We’ve created several videos to tell you more about why we love our time at the shelter.
A general overview of volunteering
Helping to transport animals to vet appointments
Volunteers make it happen!
Clatsop Animal Assistance supports the Clatsop County Animal Shelter by providing funds and volunteers to enhance the health and welfare of the animals staying at the shelter. Volunteers do their best to treat the animals at the County Animals Shelter as lodgers, not prisoners. Without our volunteers, the animal shelter experience would be entirely different. There would be no afternoon socialization or walks, no outings, and no funds for the surgeries and veterinary care that make our animals more adoptable. Animal health and welfare would suffer. Volunteers are key to helping our shelter maintain its extraordinarily high rate of survival and adoption.
When you volunteer at the shelter, you make a very real and concrete difference in the world. It’s a difference you can see as frightened newcomers come out of their shells and begin to look forward to visitors. It’s a difference you can see when one of the animals finds a new home. It’s a difference you can feel when an animal you once thought was not adoptable wins the heart and home of a visitor who can see past limitations to see the opportunity and the beauty standing before them.
Dog walkers always needed
Our shelter dogs get to stay as long as it takes to find them good homes. That’s great, right? Yes, it is! But … dogs are social beings. They need human interaction to keep up their social skills and they need physical activity to remain both physically and mentally healthy. Shelter volunteers (many of us are also Clatsop Animal Assistance members) provide virtually all of these labor hours at the Clatsop County Animal Shelter. If dogs are going to walk, we have to do it.
We need more walkers. Having someone walk dogs just a few hours a week, an hour at a time, can mean the difference between every dog getting a walk or not. We really strive to get them two walks a day for exercise and for potty activities. Some dogs simply will not “potty” in the kennel and will hold it.
So, walking is very important for dogs. If you can spare a few hours a week, even just an hour at a time, it will help we who are stretched thin already but–more importantly–it will make a huge contribution to the physical and mental health of a dog.
The link to a volunteer application form is at the bottom of this page.
Current need for volunteers to help with shelter cats
If you LOVE Cats, we Love YOU! Not only do we love you, we need you! Our cats need you!
We’re seeking volunteers to help care for and socialize our cats. Volunteers work with the cats in 3-hour timeslots, either the morning (8-11 am), midday (11 am – 2 pm), or afternoon shift (2 – 5 pm). The morning shift involves getting all of the cat rooms cleaned so that the cats can put their best paw forward for the day. The midday and afternoon shifts work to continue socializing the cats and keep them entertained, as well as some light cleaning, feeding, and introductions to potential adopters. All shifts can be done solo or in pairs. Is it possible to have too many cat cuddles? We don’t think so!
All new Cat Volunteers attend an Orientation Session which provides general information about the Shelter. Training on the Cat Room procedures is provided by one of the Cat Volunteer Trainers. Volunteering with the cats will have a positive impact on their lives as well as yours!
Through the help of volunteers, we are able to provide one-on-one socialization for our animals as well as a clean and safe living environment while they are with us. When you join the volunteer team at the Clatsop Animal Shelter, you’ll make new cat and dog friends and become a part of an incredible group of people who put their love of animals into action.
FILL OUT THE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION HERE!
Call the shelter at 503-861-7387 to reserve a spot at our next orientation. Whether you like cuddling with cats, walking dogs, or prefer helping in the office, we need you.
The shelter is located at 1315 SE 19th St., next to the Clatsop Community regional food bank. From either direction, take 101 to Ensign, then go past Costco, turn right, and go about 1/4 mile. The shelter is on your left.
