Volunteer at the ASPCA Recovery & Rehabilitation Center

Currently, our primary volunteer needs are for the Shelter Support and Administrative Support roles. These critical roles directly support our operations by assisting with daily tasks under the guidance of R&R Center staff. We anticipate adding roles that include direct animal handling in the future.

The Shelter Support role includes:

• Laundry
• Sorting donated goods
• Cleaning/resetting empty animal enclosures
• Stocking supplies
• Washing and sanitizing dishes
• Washing transport cages
• And additional support as needed

Shelter Support volunteer tasks will necessitate that the volunteer be able to stand unassisted for up to three hours and be able to lift up to 35 pounds.

The Administrative Support role includes:

• Scanning and filing documents
• Tagging animal collars
• Organizing and tidying common use spaces
• Sorting through donations
• Preparing information packets and materials
• And additional support as needed

Administrative Support responsibilities necessitate efficiency and familiarity with computers. This includes web browsing, Microsoft Word, Excel and basic data entry.

If you are unable to volunteer at this time, we have an ongoing need for foster caregivers throughout the year; visit our R&R Center Foster page to learn more! Thank you for your support and desire to help animals in need!

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. We do not currently accept volunteers needing to fulfill court-appointed community service requirements and are not able to accommodate single-day or group volunteer opportunities.

If you are under 18 years old and are looking to volunteer with the ASPCA, you can find more opportunities at the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City.

We ask prospective volunteers to consider their personal schedule before applying. We ask that volunteers commit to, at minimum, a two-hour shift once a week for a consecutive three months of service.

Yes! Volunteers who complete their minimum commitment of three months of service and are in good standing are welcome to continue to volunteer on a regular weekly basis for as long as they wish.

Volunteers typically work in close proximity to the animals and make a positive impact on their well-being on a daily basis through shelter or administrative support. Staff members may ask volunteers to perform supervised animal handling tasks from time to time, and we anticipate adding direct animal handling roles in the future. 

Volunteering at the ASPCA connects the people in our communities to the ASPCA’s mission; “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.” Our dedicated volunteers demonstrate a commitment to learning and are well-rounded and flexible to support the changing needs of the animals and the organization.

They respond when called upon to provide vital support to our operations, observing sheltering and animal welfare best practices and to augment the care of the animals that need us most.  As an ASPCA volunteer, you can make a difference.

ASPCA Volunteers possess the following qualities: 

• An understanding of ASPCA philosophies and policies, inclusive of the organization’s Core Values and Guiding Principles 
• Commitment to treating animals and people with care and respect 
• A desire to represent the ASPCA in a professional and enthusiastic manner 
• Maintain a motivated attitude and dependability 
• A commitment to learning 
• Willingness to provide and receive feedback 
• Flexibility to adapt to changing situations and guidelines 
• An understanding of and a commitment to abiding by ASPCA and Volunteer Program Guidelines 
• A commitment to receive and respond to communications from Volunteer Program staff 

Any training required by the role will be provided by the R&R Center. Anyone with specialized training in an animal welfare field or medical field is encouraged to include their experiences in the Volunteer Application.

Volunteering at the R&R Center is both a rewarding experience and hard work. Working in a shelter environment around at-risk animals can prove physically and emotionally demanding. While volunteering is a fulfilling experience, unexpected stressful situations can arise at any moment. We advise anyone considering volunteering at the R&R Center to keep this in mind when determining if this experience is right for you.

If your question regarding volunteering was not answered here, please reach out to [email protected] with your name, contact information, and your question. Someone from our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

The R&R Center is part of Rehabilitation Services, which also includes the Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) in Weaverville, North Carolina, the Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Columbus, Ohio, and the Learning Lab.