Volunteer

Lend a Paw & Make a Difference

Time, compassion, and a heart for helping animals—that’s all you need to make a difference! Whether you’re socializing pets, supporting events, or helping behind the scenes, your time and dedication change lives. Join our community of volunteers and be a part of the lifesaving work at Heidi’s Village!

Volunteer Opportunities

At Heidi’s Village, volunteers play a vital role in ensuring the health, happiness, and well-being of the animals in our care. Whether you’re lending a hand in our veterinary clinic, assisting with special events, or working directly with dogs and cats, there’s a meaningful way for everyone to get involved.

Opportunities range from providing support in our on-site veterinary clinic to helping our team throughout the Village. If you love hands-on work with animals, you can help socialize and care for our animals, ensuring they receive the attention, enrichment, and exercise they need. For those who enjoy community engagement, special event volunteers make a big impact by helping with event setup, guest interactions, and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

No matter your role, every volunteer at Heidi’s Village is part of a compassionate community working together to improve the lives of animals in need. Whether you’re here once a week or once a month, your contribution makes a difference!

At Heidi’s Village, volunteers play a vital role in supporting the health, happiness, and well-being of the animals in our care. Whether you’re lending a hand in our veterinary clinic, assisting with special events, or helping in other meaningful ways throughout the Village, there is a place for everyone to get involved.

Volunteer opportunities range from supporting our on-site veterinary clinic to assisting our team across the Village. If you enjoy hands-on animal care, volunteers can help support the cats in our care by providing attention, enrichment, and companionship. For those who enjoy community engagement, special event volunteers make a big impact by helping with event setup, guest interactions, and making sure everything runs smoothly.

If you are specifically interested in volunteering with dogs, we encourage you to connect directly with our Rescue Partners who regularly board at Heidi’s Village and offer volunteer opportunities of their own. These organizations provide wonderful ways to get involved and make a difference in the lives of dogs in need:

No matter your role, every volunteer connected to Heidi’s Village is part of a compassionate community working together to improve the lives of animals in need. Whether you’re here once a week or once a month, your contribution truly makes a difference.

Feline Friend

If you’re a cat lover looking for a rewarding way to help, becoming a Feline Friend is the perfect fit! Volunteers in this role ensure our cats and kittens have a clean, comfortable, and enriching space while they wait for their forever homes. Whether you’re tidying up their environment or offering gentle socialization, your time makes a big impact on their well-being.

What you’ll do:
  • Keep cat areas fresh and cozy by washing laundry, dishes, and cleaning spaces.
  • Scoop and refresh litter boxes to keep everything tidy.
  • Help create fun and engaging experiences by preparing toys and enrichment activities.
  • Once trained, spend quality time socializing with cats and kittens to help build their confidence.
  • Observe and report any health or behavior changes to staff.
Getting started:
  • Volunteers must complete at least two hours of laundry and dish cleaning before handling cats.
  • Cat handling requires a minimum of two hours of training to ensure volunteer and animal safety.
What makes a great fit:
  • A patient, gentle approach—some cats may be shy or need extra time to warm up.
  • A keen eye for observing cat behavior and following staff guidance.
  • Willingness to assist with both cleaning and socialization to keep the cats happy and healthy.
  • Physical ability to bend, lift, and move around comfortably.

Whether you’re offering a cozy lap to a sleepy kitten or enriching the day of a playful cat, your time as a Feline Friend truly makes a difference. Join us and help give our feline friends the love and care they deserve!

Canine Companion

If you love dogs and want to make a difference, our Canine Companion role offers a unique opportunity to support rescue animals in a shelter environment. Because Heidi’s Village provides boarding and care for dogs from multiple rescue organizations, volunteers working directly with animals must have authorization from the rescue group that owns the dog—but don’t worry, we’ll help facilitate that process!

This role requires animal handling experience and training, as most of our dogs are not easy, well-socialized pets. Volunteers start with essential support tasks and can progress through training levels to gain more hands-on experience with dogs of varying temperaments.

What you’ll do:
  • Help maintain a clean and safe environment by washing laundry, cleaning dishes, and assisting with general upkeep.
  • Provide enrichment by preparing toys, treats, and activities to keep dogs mentally stimulated.
  • Once trained and approved, engage in dog socialization, yard time, and exercise based on experience level.
  • Observe and report any health or behavior concerns to staff.
Training & Experience Levels:
  • Start with support tasks (laundry, cleaning, enrichment prep) for at least two hours before moving on.
  • With proper training and rescue authorization, volunteers progress through handling levels, starting with the easiest dogs and working up as they gain experience.
  • Advanced handling opportunities are available for dedicated volunteers who complete required training and demonstrate skill in working with shelter dogs.
What makes a great fit:
  • Patience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn.
  • Understanding that these dogs are in a shelter setting and may require extra care and caution.
  • Ability to take direction from staff and work within safety guidelines.
  • Physical ability to bend, lift, and be active in an outdoor setting.

This is a rewarding opportunity to help dogs in need, but it requires training, patience, and a commitment to learning. If you’re ready to build skills and make a lasting impact, we’d love to have you on our volunteer team!

Vet Care Crew

If you’re passionate about animal care and want to support lifesaving medical work, our veterinary clinic is the perfect place to lend a hand! As a Vet Care Volunteer, you’ll assist behind the scenes to help keep our medical space clean, organized, and running smoothly while our veterinary team provides essential care to animals in need.

What you’ll do:
  • Help maintain a clean and sanitized clinic by disinfecting surfaces, surgical equipment, and instruments.
  • Keep things tidy by washing laundry and dishes to ensure our medical team has everything they need.
  • Pitch in where needed to support staff, whether it’s keeping windows sparkling or tackling other important tasks.
What makes a great fit:
  • Dependable and flexible, with a willingness to assist wherever help is needed.
  • Comfortable working in a medical setting near surgeries and exams.
  • Able to take direction from staff and work well in a team environment.
  • Physically able to stand, bend, reach, and lift as needed.
Getting started:
  • To ensure a smooth transition into the clinic, volunteers are asked to spend time volunteering with us regularly before stepping into this role.
  • Previous experience is preferred.

Every task you take on helps our veterinary team focus on what they do best—providing top-notch medical care to animals in need. Join us and make a difference behind the scenes!

Event Crew

Love variety and fast-paced environments? As an Event Crew Volunteer, you’ll help make our events a success—whether it’s an adoption fair, a fundraiser, or an on-site gathering at Heidi’s Village. This role is perfect for energetic, outgoing individuals who enjoy engaging with the public and working as part of a team.

What you’ll do:
  • Welcome and assist event attendees, providing information and answering questions.
  • Support event setup and breakdown, including tables, displays, and equipment.
  • Help with logistics such as check-in, managing crowds, or guiding guests.
  • If trained, assist with handling animals at adoption and outreach events.
  • Keep things running smoothly by jumping in where help is needed.
What makes a great fit:
  • Outgoing and adaptable, with a positive attitude in busy environments.
  • Comfortable engaging with the public and providing clear information.
  • Able to stay calm and professional while managing event logistics.
  • Physically able to assist with tasks like setting up or moving equipment.

Opportunities for this role vary depending on upcoming events, so keep an eye out for new ways to get involved. Whether you’re helping a pet find their forever home at an adoption event or ensuring a fundraiser runs seamlessly, your efforts have a direct impact on our lifesaving mission!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer group volunteer activities?

Yes! We welcome corporate groups, school clubs, and community organizations for special volunteer projects. Group activities typically focus on tasks like facility beautification, preparing enrichment items for animals, or assisting with special events. If your group is interested, please reach out in advance so we can coordinate the best opportunity for you!

How old do I have to be to volunteer?

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to participate at Heidi’s Village. Many of our roles involve hands-on animal care and require specialized training to ensure the safety of both volunteers and pets. We appreciate your enthusiasm for helping animals, and we encourage those under 18 to explore other ways to support Heidi’s Village, such as donation drives or fundraising efforts!

Can I complete court-ordered or school-credit community service?

Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate court-ordered or school-credit community service due to the nature of our volunteer roles. Most positions require training, the ability to work independently, and a focus on animal handling and safety, which do not align with short-term service requirements.

Still have questions?

Feel free to contact our Volunteer team here.

Become a Heidi's Village Volunteer in 2 Easy Steps!

Step 1:

Step 2:

Register to Become a Volunteer

Connect With Our Volunteer Team

Our Volunteer Team will reach out within 72 hours with more details, answer any questions, and guide you through the next steps in your volunteering journey!

Become a Heidi's Village Volunteer in 2 Easy Steps!

Step 1:

Register to Become a Volunteer

Step 2:

Connect With Our Volunteer Team

Our Volunteer Team will reach out within 72 hours with more details, answer any questions, and guide you through the next steps in your volunteering journey!

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