Welcome to the People for Animals volunteer program!

Founded in 1980, People for Animals is an independent nonprofit organization. PFA’s mission is to prevent animal suffering through affordable essential healthcare, public policy advocacy, and community programs.

We appreciate your interest in our organization and share your desire to make the world a more humane place for animals. We depend on our volunteer team, your time and your skills, to help us ensure a brighter future for animals. In addition to loving our animals, we want you to help us meet our mission. By scanning documents, filing, cleaning, laundry, helping with offsite events and fundraising for our animals you can help increase our staff’s capacity to do their work.

We are committed to supporting your role as a volunteer by offering you consistent, thorough, and professional training. Our volunteer training program is designed to keep you safe and to enhance your skills. As you become familiar with our volunteer opportunities, you may develop new interests. If would like to try a new program, let us know. We will be happy to sign you up for additional training and get you started!

Due to insurance requirements volunteers must be 18 years or older.

September 2023 Update: Thank you for your interest in volunteering with People For Animals. We are currently paused on accepting new volunteer applications but will resume shortly. Please stay tuned to this space; we will be sharing new volunteer opportunities with PFA soon!

Apply Here

in a vet clinic, a young person cuddling with a cat and smiling

Volunteer Opportunities with PFA

Foster Homes

Community Outreach Events

Fundraising Events

Clinic Assistance

Responsibilities & Requirements

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CLINIC ASSISTANCE

The primary responsibility is to assist our staff, and increase our team’s capacity to do their work.  Essential tasks include: 

  • Running laundry cycles
  • Cleaning empty cages
  • Sweeping lobby areas & hallways
  • Filing and scanning documents
  • Additional as-needed assistance

Shifts are flexible and work with your schedule, however we ask that volunteers maintain a regular week-to-week commitment in order to build dependability.  PFA is a medical facility staffed by trained professionals.  As such, there will be no animal handling for new clinic volunteers.  Volunteers who display commitment and initiative will be rewarded with more trusting responsibilities over time, and may have the opportunity to learn how to provide hands-on care to animals.  

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS

Volunteers are needed to help with our free Outreach Events in the communities served by our non-profit veterinary clinics. These events typically occur once per season on a Saturday morning/afternoon, and occur at either our clinics or in a neighboring community location.  These events are extremely popular and can bring 150 to 200 people with multiple animals. Our free Outreach Events provide preventative care to animals in the greatest need.  Areas without access to affordable veterinary care need your help!

Desired qualifications:

  • Bi-lingual
  • Animal-handling experience that follows the Pets For Life Model
  • Must be willing to commute to metropolitan areas like Trenton or Newark.  

The volunteer jobs will be:

  • Spanish and English-speaking volunteers to help with paperwork & answer questions
  • Handing out and collecting pet parent surveys
  • Distributing water to prevent overheating, and providing essential cat carriers & dog leashes for animal safety
  • Managing the line to reduce the possibility of dog fights, and directing people to the designated areas to toilet their dogs
  • We will be working inside and outside, so please dress for the weather in clothes that you do not mind getting dirty – more info about appropriate clothing will be provided in our volunteer orientation.

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FUNDRAISING EVENTS

We need additional support at our Annual Tricky Tray; date & location are to be determined, but it typically occurs in September on a weekend evening, in northern New Jersey.  Duties can include:

  • Pre-event set up 
  • Post-event break down
  • Handing out prizes to contest winners
  • Staffing tables
  • Selling raffle tickets
  • Distributing fliers & other PFA promotional materials
  • Photography

Other potential off-site event opportunities throughout New Jersey will be explored as they become available!  

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MARKETING

Photography: Professional photographers needed to photograph clinic activities, events, etc.

Videography: Videos of PFA programs, animals, and events

Volunteer Process

  1. Fill out the Volunteer Application. You will receive an email containing our Virtual Orientation materials.
  2. View our Orientation Powerpoint.
  3. Read the volunteer handbook and sign the waiver.
  4. Interview and review of job description with development Manager.
  5. Attend training as needed for specific jobs.
  6. Schedule shift with the program/clinic manager.

Social Media Ambassadors

PFA invites you to participate in extending our reach into the community by becoming a Social Media Ambassador. You can help raise awareness of our services and programs on social media and at the same time, raise our awareness of you, our supporter. #PFAambassador

Become a Social Media Ambassador
Ambassadorship is one way to volunteer for PFA – no application required! Simply sign up to receive #PFALambassador emails by clicking below.  PFA is active on several social media platforms. We’re organizing ambassadors across platforms through emails we will send to your inbox. We’ll give you the scoop on PFA’s programs and projects and highlight relevant hashtags.

Though your participation takes place online, occasionally we will our ambassadors to join us at one of our outreach, fundraising, or community events. Your participation in an event is not required, we would just like to see you!!

What we’re asking ambassadors to do
In addition to reading #PFAambassador emails:

  • Add PFA on your favorite social media platforms.
  • Share your stories and what you love about PFA – maybe an upcoming event, a recent Facebook post, your pet or what you’re reading, watching and listening to.
  • Use a certain hashtag when we encourage you to do so – for instance, tell others “I am a #PFAambassador” to show your support for PFA.

Apply Here

Kids Volunteer Guide

Are you an animal loving family? Fostering is for you!

Are you a great organizer? Hold a Supply Drive or Donate A Party to PFA!

Are you an entrepreneur? Hold a fundraising event!