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If you need Community Service Hours for school please CLICK HERE

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Animal Care & Control. As the only open admission shelter in Palm Beach County, we accept all animals in need. Sadly, most of the dogs in our adoption program are overlooked as they are large, mixed breeds. Can YOU be their advocate? Can YOU help us help them?

 

Benefits of Volunteering:

  • Good for your emotional, physical, & mental health
  • Meet people with similar interests
  • Gain experience taking care of animals
  • Help enhance the life of the pets in our care
  • Most importantly, help animals find a loving family!



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Please view all of our volunteer opportunities below! 

 

DOGS

All Dog volunteer opportunities below require attending and passing the Dog Handling Class with our behavior and enrichment team. During this class, you will learn how to leash and bring a dog out of their kennel in a shelter environment. 

We are most in need of volunteers to help leash walk individual dogs and to assist staff with rotating dogs in and out of the fenced in play areas. ​​

*Not eligible for community service hours*

  • Dog Walker: Leash walk dogs who are waiting for homes in our PetPals adoption program. *Most in need* Sign up NOW here
  • Dog Playgroup: Assis t staff with rotating dogs in and out of the fenced in play areas.
  • Dog Puptography: Help bring dogs from their kennels to the photo shoot areas for pictures for our website and social media to help find their forever homes.
  • Dog Paw Spa: Bathe dogs to improve their comfort and adoptability.
  • Event Dog Handler: Help bring dogs to offsite PBC ACC adoption events. ***Requires additional training
  • Doggie Day Out: Take an adoptable dog offsite for the day for a break from the kennel environment and to introduce to new people to hopefully find a loving new family. ***Requires additional training
  • Kennel Care Assistants: Help with the daily care of our dog by cleaning kennels, feeding, etc. Must be available to start between 7:30am & 8:30am. ***Requires additional training
  • Dog Adoption Counselor:  Greet visitors, answer questions, and show adoptable dogs to potential adopters. ***Requires additional training

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"Volunteering not only allows me to connect and help the dogs, but also provides me with a wonderful 
space to enjoy the company of other like-minded individuals. Together we can make a huge difference!"

- Lorrie Browne, Volunteer​


​​​CATS

All Cat volunteer opportunities below require attending and passing the Cat Handling Class with our behavior and enrichment team.

*Not eligible for community service hours*

  • Feline Friends: Interact and socialize with cats/kittens who are waiting for homes in our PetPals adoption program. Activities include playing, petting, providing enrichment, quiet reading, and more.
  • Feline Purrtography: Help take pictures of our adoptable cats for our website and social media to help find their forever homes.
  • Cattery Care Assistants: Help with the daily care of our cats and kittens by cleaning cages, feeding, etc. Must be available to start between 7:30am & 8:30am. ***Requires additional training
  • Feline Adoption Counselor: Greet visitors, answer questions, and show adoptable cats and kittens to potential adopters. ***Requires additional training

 

"I chose to volunteer with the cats at ACC beca​use I was impressed with how much staff care about the well-being of the animals in our community. I enjoy being able to contribute to the quality care."

- Mindy White,
Volunteer

 

ENRICHMENT

All enrichment volunteer opportunities below are scheduled monthly and are based off of donations received. Shelter animals can be mentally and physically under-stimulated which can lead to boredom, anxiety and the development of behavior issues. Enrichment items help reduce stress and promote the physical and psychological well-being of animals while awaiting their forever homes. 

*Not eligible for community service hours*

  • Enrichment Workshop: Attending scheduled workshops to make and create enrichment items (toys, puzzles, treats, etc.) for all animals in our care.
  • Blanket Workshop: Attending scheduled workshops to help make no-sew blankets for the shelter animals.
  • KONG Krew: Help make KONG's, pupsicles, and other yummy enrichment items for the dogs in our care.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

*Not eligible for community service hours*

  • Information Station: Offer a warm welcome to visitors, kindly answer questions from the public, sign in customers, and so much more!

 

EVENTS

*Not eligible for community service hours*

  • Special Events Expert: Assist PBC ACC staff in various positions at on-site and off-site events (roles depend on the event) helping to promote/educate and recruit volunteers and fosters. Set up and tear down/cleanup is always needed and appreciated.
  • Community Event Volunteer: Represent PBC ACC in the community by attending local outreach events. Must be able to use own vehicle to transport event supplies and set up/break down booth. ***Requires additional training

 

KENNEL SUPPORT

*Not eligible for community service hours*

  • Scrub Club: Help us keep our laundry and dish room in tiptop shape! The scrub club also assists with cleaning, assembling litter boxes and more!  

 

Volunteer Requirements:

  • Be at least 18 years' old
  • Have driver's license or state identification card
  • Dog volunteers must be able to pass an in-person training. Please note that shelter dogs are usually large and energetic
  • Feline Friends must be able to pass an in-person training
  • Commit to volunteering once a week for at least three-months
  • Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team
  • Ability to follow instructions and safety protocols
  • Some volunteer positions (including those that work with the animals) require the ability to stand, stoop, kneel, bend and lift weight between 5-25 lbs.
  • Ability to speak and understand English
  • Ability to tolerate loud noises and unpleasant odors
  • Ability to walk unaided on uneven and/or rough terrain
  • Purchase your official volunteer t-shirt ($10) on the day of your training
  • Wear your official volunteer t-shirt and volunteer badge at all times while volunteering
  • Wear the approved PPE (gloves, sleeves, etc.) provided by the shelter at all times when volunteering hands on with the animals

 

Are you16 or 17 years old and would like to volunteer? Great news, you have the opportunity to volunteer alongside your parent/legal guardian. While volunteering with our dogs is not available for this program, we have a variety of other volunteer opportunities. Please note that both parent/legal guardian and child must be able to pass any animal handling class needed for their volunteer opportunity. Parent/ legal guardian must always be present. To get started, please email accvolunteer@pbcgov.org. This volunteer opportunity is not eligible for community service hours.

 

If you need Community Service Hours for school, please CLICK HERE

​Ready to Make a Difference?

Dog Walker Application

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All Other Volunteer Opportunities 

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Once processed, you will receive an email from the volunteer team with further information about hands on training and orientation. Please allow a few days for processing and check your email regularly. If you do not receive this information, please email the volunteer team at ACCVolunteer@pbcgov.org.

 Not Ready to Volunteer? Make a Donation!

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If you need Community Service Hours for school please click here

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Animal Care & Control. As the only open admission shelter in Palm Beach County, we accept all animals in need. Sadly, most of the dogs in our adoption program are overlooked as they are large, mixed breeds. Can YOU be their advocate? Can YOU help us help them?

We are most in need of volunteers to help leash walk individual dogs and to assist staff with rotating dogs in and out of the fenced in play areas. 

Ready to help? Click here​ to sign up as a PBC ACC Dog Walker Volunteer!  

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​Please view all of our volunteer opportunities below! 

  • Dog Walker: Leash walk dogs who are waiting for homes in our PetPals adoption program.
  • Dog Playgroup: Assis​t staff with rotating dogs in and out of the fenced in play areas.
  • Dog Puptography: Take pictures and videos of adoptable dogs for our website and social media.
  • Dog Paw Spa: Bathe dogs to improve their comfort and adoptability.
  • ​​​Dog Foster Parent  Please take a look at our foster opportunities here.”
  • Scrub Club: Help us keep our laundry and dish room in tiptop shape! The scrub club also assists with cleaning, assembling litter boxes and more!   
  • ​Feline Friends: Interact and socialize with cats/kittens who are waiting for homes in our PetPals adoption program. Activities include playing, petting, providing enrichment, quiet reading, and more.
  • Feline Purrtography: Take pictures and videos of our adoptable cats for our website and social media.
  • ​Feline Foster Parent: Provide temporary housing, love and care for a cat/kitten until they are ready for adoption. *Requires completing the Foster application. The head of household (21+) must be the one to complete and submit the foster application.*

 

  • Enrichment Workshop: Attending scheduled workshops to make and create enrichment items (toys, puzzles, treats, etc.) for all animals in our care. Shelter animals can be mentally and physically under-stimulated which can lead to boredom, anxiety and the development of behavior issues. Enrichment items help reduce stress and promote the physical and psychological well-being of animals while awaiting their forever homes.

  • Lost & Found Liaison: Help reunite pets with their families and assist visitors with lost & found reports. Must be proficient with phones and computers to maintain the shelter's lost and found database.
  • Welcome Greeter: Show genuine hospitality by offering a warm welcome to visitors. Kindly answer questions and guide them to where they want to go.

  • Special Events Expert: Assist in various positions at on-site and off-site events (roles depend on the event) helping to promote/educate and recruit volunteers and fosters. Set up and tear down/cleanup is always needed and appreciated.
  • South Florida Fair: Volunteering on site at our booth at the South Florida Fair. Helping to educate the public and promote the many services we provide.

Ready to make a difference? Please follow the steps below to join our volunteer team today!

1. ​Submit the volunteer application. Apply Now
2. Attend orientation. Click here to register!  ** Click Volunteer Coordinator and choose a date and time

    • Orientation is held in person at Animal Care & Control, located at 7100 Belvedere Road
    • Class size is limited. If unable to attend after registering, please be sure to cancel in advance to allow another volunteer the opportunity to attend.
    • The volunteer team will collect your SSN in person at volunteer orientation to submit for the background screening.
    • After volunteer orientation, you will receive an email from the volunteer team with the phone number to call to make your background screening and volunteer badge appointment.

​​​​3. Go to your background screening appointment. **Address will be included in the email above.

    • A background screening which includes fingerprinting is REQUIRED for all volunteers.
    • A driver's license or state identification card is required for the background screening.
    • ​Once your background screening clears, a volunteer badge will be issued. The volunteer team will email you when your badge arrives along with the link to sign up for training.

4. Attend hands-on training if applicable. ** All Animal handling positions require training

5. Purchase your official volunteer t-shirt ($10) on the day of your training.

6. Begin volunteering! 


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