Volunteering at DuPage County Animal Services
DuPage County Animal Services welcomes volunteers who support our mission and desire to make a contribution to the welfare of animals in our community. Volunteers at Animal Services play a crucial role in helping to care for the animals, as well as provide enrichment, training, and socialization for the animals in our care.
Group volunteer opportunities - Animal Services is not able to accommodate groups for one-time volunteer opportunities.
The majority of volunteer opportunities are Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00-4:30.
Please review the requirements and open positions. Information on upcoming orientations can be found below the position listings.
Requirements:
- Volunteers must be 18 years old to volunteer on their own.
- Children must be a minimum of 10 years old. Any children between the ages of 10-17 must volunteer with a parent or legal guardian.
- Volunteers commit to a weekly time-slot.
- Adult volunteers commit to 6 months of volunteering.
- Children between the ages of 10-17 commit to 3 months of volunteering.
- Volunteers must complete all required training prior to volunteering.
Open Volunteer Positions
Adoption Cat Room Cleaning - Volunteers provide care for adoption cats by cleaning their cages, feeding them, and documenting behavior or medical observations. This is an important role and helps to reduce stress and keep cats healthy, while they await their forever home. This position involves direct contact with adoption cats.
- Monday mornings 8:00 AM
- Tuesday morning 8:00 AM
Clean Freak - Volunteers help to care for the animals by washing and sanitizing food bowls, litter boxes, toys and carriers. This role is essential for the health and well-being of the animals in shelter.
- Tuesdays 10:00 AM, alternating weeks
- Thursdays 5:00 PM, weekly position - *position pending*
- Saturdays 10:00 AM, alternating weeks
Rabbit Socializers - Many rabbits arrive at the shelter in need of proper care and socialization. Volunteers spend time quietly sitting with rabbits, grooming them, and getting them out of their cages for exercise. Rabbit handling experience required.
- Friday afternoons any time between 12:00-4:00
Orange Paw Dog Volunteer
Experienced Medium-Large Dog Handling Volunteers help staff increase adoptability and sociability, reduce anxiety, work through moderate behavior issues, implement moderate behavior modification, and provide calming enrichment activities. Staff may not have formally evaluated Orange Paw dogs yet, but have determined the dogs do not have any severe behavior issues or safety concerns. Orange Paw Volunteers should be comfortable handling large dogs.
- Must be 18 and over
- Flexible Schedule
- Orange Paw Dog Volunteers are required to have one of the following credentials: Certified Professional Dog Trainer Knowledge Assessed (CPDTKA), Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPACTP), Canine Training Center (CTC) or Animal Behavior College (ABCDT) OR 2+yrs of volunteer experience in an open admission shelter.
Volunteer Orientation and Onboarding
If you are available for one of the above positions, please email the appropriate volunteer coordinator by clicking one of the following links:
- Canine Volunteer Coordinator - caroline.rzewnicki@dupagecounty.gov
- General Volunteer Coordinator - dina.schubert@dupagecounty.gov
DCAS continues to welcome new foster volunteers. More information on becoming a foster volunteer
