Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

OHS volunteers help give Ottawa’s animals a brighter future and make our community a more humane place for all. If you are interested in joining our volunteer team, and making a difference for Ottawa’s animals, please review the volunteer opportunities and follow the application instructions.

Please note: Applications will not be processed for programs that are not open for recruitment. We have a limited number of available openings, and applicants must meet the volunteer requirements to be considered for an interview. We thank all applicants for applying, however, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Current Volunteer Opportunities at the OHS

Volunteer: Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the governance body of OHS. On behalf of the community, and representing the members of OHS, the Board provides the strategic direction, resources, and high-level oversight for the organization to be successful in achieving its mission and goals.

Learn more


Volunteer: Community Services

Are you interested in helping animals while supporting families in the community facing financial hardship? If so, the community services volunteer role might be the right fit for you.

Learn more


Volunteer: Electronic Giving

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our development and administrative team! Administration and office support volunteers will work closely with the various departments on selected office support and administrative tasks.

Learn more

Other Opportunities: Not Currently Recruiting

Thank you for your interest in wanting to donate your time and skills to helping the animals in our care. Fortunately, the following programs are well supported by volunteers and we are not able to accept applications for these positions at this time.

The OHS is a busy place, and volunteer needs are always changing. If you are interested in joining one of these programs, please visit our website in the near future to see if the program status has changed. Again, thank you for your interest.


 

Volunteer: Foster Program

The OHS relies on the dedication of foster volunteers to aid in the recovery of animals who may not be ready for adoption due to medical or behavioral reasons. Foster volunteers temporarily care for animals in their home until the animals are ready to be adopted. The goal of the Foster Program is to provide the animals in our care with an opportunity for a happy and healthy future. Currently, we are specifically seeking foster homes who are able and willing to take on larger dog placements.

Learn more


Volunteer: Humane Education Program

Do you enjoy spending time with children and animals? Are you comfortable speaking in front of kids?Are you available for three hours every second week during the school year (October-June)? Can you commit to the School Program for one year? Do you have a car or access to a vehicle?

If you answered YES to the above questions, you may enjoy volunteering with the humane education department!

Learn more


Volunteer: Program Animal Handler

Do you and your companion animal enjoy visiting new places and meeting new people? If so the Program Animal Handler volunteer role might be the right fit for you!

Learn more


Volunteer: Groomer

Volunteer groomers help ensure the health and well-being of our animals by bathing and drying animals, trimming nails, cleaning ears, and brushing or shaving matted coats. The OHS has a fully equipped grooming room including a table, tub, and supplies where volunteers provide grooming services with an expert hand.

Learn more


Volunteer: Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic Intake Assistant

The Volunteer Department is looking for volunteers to help support the morning intake processes for the Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic, at various locations in our community. Volunteers are responsible for greeting clients (who are admitting their pet), supervising client lineups, assisting with paperwork as needed, interacting with clients and answering questions.

Learn more


Office Volunteer: MSNS Support

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our Mobile Spay and Neuter Services team, offering office/administration support.

Learn more


Volunteer: Pet Adoption Location (PAL) Cat Assistant

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for volunteers who are interested in feeding, cleaning and socializing OHS cats while they are awaiting adoption, located in our partner PetSmart locations. If you enjoy interacting and caring for cats, look no further, as this is the “purrfect” opportunity for you! Volunteers must have experience caring for cats, a high attention to detail, excellent communication skills, a vehicle and a valid driver’s license.

Learn More


Volunteer: Office Volunteer – Administration Area

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our administrative team! Administration and office support volunteers will work closely with the various departments on selected office support and administrative tasks.

Learn More


Microchip Clinic Volunteer Program

Are you interested in helping lost pets get back home more quickly? The OHS hosts microchip clinics on-site (at the OHS) and off-site (in the community), in hopes of microchipping more animals in Ottawa. Microchips help lost pets get back home, so the more animals chipped, the better! We are looking for three new volunteers to assist with the administration of our microchip clinics, and to help clients and their pets as required.

Learn more


Volunteer: Videographer

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for experienced volunteer videographers! Videographers better capture the work that we do, highlighting animals we have for adoption, profiling OHS events, and more. With this program, volunteers donate their time and talents to create, shoot and edit videos to promote OHS programs and services based on identified priorities, as directed by manager: communications.

Learn more


Volunteer: Photographer

If you have experience taking portrait-style photographs, enjoy meeting new people and their pets and are able to stage and capture a wonderful family photo, we need you!

Learn more


Volunteer: Adoptions Photography Assistant

The adoptions team is looking for a photographer to support the department by taking photos of adoptable animals for the OHS website.

Learn more


Volunteer: Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic Scheduling

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our mobile spay/neuter (MSN) team in an administrative capacity! Administrative tasks may include: contacting MSN clients to schedule clinic appointments, making upcoming clinic reminder phone calls, answering general program FAQ, providing excellent customer service, other clerical/administrative duties as assigned.

Learn more


Volunteer: Outreach Canvasser

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for volunteer canvassers who are interested in promoting OHS Outreach Services in our community. Volunteers are required to canvass neighbourhoods, in pairs going door-to-door, to promote and raise awareness about OHS Services.

Learn more


Bénévolat: Éducation en bien-être animal

Aimez-vous travailler avec les jeunes et les animaux ? Vous croyez vous capable de faire des présentations devant des groupes d’élèves ? Êtes-vous libre, pendant trois heures au deux semaines, durant l’année scolaire ? Êtes-vous prêt à vous engager pendant un an au programme d’éducation en bien-être animal ? Avez-vous une voiture ou accès à un véhicule ? Si vous avez répondu dans l’affirmative à ces questions, vous serez peut-être intéressé à faire du bénévolat pour le programme d’éducation en bien-être animal de la Société protectrice des animaux (S.P.A.) .

Learn More


 Volunteer: Offsite Microchip Clinic Program

Are you interested in helping lost pets get back home more quickly? The OHS is expanding our services across the Ottawa area and we will be hosting microchip clinics offsite, in hopes of microchipping more animals in our community. We are looking for volunteers to assist with the administration of our offsite microchip clinics, and to help clients and their pets as required.

Learn more


Volunteer: Translation Program

Experienced volunteers are needed to help the OHS translate documents from English to French, to help us achieve our goal of providing OHS materials in both official languages. Volunteers are able to work from home, at their leisure, consistent with pre-established deadlines.

Learn more


Volunteer: OHS Driver

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for four volunteers to provide driving assistance for various OHS events, or other driving tasks, as needed. Driving may be both within and outside the Ottawa area and includes transporting animals to and from the OHS.

Learn more


Volunteer: Finance

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our finance team on select office/administration projects.

Learn more


Office Volunteer: Event Support

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our events team on select office/administration projects and donor stewardship initiatives at our Development office (9 Capella Court). All tasks will support OHS signature events, community events, the OHS wedding program and other fundraising initiatives (e.g. Warm Hearts Raffle).

Learn more


Youth Volunteer Program

The youth volunteer program is designed to provide a meaningful hands-on opportunity at the OHS for youth ages 14-18, with an interest in animal welfare. The program allows qualified successful candidates the opportunity to work with our camp staff, in facilitating camp programming for children ages 6-12. For the youth involved, participation in this program provides them with mentorship from OHS staff, experience working with children, an opportunity to volunteer in an animal-related field, and the ability to complete their 40 hours community service.

Learn more


Volunteer: Feline Enrichment Four on the Floor Program

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our animal care team! This new OHS program will provide out-of-cage time to cats in need in order to maximize their daily physical and psychological wellbeing, prevent stress-related illness, and increase adoptability.

Learn more


Volunteer: Feline Enrichment Volunteer Advanced In-Kennel Enrichment (A.I.K.E.) Program

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our animal care team! With this program, volunteers are responsible for providing enrichment to felines in the form of socialization, play, exercise, visual stimulation and mild grooming.

Learn more


Small Animal Enrichment Volunteer; Rabbit and Guinea Pig

The OHS Volunteer department is seeking reliable, patient, and knowledgeable people to provide basic enrichment and socialization to rabbits and guinea pigs at the OHS.

Learn more


Volunteer: Development Office

We are looking for volunteers who are interested in supporting the animals by doing administration, phone calls and data entry in our Development office. Volunteers are responsible for varies of tasks within the Raiser’s Edge database. Depending on priority, tasks include donation processing, database clean up, returned mail, phone calls, scanning and filing. Apply today!

Learn more


Volunteer: Canine Behaviour Intervention Program

Interested in helping OHS dogs become better canine citizens? Some dogs need a little help adjusting to the shelter environment before finding their forever home or they need some basic training to help them get adopted more quickly.

Learn More


Volunteer: PAW Stewardship

We are looking for positive and enthusiastic volunteers to join our team. Come help us call donors to thank them for supporting the animals, share the heartwarming animal stories we experience at the OHS, and ensure donors know the value in the difference they make each and every day! Volunteers will be responsible for various tasks that may range from phone calls, handwritten letters, handling mail/paperwork, and working in the Raiser’s Edge database. Apply today!

Learn More


Foster Program Assistant

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for volunteers who are interested in working closely with our foster team prepping and packaging foster office supplies and select office/administration projects.

Learn more


Volunteer: Pet Adoption Location (PAL) Driver/Delivery

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is looking for three volunteers to assist our PAL team with delivering animals to PAL partner locations throughout the city of Ottawa (e.g. Pet Smart and Pet Valu locations).

Learn more


Volunteer: Canine Enrichment

The OHS Volunteer department is seeking reliable, patient, and knowledgeable people with experience handling large, energetic canines to walk dogs, offer basic enrichment, encourage basic obedience (“sit”, “down”, and loose-leash walking), and follow behaviour modification plan instructions for dogs in the shelter. In many cases, these dogs are new to the shelter (and therefore more stressed) and will have had less time with Canine Intervention and/or Enrichment Volunteers to practice good behaviors.

Learn more


Volunteer: Buddy & Belle Boutique

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Volunteer Department is seeking enthusiastic and outgoing people to help support our retail store—the Buddy & Belle Boutique. If you enjoy meeting new people and helping them with their shopping experience than this is the opportunity for you!

Learn More

volunteer resources