Share your love of animals by volunteering at Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh. Volunteering is such a rewarding experience that provides a great sense of purpose and stewardship. With multiple opportunities and aspects of our volunteer program, finding a way to give back to your community and the animals we take care of is as simple as can be. 

With our two shelter locations and Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, we rely on more than 800 volunteers for their time, love, and support. Compassionate, dedicated volunteers are essential to our programs and services across the organization, and it is important to us that volunteering be a meaningful experience for everyone who participates. 

Where can you give your love? Getting your steps in by walking our dogs? Cuddling our cats? Opening up your home to an animal that needs a little more comfort while waiting for their fur-ever home, or are you one who likes to walk on the Wild Side? Learn more about all the different ways you can make an impact when you reach out to Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh to find out where you can volunteer.

Making an Impact at Our Shelters

At our shelters, we have an enhanced safety and training program to provide new skills and learning, and to increase the adoptability of our animals. Our animal handling volunteers become more skilled in understanding animal behavior and communications and how to help modify behavior problems and fearfulness.

Taking part in an info session, submitting an application, and providing requested background clearances, as well as completing Fear Free Certification are all part of our prerequisites to volunteering at either of our domestic shelter locations. 

Much of this process is self-paced, and only takes a few weeks before you’re ready to start making a difference. After mentoring during your first few shifts you’ll be ready to commit to a weekly schedule with a minimum of 2 hours per week in a specific assignment recommended by the Volunteer Manager such as dog walking, cat cuddling and more.

We ask that shelter volunteers be at least 16 or older; adults must be able to work independently without direct supervision or with minimal special accommodation. Volunteers under the age of 18 will need to volunteer alongside a parent or guardian.

Thinking About Being a Foster Parent?

Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh turns away no animal in need. This results in an overabundance of cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, and small animals; especially during the warmer months. Thousands of homeless animals enter our shelters each year and many are not quite ready for adoption and require the love and care of a foster family to prepare them for their forever home.

We depend on a unique and dedicated group of foster volunteers to help us save more lives! By fostering a homeless animal, you can experience the joys of being a pet parent without the lifetime of responsibility.

When it comes to fostering we’re looking for volunteers who have spare space for these animals to be separate from your own pets (possible for up to several months), those who have enough free time to set aside for at least an hour every day.

It is important to understand that it can be very difficult to let go once you have become emotionally attached to the animals. Just know that the love you give means they are more likely to find a forever home!

To help you out, Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh does provide all necessary medication and medical care, food and litter (when donations are available) and education on how to care for your foster animal.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side!

At our Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, volunteers receive hands-on experience working with Pennsylvania’s native wildlife and the satisfaction of helping these injured and orphaned wild animals, who probably would not survive otherwise.

Volunteering at our Wildlife Rehabilitation Center means you’ll be working alongside our menagerie of educational animal ambassadors which includes twenty-six wild and domestic animals who assist our Humane and Wildlife Education Department with a mission of teaching the public about the interesting habits and characteristics of these creatures. Several of these animals also serve greater roles in wildlife rehabilitation, fostering injured and orphaned patients of their shared species in our clinic. In fact, most of our ambassadors were once patients themselves, but sustained permanent injuries or impressions that prevent them from being reintroduced to life in the wild. Some of these educational representatives can attend off-site programs and events, while others remain on our Wildlife Rehabilitation Center’s campus.

Helping out at our location in Verona is as simple as taking part in an info session, submitting an application, and providing requested background clearances, as well as proof of Tetanus vaccination. Like our shelter volunteering, much of this process is self-paced, but should not take any longer than a few weeks. Training in certain areas must also be completed prior to the first shift. Mentoring during the first few shifts is also required for certain areas. Qualified potential volunteers will be asked to commit to a weekly schedule and a minimum of 4 hours per week in a specific assignment recommended by the Volunteer Manager and agreed to by the volunteer.

As noted before, volunteers must be age 16 or older; adults must be able to work independently without direct supervision or with minimal special accommodation. Volunteers under the age of 18 will need to volunteer alongside a parent or guardian.

Where do I sign up!?

Ready to join the 800 individuals who have chosen to help us come to the rescue of thousands of animals per year? Learn more about our open volunteer opportunities at our website at humaneanimalrescue.org/volunteer or email volunteer@humaneanimalrescue.org to get started!