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Since 1952, volunteers have been the backbone of Pet Haven and allowed us to keep our administrative costs down so public donations can go directly to animal care. When we did a conservative evaluation of the time our administrative volunteers give in a year it tallied just over $300,000!! That truly allows us to give more to the pets in crisis that come to us. Our volunteers are so valuable to us and Pet Haven is a family.
We provide training and support to a community of amazing volunteers who are committed to making Minnesota a better place for animals.
There are many ways to be involved, and we thank you ahead of time for your interest. You can find out more about available volunteer opportunities by clicking on the links below. And if you have a skill or interest you think Pet Haven can't live without, we'd love to hear from you! Join our family today!
Foster Application
The Owner Surrender Application Reviewer is responsible for reviewing surrender cases, communicating with the families, and collecting the information we need to find a foster family.
Estimated time commitment: 3-5 hours a week (virtual)
The Dog Foster Coordinator is responsible for reviewing applications to foster with Pet Haven. This includes answering application questions, lease checks, and assigning home visits.
The Home Visit Volunteer is responsible for onboarding applicants to foster by completing a virtual orientation and home visit. Foster experience preferred.
Estimated time commitment: 2-4 hours a week (virtual)
The Biographer is responsible for writing the biographies for adoptable animals in care and posting them for adoption.
Estimated time commitment: 2-4 hours per week (virtual)
The Cat Adoption Event Team Lead is responsible for helping coordinate fosters and available cats for our Cat Adoption Events, and run one event per month.
Estimated time commitment: One Sunday a month, 10 hours per month total
The Pawsitivity Squad is responsible for helping run fundraising, adoption, and community events as needed! Additional opportunities to help plan events are available!
Estimated time commitment: As needed, 1-2 events per month
The Fosters Needed Facebook Moderator provides support to Pet Haven’s Intake Coordinators by keeping animal posts up to date. This role acts as an auditor to our Intake tagging process and our internal Fosters' Needed Facebook.
Estimated time commitment: 3 hours per week (virtual)
Providing foster care for a dog or a cat can be a very rewarding experience, but it has its share of responsibilities and challenges as well. Dogs and Cats come to Pet Haven through our Shelter Partners and from Crisis Owner Surrenders. While we try to gain as much information as we can on the health, behavior, and personality of each animal we bring in, there are often many unknowns. Fosters need to be willing to work within the animal's timelines and needs, giving the animal the space to adjust to their new home and all the changes they have been through. This requires compassion, kindness, patience, and persistence. Experience with animals is helpful but not a requirement. Fostering can be an excellent way to determine if you are cut out for pet ownership, or if it is feasible to add another pet to your household.
Please tell us about yourself and if you would like to foster a cat or dog by filling out a foster application!
Do you have a physical shelter space?
Yes. We do have a physical space where you can volunteer but we generally do not house pets on-site. Our model is Foster-based. All of our animals live in private foster homes. We believe in couches not kennels for our Pet Haven Pets! If you're looking for a volunteer position directly interfacing with our foster animals, consider becoming a Foster or a Foster Friend!
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Positions require volunteers to be 18. Those under 18 can volunteer as a Foster Friend if accompanied by an adult.
Can I volunteer from home?
You bet! We have administrative and remote positions which allow you to help from the comfort of your sofa!
How do I find out more?
Once you submit your volunteer application, you'll hear back from our Volunteer Coordinator to discuss how you can get involved.
How do you communicate with volunteers?
Pet Haven has a dedicated Volunteer Facebook page created just for volunteers to keep up with what’s going on. Once you submit your volunteer application, we’ll add you to the group. You’ll also receive our monthly E-Volunteer Newsletter.
