Volunteer

We rely entirely on volunteers to care for the homeless, abandoned, injured and special needs pets we care for. In fact, we are completely 100% volunteer-run. We are in constant need of volunteers to help in a variety of areas, including:

• Cage Cleaning: Help keep cats’ cages clean by refreshing their food and water, changing their paper and cleaning their litterboxes; our greatest need is in this area! Please e-mail Volunteer Coordinator Jill at savingpawsvolunteers@hotmail.com to see what days and times are available.

To see our June 2009 Cleaning schedule click here.

The following are days and shifts that would need cleaners to sign up:

Mondays AM and PM
Tuesday AM
Wednesdays AM
Thursdays AM
Friday AM and PM
Sunday PM

• Foster Care: Provide temporary care and shelter for litters of kittens or for pets recovering from surgery or who have special needs; we need foster homes for kittens, cats, puppies and dogs. Foster care SAVES LIVES! Every pet that is in foster care means one more pet we can save at the shelter! Read more about fostering here.
  

• PETCO and Petsmart Volunteers: sit at a table with an adoptable pet and hand out brochures; we need need help anytime between 11am-4pm on Saturdays and we also have Sunday opportunities available
  

• Post for the Paws (EASY & FUN!): Receive a bi-weeky e-mail with a Word document attached that lists adoptable pet photos and bios, that you print out and post in a community location of your choice (grocery stores, churches, schools, your place of employment, etc.) To be added to our e-mail list, just e-mail info@savingpaws.com!

  Click HERE to view our current Post for the Paws listing.

• Fundraising Opportunities: Help selling items such as candy bars and baked goods; generate ideas for other ways to help raise money
  

• Special Events: Staff booths at special events and help out at our fundraisers
  

• Veterinarians & Vet Techs: Volunteer your time and talents by providing spays/neuters, check-ups and other care for cats and kittens; we need veterinary partners who are willing to donate services at a reduced fee

• Handymen and Handywomen: We often need help putting up fencing, installing equipment and other odd jobs around the shelter

• On-call Help: We occasionally need volunteers to distribute information, pick up supplies and/or other donated items and other miscellaneous tasks

If you would like to volunteer for Saving Paws, please complete a Volunteer Application. You can download the Volunteer Application  and e-mail it to Jill, our Volunteer Coordinator at savingpawsvolunteers@hotmail.com or send it to Saving Paws, P.O. Box 362, Appleton, WI 54912-0362. Jill will then contact you regarding available volunteer opportunities.   Volunteer applications sent to Jill via email will have a 1-3 business day response time, while mailing applications to our PO Box could take a few weeks for processing depending on the postal service.

If you have any questions or would like an application emailed or mailed to you, please contact Jill. She can be reached at savingpawsvolunteers@hotmail.com.

Volunteers who work with our pets must be 14 years of age to volunteer alone; volunteers ages 10-13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when volunteering at our shelter. Volunteers for our Post for the Paws program and most fundraising activities can be any age. Please note that we do not have any volunteer opportunities at this time to work hands-on with the dogs (except for our dog foster care homes).

We could not help our pets without our volunteers! Your efforts make a tremendous difference. Thank you in advance for your interest in helping the pets we save together!

• Download Volunteer Application as a Word document (to e-mail back to us)
• Download Foster Care Home Application

** Please note if e-mailing: please add savingpawsvolunteers@hotmail.com to your "safe" e-mail list. Jill responds to all e-mail requests. If you do not hear from her within 2-3 business days, please check your junk/spam e-mail folder or e-mail her again.

Come have fun with us - we need you! View our Volunteer Photo Gallery

Without our volunteers, we could not save the homeless pets we have saved. Read about some of our core volunteers who have gone above and beyond to help homeless pets on the Saving Paws April 2008 Lifesaver Awards page.