Get Involved
Volunteer Program
Looking for a way to match your skills and interests with your love for animals? The Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Boston needs your help. Our three Animal Care and Adoption Centers, our Spay Waggin' and administrative offices often need volunteers to help with everything from animal care to general office support; from staffing special events to working on creative projects. Whether it’s feeding our shelter animals or applying your communications, writing, graphic design or office skills, we have numerous and meaningful ways for you to get involved.
Volunteering at the ARL of Boston is not only personally rewarding, but you will learn new skills that can help build your resume.
Steps to Becoming an ARL Volunteer:
- Submit an application* (click here to fill one out). You must be at least sixteen years of age.
- If we have an appropriate volunteer position available, you will be contacted about attending a volunteer orientation.
Even if you have limited or no experience working with animals, the ARL of Boston will work with you to develop your confidence and skills. New volunteers typically begin assisting our shelter staff by helping with cleaning, laundry, restocking supplies and staffing events before being trained to work with animals. Volunteers are grouped into three tiers based on service and training level. Dog walking, cat care, rescue, and other opportunities may be available once volunteers have the training and confidence to work with animals on a one-to-one basis.
*Please note that the volunteer program is highly competitive and submission of an application does not guarantee placement.
Click here for volunteer news and highlights.
Volunteer Opportunities at the ARL of Boston Span
3 Specific Areas:
Direct Animal Care
- Morning kennel cleaning
- Laundry
- Feeding and dishes
- Litter box making
- Restocking supplies
- Reading to under-socialized animals outside of kennel
Animal Socialization
Staff Support
explanation Of ARL of Boston Volunteer Opportunities
Additional Opportunities:
Adoption Assistant: Work with potential adopters in our Adoption Centers helping to select an appropriate companion animal and provide basic behavioral and health-care information and counseling. Adoption Assistants also answer phone calls from the public and assist staff in preparing animals for adoption (i.e. holding animal during nail trims, etc.).
Canine Companion/Feline Friends: All dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens need regular exercise and socialization, and some of our shelter animals have special requirements. Volunteers give the shelter dogs and cats the extra TLC they deserve.
Morning Kennel Cleaner: Provide the staff with important behind the scenes help cleaning the Animal Care and Adoption Centers. Assist staff in preparing animals for adoption (i.e. holding animal during nail trims, etc.).
Laundry Aide
Mobile Clinic: Help our Spay Waggin’ team at our surgery locations assisting with animal care and surgery clean up.
Feel free to contact Debby Vogel, Volunteer Services Manager, at dvogel@arlboston.org or (617) 426-9170, ext. 170 with any questions or for more information.: Help launder (i.e. wash and dry) the towels and bedding used by the animals.
Adoption Center Maintenance Assistant: Assist our Facilities Coordinator with routine maintenance in one of our adoption centers. Changing light bulbs, painting, and raking are just some of the things that will help keep our adoption centers clean and inviting.
- Staffing the Mobile Adoption and Rescue Vehicle (MARV)
- Data Entry
- Canine Companion
- Feline Friend
- Phone callbacks
- Animal transport
- Small Animal Amigo
- Rescue Correspondent
- Behavior Helpline: Volunteers monitor the ARL of Boston's Behavior Helpline by responding to the messages left by the general public. The Helpline volunteers give assistance to pet owners experiencing behavioral challenges with their pet.
