Volunteer with People for Animals

Responsibilities & Requirements

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FUNDRAISING EVENTS

We need additional support at our Annual Tricky Tray, happening on September 12 at the Pompton Lakes Elks Lodge #1895, Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, 07442.

In the weeks leading up to the event, we need assistance with:

• Making gift baskets in advance of our event. Basket-making typically occurs on Sundays & Mondays in Rockaway, NJ. Shifts are flexible.
• Preparing ticket packages in advance of our event. Shifts are flexible, but typically occur on Sunday & Mondays in Rockaway, NJ, and on weekday afternoons at our Hillside Clinic.
• Soliciting and collecting donations & gift cards. Shifts are flexible.

Then on the night of our Fundraiser, we’ll need helping hands for a variety of tasks:

• Pre-event set up, from 2pm to 5 pm.
• Selling tickets, from 5pm to 7pm.
• Handing out prizes to contest winners, from 7pm to 10:30pm.
• Cleaning up after the event, from 10:30pm to 11pm.

Other duties may include:

• Staffing tables
• Selling raffle tickets throughout the night
• 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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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
• Phone-banking for incoming requests from clients
• Spring / Summer landscaping (outside)
• 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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FOSTER HOMES – WHOLE FAMILIES PROGRAM

All of us have experienced tragedy and difficulties in our lives.  One problem can lead to a major crisis: the loss of your transportation, home, job, divorce, loss of a loved one, even domestic violence. A mental or physical health issue can result in an extended hospital and/or rehabilitation stay. These are just a few of the many reasons that people and their pets need the help of the Whole Families Program (WFP).

People participating in our WFP are facing a major crisis in their life and some of them need us to care for their pets while they resolve the issues in their life that could lead to the surrender of their beloved pet.  People and their pets form a lasting bond and keeping them together is imperative for their physical and mental health.

You can keep them together!  We need foster homes located throughout New Jersey that are able to take a pet and care for them for one (1) to six (6) months until their pet parent is able to take them back.  PFA will provide pet food, supplies and veterinary care while you provide a loving home and attention.

Apply to be a Foster Home

FOSTER COORDINATOR – WHOLE FAMILIES PROGRAM

Do you love animals and enjoy helping others? Are you a good organizer and multi-tasker? If so, we need you to help coordinate our foster care program! We have foster pets in homes throughout the state and we need help:

• Transporting animals
• Picking up pet food and supply donations
• Matching foster pets with foster homes
• Ensuring foster families have enough pet food and supplies
• Additional as-needed assistance

PET FOOD PANTRY COORDINATOR – WHOLE FAMILIES PROGRAM

Pet Food Pantry Coordinators are needed in Hillside, Robbinsville and Millville. If you live locally and are a good organizer we need your help!  Some tasks include:

• Canvassing local stores for donations of pet food and supplies
• Informing the WFP director when donations are needed
• Helping pick up donations
• Keeping the pantry stocked and organized
• Helping WFP clients and foster families pick up their pet food and supplies as needed

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HUMANE EDUCATION: Teaching Children About Kindness for Animals

We are looking for volunteers to become part of our Humane Education Team!

If you: like working with children, love animals, and believe fostering kindness & compassion from an early age should be an important part of a child’s upbringing, this will be a fun and gratifying experience!  YOU can make a difference in the lives of children and other living creatures!

Interested candidates train under the direction of a Head Teacher, then visit and present PFA’s Humane Education program to children in camps and after-school-programs across Essex and Trenton counties.  Each day’s visit will be approximately two to three hours.

Candidates must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Enjoy working with children ages 5 to 13.
• Be patient and responsible.
• Believe in the importance of teaching empathy and compassion for all living beings.
• Have a desire to instill a culture of kindness and compassion in young people.

Teaching experience preferred, but not required.

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MARKETING

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

Videography: Videos of PFA programs, animals, and events

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QUESTIONS?

Please contact Eric Larnick, Volunteer Manager at volunteers@pfaonline.org.

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS  (Spring 2025 Update: Currently on-hold)

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.