Animal Care and Control

The San Francisco Department of Animal Care and Control is responsible for the community's lost, abandoned, injured, and neglected animals. We care for approximately 17,000 animals every year and rely heavily on the time and talents of volunteers to assure the success of our efforts. Whether you work with the animals, the public, or behind the scenes, volunteers help improve the quality of life for the animals in our Shelter and improve their chances for adoption.

Volunteers are currently needed to fill the following positions:

• Adoption Counselor - This people-oriented volunteer combines adoption screening with public education. While advising on pet care and behavior, an Adoption Counselor guides our prospective adopters as they choose the animals best suited to their homes and lifestyles.
• Dog Walker - Exercise and companionship are important for the health and vitality of the dogs in our Animal Shelter. Volunteers who have some experience with dogs and a couple of hours a week to give are needed to take our dogs for walks, lifting their spirits and helping them stay adoptable.
• Lost and Found Coordinator - An eye for detail and lots of patience are skills needed in our Lost and Found department. We have plenty of missing pet capers to solve, and invite volunteers who possess a detective's nose and a photographic memory to drag their trenchcoats out of mothballs! Spend a couple of hours a week matching our Shelter animals with anxious owners using clues from our lost and found reports.
• Customer Service - This volunteer greets our customers as they enter our busy lobby, directing them to the services they need and answering general questions. Phone support may also be included. To enjoy helping the public is a must for this high-profile volunteer.
• Community Outreach - Volunteers who would prefer to help promote our services will often be called to coordinate or staff events and festivals. Whether on-going or on-call, they can fill a spot in the nick of time.
• Reserve Officer - Reserve Officers are volunteers who are trained in the Animal Control Division to assist Officers in the field. Full training is provided. Reserve Officers must be at least 18 years of age and available eight hours a month.

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