become a volunteer

Volunteer Opportunities

Dog Socializers

This position works directly with the dogs, providing them consistent touch, training, and basic needs fulfillment. Volunteers will help dogs by walking them and providing human to canine socialization time. Many volunteers will find they prefer to work with small/large dogs, shy/fearful dogs, high energy dogs, or dogs that are showing signs of stress at the shelter.

Tier 3 Trained Dog Socializers

Our Tier 3 dogs are those that have special behavioral needs and directives. They are often graduates of our behavior modification programs and/or have difficulty coping with the shelter environment. Our Tier 3 trained volunteers help provide socialization, exercise, and stress reduction to our Tier 3 dogs. They help set this population of dogs up for success, through consistent and appropriate handling and behavior and training training techniques.

Cat Socializers

This position works directly with the cats, providing them consistent touch and basic needs fulfillment. This volunteer role is also about keeping a clean, healthy environment in Cat Adoption.

CBC Support (Support Role at the Canine Behavior Center

CBC Support volunteers assist the staff with a variety of tasks. These tasks may include: Preparing and distributing enrichment, preparing food/treats, doing laundry, cleaning and restocking, and fulfilling other duties as needed. In addition to general support tasks, CBC support volunteers may be called on to assist with behavioral modification sessions (under the direct supervision of staff) such as serving as an unfamiliar person to greet dogs during assessments or behavior treatments.

Canine Care Team

Volunteers help the Canine Care Team with a variety of tasks. These include cleaning and sanitizing kennels, picking up and distributing blankets and toys, and providing food and water to dogs. These volunteers may also be asked to help get housebroken dogs out for potty breaks.

Feline Care Team

Volunteers support the Feline Care Team with a variety of tasks. These include cleaning and sanitizing kennels, picking up and distributing blankets and toys, and providing food and water.

Follow-up Liaison– As Needed

This is a customer service position contacting adopters via e-mail. This rewarding position allows Wayside to get feedback about how animals are doing in their new homes, as well as learn more about the customers overall Wayside experience.

Humane Education Instructors – As Needed

This volunteer opportunity is specifically geared toward individuals who are interested in teaching groups of students in the classroom setting or facilitating tours and service learning programs at Wayside Waifs. This position will teach pet safety, the importance of treating animals humanly, and leading service activities that directly benefit the animals.

Waif Runners

Waif Runners run with our dogs. This healthy exercise opportunity helps our adoptable dogs to release energy, reduce stress, improve health, and get much needed mental stimulation while at the shelter.

Meet & Greet Specialist (Cats and Dogs)

This position works directly with the public. This is a scheduled position where volunteers help potential adopters meet Wayside animals. Volunteers are on the floor as a resource to help the public select, meet, and become acquainted with potential new family members.

TABBY (To Achieve Best Behavior Yet)

This position specializes in dealing with scared, shy, and unsocialized cats. Trained volunteers will work with cats that have been identified by staff. A running list of TABBY cats is maintained by the shelter to ensure they are getting the help they need.

Whiskers & Wags

Volunteers will help adopters pick out items for their new pet, give basic advice on owning a new pet, and answer questions about crate and litter box training. (All training on these subjects is provided.)

Animal Marketing Team – As Needed

Animal marketing volunteers help highlight our large variety of adoptable animals. Volunteers on the animal marketing team assist with digital photography, visual storytelling, and writing animal biographies for the website, and other marketing collateral.

Playgroups

Play is vitally important to our dogs’ mental and physical health. Playgroup volunteers lead play sessions between adoptable dogs, providing them an opportunity for social interaction and exercise, in the form of supervised play with other dogs.

Cat to Cat Introductions

Volunteers supervise the interactions between two healthy cats. This is a wonderful form of enrichment to cats that enjoy the company of other cats and helps to reduce stress. Observations during Cat to Cat interactions help us determine which cats like other cats, and could eventually be housed together to increase their adoptability.

Administrative Support– As Needed

Administrative volunteers assist various departments (donor relations, volunteer, foster, and more) with a variety of administrative tasks to help strengthen our highly impactful programs and operations.

Special Events Volunteers– As Needed

Volunteers are needed to help with several fundraising and community events throughout the year. Volunteers are especially critical to the success of our two signature events, Fur Ball and Strutt with your Mutt, helping to making sure each event runs smoothly and our guests have an enjoyable experience.

Vet Clinic– As Needed

This position supports the Wayside Waifs Vet Clinic with non-medical needs. Volunteers will be asked to return animals to the adoption area, clean kennels, complete support tasks that help free up Vet Techs to care for animals, and enter surgery information into Pet Point. Volunteers are asked to make a strong six month commitment to the position and are interviewed before placement.

Volunteering FAQ

If you don’t find the information you’re looking for on this page, please call us 816-986-4431 or send us an email.

How to get started as a volunteer?

The first step towards becoming a volunteer is to sign up for a new volunteer information session. At our information sessions you’ll get a chance to learn more about the programs and services at Wayside Waifs, plus what you can expect as a volunteer. After a tour and Q & A session, you can decide if volunteering at Wayside Waifs is the right fit for you. Please click here to view the upcoming volunteer information session dates and sign-up for a session.

What do Volunteers do at Wayside?

We have a variety of opportunities available. From office work to socializing animals, working in the vet clinic to our retail store – we have something for everyone.

I signed up for a session – what happens next?

You will receive an email confirmation about the time and date of your session. You will learn everything you need to know about next steps in the volunteer process at the information session.

Is the information session required?

Yes. We want to ensure all new volunteers are properly trained and oriented. Time is spent with each new valued volunteer to make sure they are getting the most out of their volunteer experience and signing up for volunteer jobs that are of value to the organization and to the animals. This process helps to maintain the quality of our volunteer program.

Will I have training before I start volunteering?

The amount of training required varies by volunteer position. If you move forward in the application process, you will be given instructions and information regarding the required training for the volunteer position of your choice. Some of our training is completed online. Volunteers who handle animals receive hands-on specialized training in working with the animals in our care.

What is the time commitment to volunteer?

Volunteers must sign up for a minimum of 3 months of 2hr weekly shifts.

How old do I have to be to volunteer?

Volunteers need to be at least 16 years old, or between the ages of 13-15 with a parent or adult.

Are there opportunities for court ordered community service?

COURT-ORDERED COMMUNITY SERVICE

Wayside Waifs welcomes a limited number of applicants for our court-ordered community service program. We are not able to accept all applicants for this program. Selected applicants will need an interview to determine eligibility for this program and role placement. Wayside Waifs reserves the right to deny an applicant if they are not deemed to be a good fit for the organization or if their skills are not the right match for our current volunteer needs.

Our primary court-ordered community service volunteer opportunities include assisting the staff with duties such as washing dishes, washing laundry, scooping kennels, grounds care and other tasks as assigned.

· Applicants will need to complete an interview to determine eligibility for any of our court-ordered volunteer roles.

· All court-ordered community service volunteers are required to abide by all policies of Wayside Waifs.

· The shelter has the right to dismiss a volunteer from service at any time and for any reason.

· Volunteers that successfully complete their service hours will be given a verification letter for court.

· Volunteers must be able to work in a self-directed environment.

· Volunteers must complete their hours during our business hours or when an appropriate staff member is available.

Court-ordered volunteers may be placed within the animal care volunteer positions as long as they meet the qualifications for the role.

· In order to work in our hands-on animals roles, court-ordered community service volunteers must be willing to complete all required training and commit to 2 hours of volunteering once a week, for a minimum of 3 months.

· Verification will not be provided until the volunteer has completed their initial service commitment, even if the mandated hours are less than that.

THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO:

· Are at least 18 years old

· Are able to commit to a regular schedule and to follow through with their commitment

· Can provide written documentation from the court verifying the offense for which they are completing service hours.

THIS PROGRAM IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR OFFENDERS OF:

· Crimes involving animal mistreatment or abuse