Dog Caregiver - AARCS

Help give shelter dogs the care, comfort, and compassion they deserve.

Every dog that comes through AARCS is on a journey toward a loving home, and our Dog Caregiver Volunteers play an essential role in making that possible. By joining our dedicated team, you'll provide daily care that helps keep dogs healthy, happy, and ready for adoption.

Whether you're taking a dog for a walk, preparing meals, refreshing their kennel, or spending a few extra moments offering affection, you'll be making a meaningful difference in an animal's life.

What You'll Do
- Working alongside fellow volunteers during your scheduled shift, you will:
- Walk, feed, and care for dogs based on their individual needs
- Clean and sanitize kennels, replace bedding, and refresh food and water dishes
- Wash dishes, toys, and dog laundry
- Follow cleaning, disinfecting, and quarantine protocols to help keep our animals healthy
- Spend quality time providing enrichment and socialization whenever possible

Every shift helps ensure our dogs receive the highest standard of care while they wait for their forever families.

What We're Looking For
We're seeking compassionate, reliable volunteers who:
- Have a genuine passion for animal welfare
- Enjoy working as part of a supportive team
- Are eager to learn and follow shelter procedures
- Understand dog body language and communication, or are willing to develop these skills
- Have previous dog handling experience (an asset, but not required)

Training & Support
You won't be expected to know everything on day one. We'll provide the training and support you need to succeed, including:
- New Volunteer Orientation
- Online Dog Caregiver Training Module
- In-person group orientation and hands-on training with experienced Shift Leaders
- Dog Handling Workshop (within your first six months)
- Disinfecting Workshop (within your first six months)
- Ongoing guidance and support from our team

Why Volunteer?
As a Dog Caregiver, you'll become part of a community of passionate animal lovers while making a direct impact on the lives of dogs in need. Every walk, every clean kennel, and every act of kindness helps prepare a dog for their future family.

If you're looking for a rewarding way to give back and make a difference one wagging tail at a time, we'd love to welcome you to our volunteer team.