Veterinary Volunteer Opportunities
Working with animals in a volunteer setting can be valuable experience to confirm your interest, develop relevant skills and
build a resume for jobs and/or veterinary school applications. Many veterinary schools expect extensive experience with a
variety of animals, typically 1,000 to 2,000 hours, so keep track of your hours. It is helpful to volunteer with a small animal
hospital or local veterinarian who works with dogs, cats, rabbits and other small mammals, as well as large farm animals such
as horses, cows, pigs, and sheep. Work with birds, fish, reptiles and other exotic animals is a nice supplement, but don’t limit
your experience to exotics. Consult the list below for some opportunities to gain experience. Also consider joining the PreVeterinary Student Association at UCSD to find additional leads. Learn how to “Maximize Your Volunteer Experience” by
reading our helpful handout on the subject at http://career.ucsd.edu.
Organization & Contact Information
Description & Details
UC Veterinary Medical Center, San Diego
(858) 875-7505
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ucvmc_sd/index.cfm
Located near campus, the University of California Veterinary
Medical Center, San Diego (UCVMC-SD) brings specialized
clinical services to veterinarians and pet owners living in
Southern California. The UCVMC-SD is based on cooperation
with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, UC San
Diego Health Sciences, and animal institutes of the San Diego
region. The center promotes and enhances animal health
through interdisciplinary teaching, research, service and
outreach.
San Diego Humane Society and SPCA
(619) 299-7012
http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=vol_VolunteersMain
San Diego Animal Support Foundation (SDASF)
http://sdshelters.com/Volunteer.html
San Diego Zoo & Safari Park
(619) 231-1515 ext. 4030
www.sandiegozoo.org/volunteer
Project Wildlife
(619) 225-9453
www.projectwildlife.org/volunteer.php
The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA is a private,
nonprofit organization. It is important to them that volunteer
service is a full and meaningful experience for everyone who
participates. Therefore, they recruit new volunteers for their
general program (Foster Volunteer, Animal Rescue Reserve)
every other month. They take time to make sure the
volunteers are properly placed in a program and receive
complete training before they begin.
SDASF offers many volunteer opportunities including the
chance to work with adoptable animals, become a foster
parent of abandoned animals, and help post/edit pictures of
adoptable animals. This is not only through SDASF, but with
the 30 other local rescues and shelters in their network. Some
of those opportunities can be done from the comfort of your
own home. So, if you love animals, but cannot work directly
with them due to physical constraints, allergies or logistics,
this is the perfect opportunity for you!
Don't miss the unique opportunity to volunteer at the San
Diego Zoo & Safari Park and put your passion for wildlife to
work! They are currently recruiting Information Ambassadors,
who greet and assist guests, answer questions at several
information stations, and assist with special events and more.
You could also train to become an Interpretive Volunteer,
where you can educate guests about animals and
conservation at specific stations. This volunteer position
requires a minimum 60 hour commitment each year.
Project Wildlife is a perfect opportunity for those students
looking for hands-on experience with animal care. Whether
you like to share your passion for wildlife conservation, help
public rescuers find their way, assist with special events, or
help out in a more behind-the-scenes capacity in their triage
center, they are sure to find a perfect niche for you!
Fund for Animals Wildlife Center
http://www.humanesociety.org/community/volunteers/volunteer_ffawc.html
Get involved with handling local wildlife at the Fund for
Animals Wildlife Center in Ramona located in northeast San
Diego county! Volunteers work in a variety of settings
including adoptable San Nicolas Island Cats, wildlife in the
rehabilitation program, exotic animals in the sanctuary
program, enrichment, and even fundraising. Requires a
minimum of 4 hours once a week for three months for a total
of 100 hours.
Zoofari Foundation
http://www.wildwonders.org/about-us/zoofari-foundation/
Educate disadvantaged youths about the importance of
wildlife conservation and preservation! Work with over 120
unwanted, non-releasable, or confiscated animals by assisting
staff with the feeding, cleaning, and socializing of the animals.
Requires a minimum of 4 hours a week with a minimum
commitment of three months. Advancement to assisting with
presentations also possible.
Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC)
(858) 756-4117
http://www.animalcenter.org/volunteer/
Attend an orientation and take a tour to get started in aiding in
animal care and practicing humane behavior towards our furry
relatives. This opportunity allows you to work with adoptions,
fostering, animal care and maintenance, feeding, playing with
and giving attention to animals, experience with large animal
medicine, outreach to the community, education, exotic animal
care assistance, barn animal care, and planning fundraising
events. Weekly 3-6 hour commitment for 6 months (70 hours).
Lions Tigers & Bears Big Cat and Exotic Animal Rescue
(619) 659-8078
http://lionstigersandbears.org/about-us/volunteer
As a volunteer, you help LTB provide a safe haven for
unwanted and abused exotic animals and educate the public
about the abuses of the exotic-animal trade. Tasks can range
from administrative duties to event coordination, and even
grant writing. LTB allows its volunteers to have flexibility in
their hours and duties. LTB is located in Alpine, which is
about a 40-minute car ride from campus.
San Diego Animal Advocates
(760) 632-8638
http://www.animaladvocates.org/volunteer.html
San Diego Animal Advocates is an all-volunteer, non-profit
animal rights organization that educates the public on issues
concerning animals, with a focus on problems of captivity,
vivisection, and local area wildlife. You can become a
volunteer and set up library displays and outreach tables, take
part in educational demonstrations and arrange seminars, and
speaking engagements. Volunteers also help with special
events and fundraisers. You can also check out the resources
link on their webpage to find other animal rights and rescue
centers.