We appreciate your interest in volunteering at Bideawee . Our mission is to create and strengthen the human-animal bond through best-in-class lifesaving and compassionate care for pets and the people who love them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a volunteer?
Easy! In three steps!
Step One: Complete the online application form and a 20-minute orientation. (Please note, NYC currently has a waiting list.)
Step Two: Complete the onboarding process, which includes submitting essential documentation to run our free background check.
Step Three: Complete a meeting with the manager, facility tour and hands-on training that will provide you with all the experience you need.
What type of volunteer opportunities do you have?
So Many!
Dog and Cat Volunteers: Cleaning and working directly with animals at all locations
- Event/Community Outreach Volunteers
- Administrative Volunteers
- Greeters
- Transport Van Driver
- Pet Memorial Park Assistant
- Photography and Social Media
- And many more!
What days and times can I volunteer?
As days and times may vary per site, we have a fantastic volunteer app and website, MyImpact, where you can sign up for your weekly shifts, check the available opportunities, and even easily see upcoming events.
What training do volunteers receive?
By the time you start volunteering, you will be an expert in all things Bideawee, whether you want to work specifically with cats, dogs, or both!
We have three training levels for animal care: Green/Blue, Yellow, and Red. As you volunteer with our cats and dogs, you can advance your training levels but upon entry, volunteers are all trained at our Blue and Green level for dogs, cats, or both.
All new volunteers are matched with an experienced individual to answer questions and help get you get acclimated to Bideawee.
Can children volunteer?
Yes, they can!
In Manhattan and Westhampton, 10 to 15 years old can volunteer as a “shadow team” with an adult relative who is also a volunteer. A shadow team is trained and works as one volunteer, as they are never apart.
Those 16 to 17 years old can independently volunteer at our sites.
The Wantagh Bideawee site, also known as PAWS, Prevention and Wellness Satellite location (PAWS), is where our cats and dogs receive their first baths, get their vaccinations, and get any medical care they may need. Because of the medical nature of the operation, we ask that all applicants be 16 or older.
At the Wantagh site, due to the nature of working with isolation animals, volunteers ages 16 and 17 must provide a reference; this can be a trusted adult, coach, or teacher.
Benefits of volunteering at Bideawee for minors:
- Fulfill community service requirements
- Enhance college applications
- Become part of a community
- Build social, leadership, and communication skills
- Create a solid human-animal connection
How can I become a Pet Therapy Volunteer?
The Bideawee Pet Therapy program is a way for pet lovers to share the unconditional love and companionship of their pet with the community. This is only available through our Wantagh location at this time.
To qualify for certification, you and your pet (of any kind) must fulfill the following requirements:
- The person handling the animal must be at least 10 years old. Handlers younger than 16 must be accompanied by and have written permission to participate from a parent or guardian
- All animals must have lived in the owner’s home for at least 6 months.
- Dogs must be at least one year when the animal is evaluated.
- Dogs trained to aggressively protect and/or encouraged to actively bite, even as a component of a dog sport, may not be pet therapy volunteers.
- Your dog should know basic obedience commands and should be calm, friendly, outgoing and predictable.
- Your dog should feel comfortable around people in wheelchairs or using crutches or walkers & around people with unusual movements, and/or loud outbursts.
- Your dog should be in good health and well groomed, with up-to-date vaccinations.
- Your dog cannot be taking antibiotics, antifungals, or immunosuppressants (including steroid and chemotherapy medications).
- Your dog must be spayed/neutered. Your dog may not consume a raw protein diet.
To become a certified pet therapy team, you must complete the following steps:
- Email [email protected] to express your interest.
- Pass an onsite prescreening evaluation
- Complete Bideawee application and paperwork (Free criminal background check, this does not include a credit check)
- Dogs only: Attend the 5-week training course (1 hour, once a week)
- Complete the PetPartners online training course
- Pass your final evaluation
- Start your work as a Bideawee pet therapy team
For more information, please visit https://www.bideawee.org/Pet-Therapy
Apply to Volunteer
NYC
Thank you for your interest in volunteering in our new Chelsea, Manhattan location! At this time, our waitlist is closed as we work through over 200 applications and 750 people on our current waitlist. Please check back over the summer. Note that we can’t accept anyone under the age of 18 at this location at this time. Thank you for your support and interest!
WANTAGH
Bideawee’s Wantagh location is primarily an intake and medical facility with limited adoptions. Here, volunteers help with cleaning, laundry, making enrichment toys, and socializing and interacting with the animals when they are cleared to do so. While we need your help, there is no guarantee animals are part of every PAWS shift at this site. Other volunteer opportunities for individuals 16 and older include helping at events, administrative responsibilities, grounds and maintenance assistance and more. Those 18+ may be interested in driving our transport and adoption vehicles.
Due to the nature of our work here and the number of animals we have on site at a given time, individuals who can commit to volunteering six months or longer will be considered.
Drivers needed!
Bideawee needs volunteer drivers! Our cats and dogs need a chauffeur – can you lend a hand? Volunteers are needed to drive our transport van to and from our three locations in NYC, Wantagh and Westhampton (although not necessarily all in one day.) We can only accept candidates who have a vehicle to get to our Wantagh location to pick up the van.
Please fill out our Wantagh application to get started!
Only applicants that can commit to a weekday shift will be considered at this time.
WESTHAMPTON
Our Westhampton adoption center for dogs and cats focuses on providing our animals with top-tier enrichment, essential training programs, medical care, and compassionate behavioral rehabilitation in addition to find them their forever homes.
Join our Puppy Squad!
For the next few months, we’re expecting more puppies at our Westhampton location. We need help during weekdays with their care- enrichment, socializing and cleaning (kennels, laundry, dishes.) If you are interested in volunteering Monday through Friday, please complete the application below.
Become a Bideawee Behavior & Training Volunteer
Bideawee’s Westhampton location is looking for experienced volunteers to help with behavior training for our adoptable dogs.
Interested volunteers must:
- be experienced working with animals. A background in behavior/training education is preferred, but not required.
- be willing to learn and implement training techniques.
- be comfortable working with dogs of various temperaments and life experiences.
- be physically capable to handle dogs of all sizes.
Remove this sentence and keep application link: (We will have more exciting opportunities coming soon!)
Please fill out our Westhampton application to get started!
Bideawee volunteers make a BIG impact!
80K
Volunteer Hours
996
Active Volunteers
92
Pet Therapy Pairs
Contact Us
For more information about volunteering at any of our three locations please contact:
Manhattan
Abby Michaels
Volunteer Manager
[email protected]
866-262-8133 x.7211
Wantagh
Franny Kent
Volunteer Manager
[email protected]
866-262-8133 x.7331
Westhampton
Deanna Maharaj
Volunteer Manager
[email protected]
866-262-8133 x.7118