GET
INVOLVED
VOLUNTEER WITH US.
Much of what we do to save animal lives depends on the help of volunteers. Volunteering is fun and rewarding, and it is also a great way to help the homeless animals. Just a few hours every week can make a big difference. Volunteers do many different kinds of things, including animal care (walking dogs, cleaning cat cages, etc.), doing animal adoption events, and much more.
Here are some FAQs about volunteering with MCSPCA
Q. How old do I have to be to work with the animals?
A. You must be at least 16 years old before you can walk dogs, work in the cat room, or otherwise have contact with any of the animals.
Q. If I’m under 16, can I still volunteer with the animals if I work alongside a parent or other adult?
A. Sorry, no. But, there are other ways you can help. See below.
Q. If I’m under 16, what jobs can I do?
A. You can help us by organizing a drive at your school or in your neighborhood to collect items from our Wish List that is under the “donate” tab. These donations are very helpful to us, since we use an enormous amount of supplies every year.
Q. Are there any other requirements for volunteering?
A. You should be able to read and communicate well enough to follow instructions. You should get along well with others, because you may have to work closely with staff members or other volunteers. But you should also have the ability to work independently – without close supervision. Dog-walkers need to be healthy and reasonably strong, since many of the shelter dogs pull hard when they’re on a leash. Also, you should check with your doctor before you start volunteering.
Q. Do you have a foster care program?
A. Yes, and the whole family can help with this rewarding job! We’re always looking for people who can provide temporary care and housing to young or ill animals. The animals would live with you for a period of a few weeks, until they can be returned for adoption. Contact the Foster Care Coordinator on the Contact Us page.
Q. Are there any jobs that do not involve contact with animals?
A. Yes! For example, we need help with website maintenance, and other computer-related jobs. These can be done right from your home! For more information, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator from the Contact Us page.
Q. Can I do more than one job? For example, can I clean cat cages and walk dogs?
A. We value enthusiastic volunteers, but we don’t want you to over-extend yourself.
Q. Is there a minimum time commitment?
A. If you have an animal-care job, we request that you agree to volunteer for at least two hours per week, for at least a year. Once you complete training, the staff will discuss the schedule with you and put your name on the open shift that works for you.
Q. Are there exceptions to the rules about time commitment and keeping a regular schedule?
A. Yes. Foster care is performed in your home, so there is no particular schedule. Event help is on an as-needed basis.
Q. What if I only need to do a certain number of hours for school?
A. You may be scheduled to help with a special event. Advance notice is required, usually at least two weeks. You can also organize a drive to gather items from our wish list. Keep track of how much time you spend on this project, and we’ll sign any documents required by your school.
Q. OK, I’d love to help! What’s the next step?
A. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Ashley Weil at info@mc-spca.org, or leave a message for her at the shelter by calling 842-8050. You can also fill out our volunteer application below.
VOLUNTEER OUTREACH PROGRAM.
Much of what the MC-SPCA does to save animal lives depends on the help of volunteers. Volunteering is fun and rewarding, and it is also a great way to help the homeless animals. Just a few hours every week can make a big difference. Volunteers do many different kinds of things, including animal care (walking dogs, cleaning cat cages, etc.), doing animal adoption events, and much more.
Find out more about our volunteer program and ways that you can help by attending one of our upcoming Volunteer Outreach meetings.
Upcoming meetings will be October 13th and 27th 9am at the Neena Rao Family Animal Care & Adoption Center, 1232 State Highway 5S Amsterdam NY 12010. Please RSVP to info@mc-spca.org to attend!
VOLUNTEER APPLICATION.
The Montgomery County SPCA is a non-profit charitable organization funded primarily through donations. Our purpose is the prevention of cruelty to animals, the promotion of education of current and potential pet owners about responsible pet ownership. We welcome the participation of those willing to represent our organization in accordance with our mission and philosophies.
Current Volunteers - Sign in and access our Volunteer Information Center here
EVENTS.
The Montgomery County SPCA is proud to have our adoptable pets featured on Steve Caporizzo’s Pet Connection on the first Wednesday of each month. The Pet Connection segment is on the 5:30 evening news on NEWS 10 ABC. Please Click Here to view past segments.
The Amsterdam Recorder features one of our adoptable pets every Saturday as “Pet of the Week” in print and online at www.recordernews.com.
