Volunteer Opportunities

Animal Rescue League of Boston

http://www.arlboston.org/volunteer/

Email: dvogel@arlboston.org

Phone: 617-226-5670

Address: 10 Chandler Street, Boston, MA 02116 (they also have locations in Dedham and Brewster)

Type of Facility: Museum with AZA accredited  animal facilities

Description: The Animal Rescue League of Boston has three Animal Care and Adoption Centers, a Spay Waggin’ and administrative offices that need volunteers to help with everything from animal care to general office support; from staffing special events to working on creative projects. Some of the positions available include direct animal care, animal socialization, Adoption Assistant, Intake Assistant, Behavior Assistant, Veterinary Care Assistant, Grooming and nail trimming, and Humane Education Tour Guide (see website for more details). New volunteers typically begin assisting our shelter staff by helping with cleaning, laundry, restocking supplies and staffing events before being trained to work with animals. Volunteers are grouped into three tiers based on service and training level. Dog walking, cat care, rescue, and other opportunities may be available once volunteers have the training and confidence to work with animals on a one-to-one basis.

Additional Requirements: Online application, followed by a volunteer orientation and possibly further training.

Time Commitment: Varies depending on position.

Public Transportation: Green line toSciencePark stop

From the MBTA Orange Line: Get off the Orange Line at the Back Bay station. Exit the Orange line toward Clarendon St.( not Dartmouth St.). Turn right and cross over Columbus Street to the next stop sign and turn left onto Chandler Street. Follow Chandler Street and cross Berkley Street. We are on the right hand side at the end of Chandler St. From the MBTA Green Line: Exit the Green line toward Arlington Street. Walk down Arlington Street with the flow of traffic. Continue until you cross the Mass Pike & the “T” tracks. After crossing the highway, you will see the Animal Rescue League on the right directly across Tremont Street across from CVS.

Boston Museum of Science

http://www.mos.org/support_mos/volunteering/

Contact: Volunteer Office

Email: volunteer1@mos.org

Phone: 617-589-0380

Address: Science Park Boston, MA 02114

Type of Facility: Museum with AZA accredited  animal facilities

Description: For a complete listing of volunteer positions, check the website. Internships are also available.

Additional Requirements: Written application, personal interview, and for youth a letter of recommendation .

Time Commitment: At least one 4 hour shift per week for 4 to 6 months

Public Transportation: Green line toSciencePark stop

Alternative: The 80 Bus to Lechmere (departs from Powderhouse Circle), cross the street and walk a block and a half to the left, museum is on the right.

Green Chimneys

http://www.greenchimneys.org/careers/volunteer/

Green Chimneys is a non-profit organization that helps children who suffer from learning, social, emotional, or behavioral disorders. It is located on a farm that houses a wildlife rehab center and it places a lot of emphasis on animal-assisted therapy. It is also a site for the rescue of Premarin foals (Premarin is a drug that contains urine from pregnant mares and the foals from these mares are often sent to slaughter houses). Their programming serves children and adults with handicapping conditions and regular children and adults from New York City, the mid-Hudson region, Westchester and Putnam counties, and the counties of western Connecticut. Their farm/wildlife conservation center is always seeking help. Volunteers can assist riding instructors in the equine program, work at the preschool or in the centers library, or work at the Green Chimneys Farm & Wildlife Conservation Center. Help with feeding and general animal care; assist in training farm animals and work as mentors for children who have a variety of special needs. Training provided. Most volunteers work one day a week on a regular basis. They also have internships available working on the farm or for clinical psychology students (see the website for more details).

MSPCA/Angell Memorial (Boston)

https://www.mspca.org/adoption-centers/boston-adoption-center/boston-adoption-center-volunteer-program/

Email: bostonvolunteer@mspca.org

Phone: (617) 522-7400

Address:350 South Huntington Ave.Boston,MA02130

Type of Facility:AnimalMedicalCenter, Animal Care andAdoptionCenters

Description: For a complete listing of volunteer positions, check the website listed above. Volunteers are needed as cat, dog and small mammal caregivers. They are also needed to assist with administrative tasks and in the spay/neuter clinic.

Additional Requirements: Online application and individual training program.

Time Commitment: One weekly two-hour shift (minimum).

Directions: Take the Green Line’s Arborway (E) trolley to Heath station. Walk 0.5 miles upSouth Huntington Avenue. Pass theVeteransAdministrationHospital and a residential block. The Boston Care andAdoptionCenter is on the left, just before the traffic light. Or take the 39 bus, which runs from Back Bay toForest Hills.  Request the bus driver to stop at the corner ofSouth Huntington andPerkins St.

MSPCA – Nevins Farm (Methuen, MA)

https://www.mspca.org/adoption-centers/nevins-farm-adoption-center/

Phone: (978) 687-7453

Address:400 Broadway,Methuen, MA01844-2052

Description: For a complete listing of volunteer positions, check the website listed above. Volunteers are needed as cat, dog and small mammal caregivers. They are also needed to assist with administrative tasks and in the spay/neuter clinic. Volunteers are needed 7 days a week from 7 am until an hour after close. Some students may also have the opportunity to assist in the surgical ward.

Additional Requirements: Online application, shelter orientation and an individual training program.

Time Commitment: One weekly two-hour shift (minimum).

Directions: Accessible only by car. Take route 93 N (from Tufts to Exit 48 to Route 213 East, Methuen. Take Exit 2 off of Route 213 to Route 28, Methuen. Follow the ramp to the light and take a left onto Route 28. At the next set of lights, turn left into the MSPCA entrance. About a 30-minute drive north of Tufts.

New England Aquarium

http://www.neaq.org/get_involved/volunteering_and_internships/volunteering/index.php

Contact: Volunteer Programs

Email: vols@neaq.org

Phone: 617-973-5235

Address:CentralWharfBoston,MA02110

Description: For a complete listing of volunteer positions, click the above link and click on “positions available”. Most positions require a six-month commitment, and volunteers work one full day a week (8 a.m.- 6 p.m.). Limited weekend positions, short term and one-shot opportunities are also available.

Additional Requirements: Online application, general interview, department interview, and for some programs, a training session.

Public Transportation: Blue line to Aquarium stop

The Animal Medical Center (NYC)

http://www.amcny.org/about-amc/volunteer-amc

This volunteer program is designed specifically for students interested in veterinary medicine and provides students with opportunities in both small and large animal medicine. Volunteer applications can be obtained from the human resource department.

The Raptor Trust (Millington, NJ)

http://theraptortrust.org/volunteers/

The Raptor Trust is a licensed wild bird rehabilitation facility. They care for injured and orphaned native birds with the goal of making them healthy and releasing them back into the wild. Volunteer chores consist of providing food and water to non-raptors, daily cleaning of outside aviaries, general maintenance of the infirmary, and helping the staff as needed. Volunteers are not allowed in raptor cages, nor are they allowed to handle raptors, although they are welcome to watch the trained staff do their work. The Trust is most in need of volunteers during the summer months.

Woodford Cedar Run Refuge (Medford, NJ)

http://www.cedarrun.org/

This refuge located 17 miles from Philadelphia host a volunteer program to care for the wildlife that comes through its doors. Volunteers are needed to care for the wildlife, make repairs to the refuge, assist with fundraising, educational programming as well as general office work.

Zoo New England – The Franklin Park Zoo

http://www.zoonewengland.org/jobs-volunteering/volunteers

Contact: Volunteer Program

Email: fpzvolunteers@zoonewengland.com

Phone: 617-379-5176

Address: One Franklin Park Rd.Boston,MA02121

Description: Keepers Aides, Gardeners, Interpreters and Zoo Ambassadors needed. Keepers Aides work behind-the-scenes with the Animal Management Department to help provide for the health, safety, care and enrichment of Zoo New England’s diverse animal collection. Keeper Aides assist with preparing diets, feeding animals, cleaning holding areas and recording observations.

Additional Requirements: Written application, personal interview, and references .

Time Commitment: Interpreter: 100 hours of service per year. Zoo Ambassador: A flexible volunteer position with 4-hour weekend shifts available during peak visitation and special events. Keeper Aide: A 4-hour shift per week for six consecutive months. Gardener: One of Zoo New England’s most flexible volunteer positions with weekend and weekday shifts available in the spring, summer, and fall.

Public Transportation: Take the Orange Line or Commuter Rail to theForest Hills station, then take the number 16 bus to the Franklin Park Zoo. Or take the Orange Line or Commuter Rail to the Ruggles station, then take the number 22, 28, 29, 44 or 45 bus to the Franklin Park Zoo. Or take the Red line to the Andrew station, then take the number 16 bus to the Franklin Park Zoo.

Zoo New England – The Stone Zoo

http://www.zoonewengland.org/Page.aspx?pid=242

Contact: Volunteer Program

Email: szvolunteers@zoonewengland.com

Phone: 781-438-9503

Address: 149 Pond StreetStoneham,MA02180

Description: Keepers Aides, Gardeners, Interpreters and Zoo Ambassadors needed. Keepers Aides work behind-the-scenes with the Animal Management Department to help provide for the health, safety, care and enrichment of Zoo New England’s diverse animal collection. Keeper Aides assist with preparing diets, feeding animals, cleaning holding areas and recording observations.

Additional Requirements: Written application, personal interview, and references .

Time Commitment: Interpreter: 100 hours of service per year. Zoo Ambassador: A flexible volunteer position with 4-hour weekend shifts available during peak visitation and special events. Keeper Aide: A 4-hour shift per week for six consecutive months. Gardener: One of Zoo New England’s most flexible volunteer positions with weekend and weekday shifts available in the spring, summer, and fall.

Public Transportation: Not Available. The Stone Zoo is located at149 Pond St.Stoneham,MA02180. It is accessible by car from I-93.

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