Volunteer at Your Local Shelter
Volunteer at your local animal shelter by helping feed and groom pets, walk dogs with an adult, and make cozy bedding or toys.
About this activity
Volunteer at your local animal shelter by helping feed and groom pets, walk dogs with an adult, and make cozy bedding or toys.
What you need
Step by step
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Step 1
Ask an adult to call or email your local animal shelter to set a volunteer time.
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Step 2
Put on comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes.
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Step 3
Go to the shelter with your adult at the agreed time.
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Step 4
Check in with shelter staff and tell them you are there to volunteer.
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Step 5
Ask the staff which tasks you can help with today.
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Step 6
Listen carefully to the shelter staff's instructions.
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Step 7
Wash your hands with soap and water before handling animals or food.
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Step 8
Fill food bowls using the amount the staff shows you.
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Step 9
Gently brush a pet's fur in the direction it grows while staff watches.
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Step 10
Walk a dog while your adult holds the leash and follows the shelter's rules.
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Step 11
Lay an old T-shirt or piece of fleece flat on a table.
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Step 12
Cut fringes along the short edges of the fabric using scissors.
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Step 13
Tie matching fringe strips together around the edges to make a soft mat for bedding.
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Step 14
Clean up your workspace and put used materials away where the staff asks.
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Step 15
Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I volunteer at my local animal shelter with my child?
Contact the shelter by phone or website to ask about their volunteer program, orientation, and any age or background requirements. Complete applications, attend training, and sign up for family-friendly shifts. Typical tasks include feeding, grooming, socializing cats, and walking dogs with an adult present. Follow staff instructions, respect animal handling rules, wear appropriate clothes, and wash hands after interactions to keep children and animals safe.
What materials do I need to volunteer at an animal shelter?
Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes; bring gloves and a washable apron for grooming or cleaning. Shelters often supply leashes, brushes, and towels, but you can bring your own brush, hand sanitizer, and vet-approved treats. For making bedding and toys, bring clean fleece or fabric, scissors, stuffing or fabric scraps, and a needle and thread or fabric glue for no-sew options. Check the shelter’s list before arriving.
What ages is volunteering at an animal shelter suitable for?
Children 4–7 can help make toys and bedding, practice gentle petting, and learn hygiene with close adult supervision. Ages 8–11 can assist with basic grooming and short, adult-led dog walks. Teens (12–17) may take on more responsibilities after training; many shelters require volunteers to be 16+ to work alone. Always verify the shelter’s specific age limits and supervision rules before signing up.
What are the benefits and safety tips for volunteering with kids at a shelter?
Volunteering builds empathy, responsibility, and animal-care skills while giving pets needed socialization. For safety, ensure children are up-to-date on vaccinations and tetanus, follow shelter rules, never approach unknown animals without staff, avoid face-to-face contact, use calm voices, and supervise all interactions. Teach handwashing after contact. Quiet tasks like making bedding or toys are great alternatives for younger kids or anxious animals.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have an old T-shirt, fleece, or scissors for making the bedding mat?
Use a clean towel, pillowcase, or cut-up sheet as the fabric and ask shelter staff for scissors or pre-cut strips to follow the 'Lay an old T-shirt or piece of fleece' and 'Cut fringes' steps.
What should we do if the fringe knots on the mat keep coming undone or the strips are uneven?
Trim strips to equal widths before tying and secure each matching fringe with a double knot, then have staff inspect the mat as in the 'Tie matching fringe strips together' step.
How can we adapt the volunteer tasks for younger children or older kids during the shelter visit?
Have younger children do supervised tasks like 'Fill food bowls' and help 'Lay an old T-shirt' or tie a few knots, while older kids can 'Walk a dog while your adult holds the leash' and lead the mat-making and 'Share your finished creation on DIY.org' step.
How can we personalize or improve the bedding mat before sharing it on DIY.org?
Personalize the soft mat by using colorful T-shirts, adding a small sewn-on pocket or fabric paint name during the 'Tie matching fringe strips together' step, then photograph the finished creation to 'Share your finished creation on DIY.org.'