Volunteer Form

IVHS takes volunteers over the age of 18, no experience needed! Please fill out an online application below, and sign up for an orientation date. Following your orientation, you can begin volunteering at any time. We have an easy-access volunteer portal where you can sign up for shifts.

To serve as a volunteer safely and effectively at IVHS & SPCA, individuals need to possess the following physical, mental, and emotional capabilities.

Please note: Reasonable accommodations can be made and will be taken into consideration relative to role placement.

Please discuss any needs with the Volunteer Department. communityoutreach@ivhsspca.org

Essential Physical Capabilities for all roles

Ability to move on unpaved, uneven, rugged and sometimes muddy and slippery terrain.
Average vision (with or without correction) to move safely around the building, to be able to observe animal body language without difficulty, and to be able to read notes on animals’ paperwork.
Ability to hear calls of alarm such as audible warnings from radios or sirens.
Ability to speak and effectively communicate with other volunteers, staff, and members of the public.
Must not have strong allergies to animals or to chemicals, such as those used in grooming or cleaning.
Ability to deal with strong and unpleasant odors, fleas, feces and possible wounds or injuries to animals in our care.
Ability to cope with a very loud environment.
Ability to operate normal kitchen equipment; retrieve items from standard upright model refrigerator/freezer.
No known concerns about tolerating exposure to zoonotic diseases such as ringworm and mange.

Essential Mental Capabilities for all roles

Ability to understand, remember and follow instructions and procedures.
High level reading, writing, spelling and communication skills (example: understand words such as ‘quarantine’).
Possess problem-solving capability.
Ability to receive, incorporate and sustain instruction and feedback.
Ability to effectively communicate with the public including providing customer service and education on topics as it pertains to the volunteer assignment.
Possess a professional and positive attitude with a “Solutions, Not Excuses” approach when facing challenges.

Essential Emotional Capabilities for all roles

Ability to cope with a highly emotionally charged environment and in the presence of animals who are homeless, abandoned, injured and/or abused.
Ability to understand IVHS & SPCA’s policies and positions regarding companion animals, animal control, and other key animal welfare issues and an ability and willingness to appropriately and accurately represent those policies when interacting with the public or otherwise representing IVHS & SPCA.

Essential Physical, Mental & Emotional Capabilities for animal interaction and handling roles

Ability to cope with unexpected animal behavior without assistance.
Ability to be aware of potentially dangerous situations when working with animals; ability to remain calm with animals who are upset, behave sensitively and confidently, and show good judgment and act appropriately in these situations.
Average strength to assist with lifting small to medium size animals (up to 50 pounds).
Ability to hear if an animal is growling or making sounds indicating fear or pain.
High level of manual dexterity to leash/harness animals.
Quick reflexes and ability to use both hands simultaneously (example: open cage door while handling and animal).
Ability to bend and squat in order to leash/harness, clean kennels or pick up an animal as needed.

Completion of our volunteer application and orientation indicates you believe you possess the basic capabilities.

Name(Required)

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Address(Required)

Age(Required)

Due to the risk of handling stray animals with unknown histories, IVHS SPCA accepts volunteers ages 18 and over. If you are under 18 and need service hours, please email communityoutreach@ivhsspca.org

Please enter a number from 0 to 110.

Volunteering through a referral?(Required)

If volunteering through referral from another agency (school, court, etc.), please indicate the agency, contact person and number of hours required to volunteer. If this doesn’t apply to you, enter N/A.*

What interests you about our organization?(Required)

Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.

Please list any relevant experience you may have (ie Photography, Dog Walking, Grooming, Public Relations)*(Required)

Please see the schedule above. Select the days you are available to volunteer (pick all that apply).*(Required)

Weekday morning 9am-11am

Weekday afternoon 11am-2:30pm

Weekday afternoon 2:30pm-4pm

Weekend morning (Saturdays only)

Weekend afternoon (Saturdays only)

Please indicate if you have an area of special interest or experience*(Required)

Dog Walking & Socialization

Kennel Enrichment (Passing out toys, treats, making KONG’s, laundry)

Cat & Rabbit Care (Kennel cleaning, socialization, enrichment)

Health Care Center (Cleaning surgical equipment, recovery of animals post spay/neuter)

Neonatal Kitten Care (Spring/Summer months)

Events (Vaccine Clinic, Dog Walks)

Photography of Shelter Animals for Online Media

Shelter Ambassador (Assistance of customers in adoption department)

Would you be willing to be a shift lead after completing 10 hours of volunteer service at IVHS?(Required)

Emergency Contact Name(Required)

Emergency Contact Phone Number(Required)

Copy of Photo ID (Driver's License)*(Required)

Accepted file types: jpg, png, jpeg, gif, pdf, Max. file size: 10 MB.

Please join our Volunteer Facebook Group to receive updates on adopted animals and weekly happenings around the shelter! CLICK HERE.

Signature(Required)

Liability Release: Volunteers Over the Age of 18 *(Required)

WAIVER AND RELEASE FORM RELEASE OF LIABILITY I am over 18 years of age and wish to participate as a Volunteer at the Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA. I understand and agree that I must be over 18 years old to be a Volunteer. In consideration for being permitted by the Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA to participate in volunteer activities, including all related activities, and any activities incidental to such participation (“Volunteer Activities”), I hereby agree that I will not make a claim against, sue, attach the property of, or prosecute the Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA, including its officers, directors, employees, agents, City Partners or contractors (collectively “IVHS”), and hereby forever release and discharge IVHS from all present and future claims that may be made by me, my family, estate, heirs, or assigns for property damage, personal injury, or wrongful death arising as a result of my participation in the Volunteer Activities wherever, whenever, or however the same may occur. I understand and agree that IVHS is not responsible for any injury or property damage arising out of the Volunteer Activities, even if caused by their ordinary negligence or otherwise. I also understand that this Waiver and Release of Liability is intended to discharge in advance, IVHS from and against any and all liability arising out of or connected in any way with my participation as a Volunteer. I represent that, to my knowledge, I am in good health and suffer no physical impairment that would or should prevent my participation in Volunteer Activities. I understand that participation in the Volunteer Activities involves certain risks, including, but not limited to, serious injury and death. I further understand that the behavior of domestic animals is sometimes unpredictable and that some domestic animals are capable of inflicting serious personal injury or death, as well as extensive property damage. I am voluntarily participating in the Volunteer Activities with knowledge of the danger involved and I agree to accept all risks of participation. Knowing the risk of handling domestic animals, I hereby agree to assume those risks and to release and hold harmless all of the persons or entities mentioned above who might otherwise be liable to me (or my heirs or assigns) for damages. I also agree to indemnify and hold harmless IVHS for all claims arising out of my participation in the Volunteer Activities. I understand that this Waiver and Release of Liability is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by law and agree that if any portion of this Waiver and Release of Liability is determined to be invalid, the remainder will continue in full force and effect. I further agree that this Waiver and Release shall be governed by the laws of the State of California. In the event of any dispute regarding this Waiver and Release of Liability, venue shall be in the County of Los Angeles, State of California. I AM OF LEGAL AGE AND HAVE READ THIS WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY CAREFULLY AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS CONTENTS. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND A CONTRACT BETWEEN MYSELF AND IVHS, AND I SIGN IT OF MY OWN FREE WILL. I UNDERSTAND THAT BY SIGNING THIS FORM, I AM GIVING UP LEGAL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES. THIS WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY IS TO BE BINDING ON ME, MY FAMILY, ESTATE, HEIRS, DISTRIBUTES, GUARDIANS, LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE AND ASSIGNS.

I HAVE READ AND AGREETO THE WAIVER AND RELEASE FORM RELEASE OF LIABILITY

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Essential Physical Capabilities for all roles

Essential Mental Capabilities for all roles

Essential Emotional Capabilities for all roles

Essential Physical, Mental & Emotional Capabilities for animal interaction and handling roles

Completion of our volunteer application and orientation indicates you believe you possess the basic capabilities.

Inland Valley Humane Society & S.P.C.A.

let's stay in touch