Become a Volunteer

Welcome to the Centre County PAWS Volunteer Website. Volunteers are the heart and soul of the organization. We invite you to complete an online application and join the ranks of volunteers committed to helping homeless and unwanted dogs and cats.

The core of PAWS' energy and continuing success lies in its focus on three areas: putting animal welfare first, valuing its staff and volunteers, and supporting the principle of non-euthanasia. Centre County PAWS is committed to finding homes for homeless cats and dogs, educating citizens on responsible pet ownership, providing spay/neuter assistance, and ending pet overpopulation. We are a non-euthanasia, member-supported, volunteer enabled organization dedicated to the Promotion of Animal Welfare and Safety. Click here for the complete Mission Statement.

PAWS, established in 1980, has grown significantly over the years and has received wide-based community support from individuals, businesses and local veterinary practices. This generosity enabled PAWS, in 2007, to move into its current 14,000 square foot Adoption and Education Center. This remarkable facility, coupled with a steadily increasing volunteer base, has resulted in an impressive growth in our cat and dog programs, reflected in a substantially higher number of companion animal adoptions.

It takes hundreds of volunteer and staff hours to maintain and grow the Center. Volunteers comprise the vast majority of people power at PAWS, as the paid staff consists of three persons: one full-time Shelter Supervisor and three part-time employees. It takes at least 16 volunteers to care for the dogs and cats every morning and evening. There are dozens more "behind the scenes" who work on adoption applicants, fundraising, scheduling, ongoing medical care, and much more. PAWS needs a minimum of 35 volunteers just to open each weekend day.

Your help is essential for PAWS to continue fulfilling its mission, and I look forward to seeing you at PAWS in the very near future.

Sincerely,

Linette Courtney
President

Volunteer Application Forms

• Adult Volunteer Application Form. Fill out this form if you are an adult and would like to volunteer on a regular basis, or if your children would like to volunteer.
• Youth Volunteer Addendum. Fill out this addendum to the application form if your children would like to volunteer.
• One-Day Adult Group Form. Fill out this form if you are an adult and part of a group volunteering for a single day at PAWS (for example, a day of service).
• Request for Community Service Hours. Fill out this addendum to the application form if you are volunteering at PAWS to fulfill a community service requirement.
• Request to Fulfill a Course Requirement. Fill out this addendum to the application form if you are volunteering at PAWS to fulfill a course requirement.
• Community Service or Course Requirement Tracking Form. If you are fulfilling a community service or course requirement, bring this form with you to each time you volunteer in order to record your volunteer hours.

Volunteer Opportunities

PAWS has a wide range of rewarding volunteer opportunities. If you have questions, please email us at newvolunteer@centrecountypaws.org.

Foster Homes - PAWS is always looking for loving homes to provide foster care for our cats, kittens, dogs and puppies until we can find a permanent home for them. For more information about fostering, see our foster home page.
Cat Volunteers - We have many opportunities if you would like to help with the cats: floor volunteer at the PAWS Center, Adoption Counselor, cat care (cleaning and socializing), cat phone line volunteer, cat waiting list maintenance, weekend cat waiting list maintenance, cat line emails, intake volunteers, Intake Coordinator, cat foster home, Cat Foster Home Coordinator, cat cage allocations, cat Play Pal, Cat Play Pal Coordinator, Cat Coordinator, Cat Volunteer Scheduler, and Black Dog (Cat) Club Coordinator. More Information ...
Dog Volunteers - We also have many opportunities if you would like to help with the dogs: floor volunteer at the PAWS Center, Adoption Counselor, dog care (cleaning and walking), dog shift leader, dog phone line volunteer, intake/assessment volunteer, Dog Intake Coordinator, dog foster, Dog Foster Home Coordinator, Dog Coordinator, Dog Volunteer Scheduler, and Black Dog (Cat) Club Coordinator. More Information ...
Fronk Desk and Administrative Volunteers - If you enjoy meeting and talking with people, these volunteer opportunities are for you: front desk volunteer at the PAWS Center, Lost and Found Coordinator, juvenile community service supervisor, and IT volunteer. More Information ...
Landscaping Volunteers - If you enjoy gardening and working outdoors, these are great volunteer opportunities: landscaping volunteer, and Landscaping Coordinator. More Information ...
Publicity Volunteers - We have many opportunities if you would like to help promote PAWS programs and community services: Publicity Director, Foster Program Publicity Coordinator, Spay/Neuter Program Publicity Coordinator, Cat Program Publicity Coordinator, Dog Program Publicity Coordinator, and Publicity Team volunteer. More Information ...
Spay/Neuter Program Volunteers - Work to reduce pet overpopulation in Centre County by volunteering with our pet spay/neuter programs: Spay and Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) Coordinator, and Spay and Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) Voucher Coordinator. More Information ...
Development Volunteers - Help PAWS build the community relations and raise the funds needed to carry out our programs and activities: Annual Giving Committee member, Major Gifts Fundraising Committee member, Grant Writing Committee member, and Events Planning Committee member. More Information ...

Upcoming Training and Open House Dates

Open Houses: please check back later for more information
Cat Volunteer Training: (see cat page for more information)
Sept. 12, 6:30-8 pm
Sept. 14, 6-7:30 pm
Sept. 16, 5:30-6:30 pm
Sept. 19, 6-7:30 pm
Oct. 10, 6-7:30 pm
Oct. 13, 5:30-6:30 pm
Oct. 19, 6-7:30 pm
Oct. 24, 6-7:30 pm
Dog Volunteer Training: (see dog page for more information)
Sept. 12, 4:30-6 pm
Sept. 22, 6-7:30 pm
Oct. 10, 4:30-6 pm
Oct. 20, 6-7:30 pm
Nov. 14, 4:30-6 pm
Nov. 24, 6-7:30 pm
Dec. 12, 4:30-6 pm
Dec. 22, 6-7:30 pm

PAWS Animals Available for Adoption

Adopted PAWS Animals

Adopting from PAWS

PAWS Information

Upcoming PAWS Events

How You Can Help PAWS

His master's voice

Become a Volunteer

Volunteer Application Forms

Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Training and Open House Dates

Volunteer Questions, Volunteer Answers