Adult Volunteers

General Requirements:

• At least 18 years of age.  Volunteers under 18, see the Youth Volunteer Program.
• As a Shelter Volunteer, we ask that you commit to at least 8 hours per month. This requirement does not apply to Special Events Volunteers.
• Active volunteers must have an email address that is checked regularly, and have access to the internet, as important communications are sent via email.  
• Most volunteer positions work directly with the public, staff, and other volunteers. For this reason, it is important that our volunteers are able to communicate clearly, professionally, and politely. Volunteers must also be able to read and understand instructions and procedures.  

All volunteers should be able to: 

• Read and understand instructions and procedures.
• Regularly check their email.  
• Commit to one shift a week or 8 hours a month of volunteer service, for a minimum of 6 months.
• Work independently with minimal supervision after completing training. 
• Acknowledge personal limits and ask for guidance when unsure or in unfamiliar situations. 
• Accept and apply constructive feedback in a positive, growth-oriented manner. 
• Understand and respect the distinct roles of volunteers and staff members. 
• Maintain a positive, solution-focused mindset, especially in challenging or emotionally demanding situations.
• Understand the potential for injury and transmission of zoonotic diseases.

For those volunteering with animals specifically:

• Identify and respond appropriately to potentially dangerous situations. 
• Stay calm and composed around anxious, overstimulated, or reactive animals. 
• Use positive reinforcement exclusively when interacting with animals, demonstrating patience and confidence while avoiding dominance-based, punitive, or aversive training methods.
• Adapt to the dynamic nature of an animal shelter environment, which may be loud, fast-paced, unpredictable, messy, and occasionally odorous. This includes following the dress code to maintain safety standards.
• Multitask and react quickly to prevent escapes and safely retrieve animals if needed. 
• Bend, squat, or kneel to leash, harness, or occasionally lift animals when necessary. 
• Stand for extended periods while walking dogs, socializing cats and small animals, or cleaning enclosures. 
• Visually and audibly interpret animal body language and behavior. 
• Be comfortable working with animal feces, urine and other animal fluids with proper Personal Protective Equipment and training.

If you do not meet the above requirements, please email us at [email protected] or [email protected] for other ways to get involved at Oregon Humane or to discuss reasonable accommodation options.  

If you are unable to volunteer in person, we have many ways to help from home!

Please click on one of the Volunteer Application Links Above. 

• After you complete one of the following applications, complete the volunteer onboarding checklist on your Digital Cheetah homepage. This will include completing a background check, reviewing required documentation, and registering for a New Volunteer Orientation. Email us at [email protected] or [email protected] with questions.

Court-Mandated Service: Oregon Humane does not offer volunteer opportunities to fulfill court-mandated hours.

Students: We cannot accommodate students who are required to fulfill short-term community service hours, unless the student is volunteering as a Special Events Volunteer at a signature Oregon Humane event. See the Events page for details.

Short-term Volunteers: We do not accept short-term shelter volunteers due to extensive training requirements, except for our Special Events Volunteers.

Portland opportunities include (but are not limited to):

• In shelter animal care 
• Dog Walking 
• Cattery Assistant  
• Small Animal Care 
• Administrative Assistance and Data Entry
• Customer Care, Retail Store, and Food Bank help 
• Assist with Youth Volunteer and Education Programs 
• Special Events Volunteering
• Adoption Volunteers (both on-site and at off-site adoption events) 
• Technical/emergency animal rescue
• Assisting at one of our two medical centers 
• Grounds maintenance and facilities help 

Entry-level Salem volunteer opportunities:

• Dog Walking
• Kennel Buddy
• Cat Cleaning Assistant
• Animal Enrichment
• Spay and Neuter Clinic Reception
• Back of House Helper
• Special Events Volunteering

*Please note that not every volunteer position is available for drop-in and may require commitment to scheduled shifts.

Partner Pair program

Adults in need of a support person or guardian may also apply as part of our Partner Pair Program. Each individual needs to fill out an application, attend orientation, and complete all the trainings, whether you are the individual or the support person. If you do not share a last name or address, please message us.