, answering phones, taking messages, filing, basic computer work, answering general e-mail, and entering data (volunteer hours, newsletter list, etc).

Home data entry and office work is also needed!

Intake

After volunteering at BARCS for a while, you may want to assist with the animal drop off procedures. Volunteers will record information about the animal being surrendered, assist in giving options to the person surrendering the animal, and explain the shelter policies and procedures upon surrendering.

Pet Locator

Pet locators work at connecting lost and found companion animals with their owners. They will also make phone calls for potential matches or to update files.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS VOLUNTEER
Events/Fundraising/Outreach

Volunteers will assist with various community and shelter events to represent BARCS. These events consist of fundraising events, educational events, outreach events, etc.

Low-cost Vaccination Clinic

Vaccination Clinics are held the first Saturday of every month from 9a-12p. Volunteers assist with customer service, filling out paperwork, education, etc.

Educator

Volunteer educators will assist in creating handouts for the shelter, shelter events, and education outreach programs. The information will include things such as animal care, shelter services and programs, adoptions, training methods, etc.

Fundraising

Any experience in fundraising? We’re a non-profit organization, so helping us raise money to help Baltimore City’s homeless animals is extremely important.

Marketing

Any experience in marketing and advertising? Help get BARCS’ name into the community!

OTHER
Laundry/Dishes

Over 11,000 animals per year! That’s a lot of laundry and dishes! We need help washing, folding, and organizing.

Decorator

Do you have a creative streak? If so, you can assist with decorating the lobby and hallways for specials and holidays! This needs to be done on a monthly basis.

Writing

How’s your writing? Assist with drafting/writing grants, newsletters, articles, animal bios, etc.

Graphic Design

Calling all technologically-inclined volunteers! Assist with our website, create signs, etc.

Photography

A cute picture of a BARCS dog or cat certainly helps with getting that adorable animal adopted. If you have photography skills, you can assist in taking pictures for our website, for events, etc.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Landscaping

Assist with gardening, weeding, planting, trash pick-up, snow removal, and other landscaping projects around the shelter.

Painting

Assist with painting projects around the shelter.

General Cleaning and Organizing

Assist in sprucing up the hallways, lobbies, etc. Laundry and dishes fall into this category too!

Do you have any other ideas of how to volunteer at BARCS? Please contact the Volunteer Manager with your suggestions. Thank you.