Together, we give hope a hand.
Save lives with us! We couldn’t help homeless animals without the support of dedicated volunteers who embody the heart and soul of Second Chance’s mission.
Why Volunteer with Us?
Ways to Volunteer
There are many ways to volunteer at Second Chance! Find the ones below that fit best with your interest and desire to make a difference!
Dog Foster
Foster a dog to help them find their forever home!
What you'll do:
- Care for a dog in your home by providing for their needs including lots of love. Dog foster duration varies significantly but is typically 3-4 months. Short-term Transport Dog fostering also available with a typical duration of 2 days to 2 weeks.
- Work with the dog program team to assess your foster pup’s best fit for their forever home.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 21 years old. Below 21 years of age are considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Other animals in your home must be current on their vaccines and flea/tick preventatives and must already be spayed/neutered.
- If you rent, be sure to get permission from the landlord and abide by pet policies.
- Must have reliable transportation.
- Must live within an hour of downtown Raleigh.
- Gotta love dogs!
The impact you'll make:
- You’ll provide the dog with a loving bridge to its forever home.
- You’ll be helping more homeless dogs find their forever homes!
- You’ll set your foster dog up for success by providing a loving home environment outside of a shelter.
To get started:
Step 2:
Click the button to the right to complete the foster application and be sure to select “dog”. Our team will contact you within 7 business days.
Step 3:
Get ready to be a bridge from fear to happiness for your foster pup!
Kitten Foster
While cats over 4 months old live at the adoption center, younger kittens and expectant mother cats need foster homes to receive the attention and care they need.
What you'll do:
- Provide a room within your home and the love and care these kittens need. Kitten foster duration is typically 1-2 months.
- Take your kittens to periodic cat care clinics (Thursday evenings) as scheduled by us for their medical checkups, vaccines, etc.
- Take your kittens to be spayed/neutered at a vet, as scheduled by us.
- Name your foster kittens and write biographies to support their upcoming adoption process.
- Support the adoption of your foster kittens by engaging in cat adoption events and screening adoption applicants.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 21 years old. Below 21 years of age are considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Other animals in your home must be current on their vaccines and flea/tick preventatives.
- If you rent, be sure to get permission from the landlord and abide by pet policies.
- Must have reliable transportation.
- Must live within an hour of downtown Raleigh.
- Gotta love kittens!
The impact you'll make:
- You’ll provide your foster kittens with a loving bridge to their forever homes.
- You’ll give homeless kittens their chance at finding forever homes!
- You’ll be helping us increase the number of homeless cats and kittens we save.
The impact you'll make:To get started:
Step 2:
Click the button to the right to complete the foster application – and be sure to select “kitten”. Our team will contact you within 7 business days.
Step 3:
Meet with Second Chance staff to complete your foster orientation.
Step 4:
Pick up your foster kittens at our Adoption Center.
Dog Walker
Dog walker volunteers are essential to keeping the dogs who live at our adoption center clean, safe, and happy.
What you'll do:
- Provide food and water to the dogs living at our adoption center.
- Learn how to interact with dogs living with anxiety and behavioral concerns.
- Properly fasten harness/collar and leash the dogs and take them for their regularly scheduled walks.
- Brush, play and interact with the dogs.
- Clean, sanitize, and dispose of garbage and waste in the kennel area and on the walks.
- Clean and sanitize pet messes and pet dishes.
- Provide scheduled medications.
- Document animal responses to feeding and your observations of the dogs.
Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must be able to handle medium-large sized dogs.
- Must have reliable transportation to the adoption center.
- You have good attention to detail.
- You’re a strong communicator.
- Gotta love dogs!
Other Information:
- Minimum volunteer commitment: Twice a month at the adoption center.
- Available shifts: morning (8-9 a.m.), afternoon (2-3 p.m.), evening (5-6 p.m.), night (8-9 p.m.).
- Coordinators: Dog Program Manager Jess Jones, Volunteer Manager Alex Barker.
To get started:
Step 1:
Click the button to the right to complete the volunteer application form and select the Dog Walker/Socialization role under Assignment Preference.
Step 2:
Review the volunteer orientation materials you’ll receive via email after applying and complete the volunteer orientation steps.
Step 3:
Review dog walker orientation videos and sign up for in-person training.
Cat Care Helper
From feeding, to cleaning their homes, to giving them lots of snuggles, cat care volunteers play an important role in the lives of our cats by keeping them cared for, loved, and happy. Cat care has always been one of our priority needs.
What you'll do:
- Provide food and water to cats located in the community cat rooms and medical wards.
- Properly clean litter boxes and add litter to litter pans.
- Learn how to handle shy or nervous cats and how to observe behavioral changes that could indicate illness or injury.
- Brush, play with, and interact with the cats.
- Clean, sanitize, and dispose of garbage.
- Clean and sanitize pet messes and pet dishes.
- Document animal responses to feeding and your observations of the cats.
Qualifications:
- You’re a strong communicator
- You have good attention to detail.
- Gotta love cats!
- Must have reliable transportation.
- Must live within an hour of downtown Raleigh.
The impact you'll make:
- You’ll give the kitties at the center the proper care and love they need on their journey to adoption.
- You’ll help new and anxious kitties feel safe and loved as they settle in at the adoption center.
- Your volunteer time will help Second Chance save more cats find their forever homes.
Other information:
- Minimum Time Commitment: Twice a month at the adoption center
- Location: Shifts are 2 hours long with shift opportunities are in the morning and evening
- Coordinator: Alex Barker, Volunteer Manager.
To get started:
Step 1:
Click the button to the right to complete the volunteer application form and select the Cat Care Helper role under Assignment Preference.
Step 2:
Review the volunteer orientation materials you’ll receive via email after applying and complete the volunteer orientation steps.
Step 3:
Review cat care orientation videos and sign up for in-person training.
Dog Transport Program Volunteer
Love dogs and the open road? You can help make a difference in the lives of rescue dogs by volunteering with our Dog Transport Program! Second Chance partners with rescues in northern states who have available space. This lets us get more dogs adopted than we can alone. Our network of Dog Transport Program volunteers works together to complete each leg of the journey to get these pups transported to the partner rescue and set up for success in forever homes.
What you'll do:
- Support the transport of dogs by volunteering your time and vehicle to help them through their journey to our partner rescues. Second Chance’s leg of the journey is to South Hill, VA.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 21 years old.
- Must have a valid driver’s license, registration, and insurance.
- Must be able to handle medium to large-sized dogs.
The impact you'll make:
- By supporting our Dog Transport Program, you’ll be helping us save more homeless dogs!
- Your work as a Dog Transport Volunteer will help these dogs find their forever homes.
Other information:
- The minimum volunteer requirement is twice a month. However, we sometimes won’t have a transport scheduled, so we appreciate you working with us as the need arises.
- Volunteers and Second Chance staff meet at the adoption center early Saturday morning to prepare for the trip and load up the dogs.
To get started:
Step 1:
Click the button to the right to complete the volunteer application form and select the Dog Transport Volunteer role under Assignment Preference.
Step 2:
The Volunteer Manager and Dog Program Manager will reach out to you and add your name to the list of Local Animal Transporter volunteers.
Step 3:
Thereafter, you’ll receive alerts about Dog Transport Program needs for your acceptance when you are available.
Office Greeter/Admin
As the first friendly face our visitors see, our Office Greeters are our “Ambassadors of First Impression”! They help manage the adoption center’s front entrance area by greeting guests, answering questions about adoption processes and our rescue, and assisting guests in visiting with the animals located at the adoption center.
What you'll do:
- Manage the front entrance by answering the door and welcoming visitors.
- Engage and build relationships with community members: Direct visitors to the sign-in area and explore what brought them to Second Chance (i.e. seeking to adopt, volunteer, rehome, or drop off donations).
- Accept and place donations in front office bins, provide tax receipts, and log the incoming donations.
- Maintain a clean and organized front entrance: including dusting, sweeping, and ensuring the front lobby is clear of debris and donations, and the brochure area is dusted and tidy.
- Some additional responsibilities may include: Organizing adoption folders, making copies, scanning files, logging donations and creating thank-you cards, and folding laundry.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- You’re a people person: You are friendly, kind, and professional. You love meeting new people and giving them a welcoming and informative experience.
- You’re a clear communicator: You are direct and concise, providing information visitors can easily understand and digest.
- You are organized: Whether keeping the adoption center tidy for visitors or putting together adoption packets, you have a keen eye for detail.
The impact you'll make:
- You’ll be helping more Second Chance animals find their forever homes.
- You’ll support your community and the animals.
Other information:
- We are open Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. with Office Greeter/Admin. volunteer shifts available 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
- The minimum volunteer commitment is 2 shifts per month.
To get started:
Step 1:
Click the button to the right to complete the volunteer application form and select the Office Greeter/Admin. role under Assignment Preference.
Step 2:
You’ll soon be contacted by our Volunteer Manager to assess fit either in person at the adoption center or virtually.
Step 3:
Review the volunteer orientation materials you’ll receive via email after applying and complete the volunteer orientation steps.
Facility Helper
Facility helpers are invaluable in keeping our adoption center clean and organized and keep our animals happy with clean beds, towels, toys, and bowls.
What you'll do:
- Clean, fold, and organize laundry including pet beds, toys, towels, and blankets.
- Run and empty the dishwasher.
- Clean, sanitize, and dispose of garbage and waste.
- Sort and organize pet food.
- Perform additional tasks as needed.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 16 years old.
- You’re passionate and compassionate: You care about saving animals and care for their well-being.
- You’re a go-getter: Whether cleaning up kennels, pitching in to wash laundry, or tackling some dirty pet dishes, you notice and find places to plug in and help.
- You’re a good communicator: Whether you have a question about a task or notice that an animal is injured or sick, you reach out to seasoned volunteers or staff members.
The impact you'll make:
- Your work ensures that the animals at the adoption center remain healthy and happy by having clean spaces and supplies.
Other information:
- Shifts: 2-hours long with availability during weekdays and weekends.
- The minimum volunteer requirement: 2 shifts per month.
- Coordinator: Alex Barker, Volunteer Manager.
To get started:
Step 1:
Click the button to the right to complete the volunteer application form and select the Facility Helper role under Assignment Preference.
Step 2:
Review the volunteer orientation materials you’ll receive via email after applying and complete the volunteer orientation steps.
Step 3:
Schedule and complete a 1-hour training session at the adoption center.
Event Support
Event volunteers support the adoption and fundraising events we conduct in the community. Although they aren’t responsible for arranging or promoting the events, event volunteers provide “boots on the ground” support on event days so Second Chance can expand its presence in the community and make the most of opportunities to show off adoptable animals, raise money, and meet potential supporters.
What you'll do:
- Transport event supplies from our adoption center to the event venue, and set up. Pick-up need not be the same day.
- Staff the Second Chance table by greeting visitors and answering their questions about Second Chance.
- Accept monetary donations and/or pet supplies from donors.
- Pack up supplies after the event and return them to Second Chance (need not be same day).
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- You’re a people person: You are friendly, kind, and outgoing.
- You’re reliable: You honor your commitments. If an unexpected conflict arises, you provide timely notice that you’ll no longer be able to make it.
- You’re a quick learner: After shadowing for just a couple of events, you’ll feel confident that you can tackle one on your own.
- You’re cool under pressure: You feel comfortable with your ability to take in a scene, assess what’s needed and find a resolution without getting flustered.
- You’re professional: No suit or dress required, but you maintain a positive public image.
The impact you'll make:
- You’ll help animals find their forever homes by promoting their adoption at these events.
- You’ll help us save more animals by connecting us with future partners, volunteers, donors, and adopters.
Other information:
- Time Commitment: Most events are on nights and weekends, though there are occasionally weekday events. The minimum volunteer requirement is twice a month, however the number of events varies from month to month.
- Coordinator: Alex Barker, Volunteer Manager.
To get started:
Step 1:
Click the button to the right to complete the volunteer application form and select the Event Support role under Assignment Preference
Step 2:
You’ll soon be contacted by our Volunteer Manager to assess fit either in person at the adoption center or virtually.
Step 3:
Review the volunteer orientation materials you’ll receive via email after applying and complete the volunteer orientation steps.
