Veterinary Department Volunteer Opportunities
There are a variety of ways for volunteers to serve in the Center's veterinary department, depending on interests, availability, and the needs of the Center. Interested applicants can find a description of each area below, as well as requirements and availability. Due to shift restrictions in some areas, volunteer positions will not always be available.
Status: Applications will be open beginning January 1, 2021 and will be accepted quarterly. See 2021 volunteer calendar below.
Hospital Volunteers:
Hospital Volunteers assist staff and veterinarians with the care of wildlife patients. Hospital volunteers help with a variety of tasks including preparing meals, cleaning cages, washing dishes, cleaning floors, and disinfecting counters, among other tasks. Responsibilities increase with experience and demonstrated commitment. There are three types of volunteers in the Hospital:
- Rehabilitation Team (mammals) – must be vaccinated against rabies
- Rehabilitation Team (birds and/or reptiles) – no rabies vaccination required
- Treatment Team – must be vaccinated against rabies
Rehabilitation Volunteers (Mammals):
Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is required and a rabies titer check every two years is required.
Volunteers will work closely with the rehabilitation staff as they perform daily tasks, including but not limited to:
- Meal preparation and daily feeding/watering
- Cleaning, hosing, and scrubbing pens of all animals housed indoors and outdoors
- Assist staff with capture and restraint of patients
- Record weights and food intake
- Cage set-up
- Help hand-feed orphaned mammals
- Assist with maintaining a clean and organized facility
Rehabilitation Volunteers (Birds and Reptiles):
Volunteers will work closely with the rehabilitation staff as they perform daily tasks including, but not limited to:
- Meal preparation and daily feeding/watering
- Cleaning, hosing, and scrubbing enclosures of all animals housed indoors and outdoors
- Assist staff with capture and restraint of patients
- Record weights and food intake
- Cage set-up and maintaining proper environment
- Help hand-feed orphaned birds
- Help in the daily exercise of raptors
- Help with the care of our patient reptiles
- Help with the care of our education reptiles
- Assist with maintaining a clean and organized facility
Treatment Volunteers:
Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is required and a rabies titer check every two years is required.
Volunteers will work closely with the veterinary staff as they perform daily tasks including, but not limited to:
- Cleaning, hosing, and scrubbing enclosures of all animals housed indoors and outdoors
- Assist staff with capture and restraint of patients
- Assist veterinary staff with daily medical treatments and record-keeping
- Assist veterinary staff with medication and supplies inventory
- Assist with maintaining a clean and organized facility
- Performing basic diagnostic tests
Kitchen Volunteers:
Kitchen volunteers assist staff in the preparation of meals and nutrition of patients. Daily tasks include, but not limited to:
- Meal preparation for reptiles, mammals, and birds
- Washing dishes, floors, and disinfecting counters
- Help harvesting wild foods (browse, acorns, nuts, berries, etc.)
- Keeping food inventory
- Sorting and packing food
- Picking up donated products
- Assisting with maintaining a clean and organized facility
Administration Volunteers:
Administration volunteers help with medical record-keeping and updating important information of our patients in a database. Daily tasks include:
- Medical record-keeping
- Organization of medical records and diagnostic tests
- Organizing data for research projects
- Help implement protocols and procedures
- Assist staff with supply inventory
- Copying, scanning, and organizing documents
- Assist with maintaining a clean and organized facility
Carpentry Volunteers:
Carpentry volunteers will help with maintenance and repair of facilities and enclosures, help build animal crates, boxes, enclosures, and perches, and help with special projects. Carpentry volunteers have the option of completing projects off-site. Tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Assist with maintaining a clean and organized facility
- Building wood boxes for squirrels, owls, woodpeckers, and other wildlife patients
- Help with the repairs of the building and patient enclosures
- Help in the repair and maintenance of roofs, floors, doors, plumbing, and others
- Help in the build and design of new patient enclosures
- Help to implement the preventive maintenance protocol for the hospital building and animal enclosures
- Help with the removal of debris, leaves, and snow from roofs and floors
Applying to be a WCV Volunteer
Minimal Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have health insurance
- Must be up-to-date on tetanus vaccination
- Purchase a volunteer shirt ($9 for short sleeve, $12 for long sleeve)
- Be able to commit to at least two volunteer shifts per month.
Volunteer Calendar – Application Windows and Volunteer Orientations
The application window and subsequent volunteer orientations occur quarterly. After the application window, applications will be reviewed and applicants will be contacted and selected for interviews. Training can begin following the orientation date. Volunteer orientation will be held virtually over Zoom. The volunteer calendar for 2021 is:
First Quarter
Application window: January 1 – January 31
Volunteer orientation: February 25, 7:00pm
Second Quarter
Application window: April 1 – April 30
Volunteer orientation: May 27, 7:00pm
Third Quarter
Application window: July 1 – July 31
Volunteer orientation: August 26, 7:00pm
Fourth Quarter
Application window: October 1 – October 31
Volunteer orientation: November 18, 7:00pm
Volunteers work with a team for scheduled shifts throughout the day that they set for themselves. Preferred shifts are in the morning from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm and in the evening from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm. However, we understand that volunteers are donating their time to us, so shift times are flexible – whatever suits you best! We understand schedules change and appreciate the time you are willing to donate.
Prior animal handling experience is not required for volunteering.
Status: Applications will be open beginning January 1, 2021 and will be accepted quarterly. See 2021 volunteer calendar below.
Learn more about our outreach and transport volunteer opportunities.
Thanks for your interest in volunteering with the Wildlife Center of Virginia!