Our volunteers help improve the lives of animals and our community by:

  • giving hands on care to our adoptable pets

  • training adoptable pets

  • educating our community

  • providing administrative support

  • saving lives

  • giving back

Dog and cat collage

We want your experience to be both rewarding and challenging.

Drawing of volunteer sitting with a large black dog

  • We provide the training for all volunteer positions; therefore, no prior experience is required.

  • Due to the amount of training we require for most of our volunteer positions, we ask for a 6 month commitment volunteering at least 8 hours each month.

  • New volunteers can only register for a regularly scheduled shift on the same day and time each week. At this time, we offer community cat and dog care volunteer positions.

  • Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older.

Steps to become a volunteer:

Step 1: Register to attend an orientation. Register to attend a virtual volunteer orientation and learn more about the program! Please choose the appropriate age group button below.

18 or older – Dog Care Weekdays

18 or older – Cat Care/Community Cat Weekdays

16 – 18 and in high school

Step 2: Attend an online orientation. You will learn about the volunteer positions, fostering animals, our history, and policies. Volunteer applications will be submitted following orientation attendance.

Step 3: Attend a virtual meet and greet with a mentor. Each individual interested in pursuing a volunteer position will meet one on one with the volunteer coordinator.

Step 4: Complete a background check. Osceola County requires fingerprinting and a background check for all new volunteers age 18 years of age and older.

Step 5: Make a commitment. A six month/50 hour commitment is required of each new adult volunteer. 

Expectations of Volunteers

  • Be reliable. We schedule volunteers according to the animal care needs. It is vitally important that volunteers show up to their shifts.

  • Be positive! Volunteers should always present a calm and positive attitude with a helpful spirit.

  • Be accurate. It is not only important to observe and record animal behavior accurately but also to provide our guests and the community with accurate educational information.

  • Be honest and open. We want to provide an open and honest answer to all questions. As a volunteer if you do not know the answer to a question or how to answer professionally please refer the guest to a staff member.

  • Be thorough. All tasks from cleaning cages to stuffing envelopes have specific procedures. Volunteers must adhere to these procedures. If you do not understand the procedure, please ask.

  • Be professional. Volunteers represent Osceola County Animal Services. What you do and what you say, affect the animals in our care.

  • Be welcoming. We are helping our guests find furry friends to join their family and educating them on proper animal care and pet responsibility. Smile, have a good time and connect with our guests. We are a resource for our community and here to provide the highest quality care for our animals and service to our guests.

  • All volunteers are supervised by the Volunteer/Rescue Specialist , the department managers, and mentors.

Please note:

  • If you are over 18 years of age, a background check (paid for by Animal Services) must be completed before your volunteer status can begin.

  • The Osceola County Animal Services Volunteer program is not able to accommodate court mandated community service hours. Please call 407-742-8000 if you have questions about this.

  • Students and individuals seeking to complete service hours for scholarships and projects are welcome but must adhere to all volunteer guidelines and schedules of commitment.

  • ADA Compliance: The County will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified individuals with disabilities so they can participate equally in the County’s programs, services, and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to individuals with speech, hearing, or vision impairments. To request services for the Animal Services volunteer department, please email volunteerwithanimals@osceola.org.

The video below honors Osceola County Animal Services volunteers who work tirelessly to take care of the Shelter’s animals, from dog walking and cat socialization to cleaning cages and foster parenting. Thank you volunteers for being a friend to our animals in need.