Whether caring for animals, managing adoption events, raising funds or working in our office, volunteers are a very important part of PAWS Chicago. Together, we are empowered to save thousands of homeless cats and dogs.
Humane Education Presenter and Assistance
Responsibilities: Give PAWS Chicago’s humane education and community outreach presentations to large groups of adults and/or children. Volunteers are responsible for transporting material and equipment to the presentation site and running the presentation.
Location: Schools, libraries, festivals, park districts, and churches in our target zip codes.
Requirements: Complete Humane Education Presentation Training program.
Shift Hours: Vary. Most presentations are scheduled Mon.–Fri. between the hours of 9am and 6pm.
Attire: PAWS Chicago t-shirt and business casual bottoms.
Community Outreach Events
Responsibilities: Tabling at community outreach events, passing out PAWS Chicago information, talking to event attendees about the benefits of spay/neuter, and promoting the services of the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic.
Location: Schools, libraries, festivals, park districts, and churches in our target zip codes.
Requirements: Spanish speaking a plus.
Shift Hours: Events are scheduled seven days a week, typically between the hours of 9am and 8pm.
Attire: PAWS Chicago t-shirt.
Volunteer Brigade Work Days
Responsibilities: Miscellaneous tasks such as filling bags with PAWS Chicago promotional material, dog walking, cat socializing, cleaning, organizing, assembling informational folders, etc.
Location: Admissions and Recovery Center – Above the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic (3516 W. 26th St.)
Requirements: The will to work hard!
Shift Hours: Brigade Work Days & Shifts will be posted on the Volunteer Opportunities Sign Up page!
Attire: Comfortable working and cleaning clothes/shoes. Non-slip shoes for traction. Please do not wear heels or sandals.
Community Outreach Administrative
Responsibilities: Various tasks include research projects, mailings, phone calls, and handing out surveys in the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic.
Location: Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic (3516 W. 26th St.)
Requirements: Spanish speaking a plus.
Shift Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm. Two hour blocks preferred.
Attire: Comfortable clothes/shoes.
Recovery Room
Responsibilities: Assist the Recovery Technicians with dogs and cats exiting the surgical suite. Monitor, stimulate, clean, extubate, clean ears, clip nails, return animals to holding cages, and prepare supplies for surgery.
Location: Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic (3516 W. 26th St.)
Requirements: Must not become faint around the site of blood, and must be able to stand, sit, and kneel multiple times per shift.
Shift Hours: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday between 8am – 6pm.
Attire: Comfortable working and cleaning clothes/shoes or scrubs. Please wear non-slip shoes for traction (No heels or sandals).
Clinic Administrative
Responsibilities: Filling medical records, preparing e-collars and cardboard cat boxes, preparing surveys for clients, organizing supplies and donations, cleaning holding room cages, etc.
Location: Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic (3516 W. 26th St.)
Requirements: Spanish speaking a plus.
Shift Hours: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8am – 6pm.
Attire: Comfortable working and cleaning clothes/shoes.
Dog Walking/Cat Socializing/General Care:
Responsibilities: Walking/Socializing dogs, socializing cats, cleaning kennels and litter boxes, preparing Kongs™ and cleaning the playroom area.
Location: Admissions and Recovery Center – Above the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic (3516 W. 26th St.)
Requirements: Please email volunteers@pawschicago.org or call 773-687-4715 for more information.
Shift Hours: There are shifts available seven days a week. Please email volunteers@pawschicago.org for more information on shift times.
Attire: Comfortable working and cleaning clothes/shoes. Please wear non-slip shoes for traction.
Dog/Cat Foster Care
Responsibilities: Caring for a dog or cat in your home. Foster parents may be required to administer medication or apply designated protocols for the animal.
Location: In your home until the animal is adopted or for a predetermined time period. This could be a few weeks, a few months, or hospice care.
Requirements: Must be able to transport foster animal to the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic for medical check ups, to designated adoption events, to the Adoption Center, and be able to provide food, toys, treats, and love!
Admissions Program Administrative
Responsibilities: Filing, organizing, miscellaneous administrative tasks.
Location: Admissions and Recovery Center – Above the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic (3516 W. 26th St.)
Requirements: Basic office skills
Shift Hours: Monday – Friday from 9am to 6pm
Attire: Casual
Dog/Cat Adoption Counseling
Responsibilities: Meeting with potential adopters, matching adopters with appropriate animals, educating on proper animal care, and completing adoption paperwork.
Location: Adoption Center, 1997 N. Clybourn Avenue
Requirements: Adoption Counselor training and strong working knowledge of PAWS Chicago’s adoption policies and guidelines.
Shift Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays – shifts vary from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays – shifts vary from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Attire: PAWS Chicago T-shirt & PAWS Chicago apron
Animal Admissions Volunteer:
Responsibilities: Getting rooms ready for incoming animals (including moving animals between rooms, cleaning, and setting up blankets, food, etc.), transporting cats and paperwork to our adoption center, unloading the truck arriving with new animals, weighing new animals, assisting with shots, tagging, and bathing of new animals.
Location: Admissions and Recovery Center – Above the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic (3516 W. 26th St.)
Requirements: One training session with the Admissions Manager, the ability to lift 30 lbs., dog and cat handling experience.
Shift Hours: Consistent weekly shift.
Attire: Comfortable working and cleaning clothes/shoes.
Professional Board
Responsibilities:
Assist in the development of fundraising opportunities, including brainstorming, planning, and working on committees to ensure fundraising efforts are successful.
Location: Various Chicago locations
Requirements: Attend two out of four quarterly meetings per calendar year, attend two of the four events per calendar year, and $50 per calendar year membership dues.
Shift Hours: Vary. Events and meetings are usually in the evening.
Attire: Depends on the event, meeting.
Special Events
Beach Party (July) Run for their Lives (early October) Fur Ball (November):
Depending on the event, tasks may include the following: assist with set up/take down of event site, dog/puppy handling, greeters, servers, transportation of event materials. Locations, requirements, hours and attire vary for each event.
