Volunteer

Easy! In three steps!

Step One: Complete the online application form and a 20-minute orientation.

Step Two: Complete the onboarding process, which includes submitting essential documentation to run our free background check.

Step Three: Complete the hands-on mentorship and buddy shift session that will provide you with all the experience you need to love and care for our cats and dogs before finding their forever homes.

What type of volunteer opportunities do you have?

So Many!

• Dog and Cat Volunteers: Work directly with animals at all locations
• Event/Community Outreach Volunteers
• Administrative Volunteers: Support mainly Volunteer Manager on various tasks and other departments as required
• Customer Service Volunteers: Support Front Desk Staff (phones/copies)
• Special Project Volunteers
• Animal Hospital Administrative Volunteer
• Animal Hospital Cleaning Volunteer

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: Green/Blue, Yellow, and Red. As you volunteer with our cats and dogs, you can advance your training levels and even become a mentor yourself. Upon entry, volunteers are all trained at our Blue and Green level for dogs, cats, or both.
• All new volunteers are matched with a “mentor,” usually a staff member or an experienced volunteer. The mentor answers questions, helps new volunteers get acclimated to Bideawee and offers support and assistance throughout their volunteer shift.

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.

Can children volunteer?
Those 16 to 17 years old can independently volunteer at the Manhattan and Westhampton locations after one parent–guardian–accompanied training session.

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 aged 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

Bideawee has opportunities to help enhance college applications. Please get in touch with the Bideawee Volunteer Manager at the location nearest you for more details.

The Bideawee Pet Therapy program is a way for pet lovers to share the unconditional love and companionship of their pet with the community.

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. Ï Your dog may not consume a raw protein diet.

To become a certified pet therapy team, you must complete the following steps:

• Please fill out our online interest form
• 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