• Cat and Dog Matchmakers connect the public with their new family member through guided conversations and thoughtful support, creating joyful, meaningful adoption experiences. 
• Adoption Hosts greet visitors, engage in thoughtful conversations to understand what they’re looking for, and connect them with a matchmaker.
• Neighborhood Adoption Center volunteers socialize and match the puppies and kittens at our adoption center in West San Jose. 

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• Cat and Dog Socializers provide comfort, enrichment, and positive human connection to the animals as they await adoption. 
• Ringworm Volunteers support the health and well-being of kittens and prepare them for adoption by administering topical treatments, maintaining clean living spaces, building positive associations with human interaction.
• FAVS (Foster Animal Vaccination Station) Volunteers support foster families by helping ensure foster animals receive timely vaccines, treatments, and essential supplies.
• Surgery Assistance Volunteers support veterinary staff by monitoring and comforting animals during post-surgery recovery, helping ensure their safety and comfort.

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• Pet Pantry Pick Up Volunteers distribute free pet food to community members from our warehouse, helping ensure families can continue caring for their pets.
• Pet Pantry Drivers deliver donated food and supplies to homebound community members. 
• Mobile Wellness Volunteers support accessible veterinary services by assisting at free and low-cost community clinics. 

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Helpful Hands Volunteers support shelter operations by handling laundry and dishes to help maintain a clean and safe environment for animals.

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Foster Volunteers help relieve shelter space by providing temporary care for animals at home.

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Community Engagement Volunteers support group volunteer activities and assist at events held throughout the week. Whether you join us once in a while or often, your involvement makes a meaningful difference. This role is a great way to connect the community with our mission while engaging in fun, hands-on activities.

Interested? Email our team at to sign up.

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Administrative Volunteers support in a variety of ways, including making thank you calls to donors and recent adopters, writing thank you cards, supporting our Finance Team, and taking photographs.

Facilities Volunteers help keep our shelter clean and inviting by providing light cleaning support.

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Craft Volunteers create rice warmies and fleece blankets at home to provide warmth and comfort for vulnerable kittens and puppies in our care. 

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We are always recruiting for Helpful Hands Volunteers, who provide support with laundry and dishes.  You can read the full role description here.

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We recruit for these roles as needed. We reach out to those on our waitlist first.

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Yes! We will provide all of the hands-on training you’ll need to become a confident and connected member of HSSV’s volunteer community!

Volunteers in regular on-site roles must be over the age of 18. If you are under 18 and interested in volunteering, please visit our student volunteer opportunities page.

Most of our volunteer roles ask for a weekly or bi-weekly commitment of six-months.

We recruit by reaching out to people who have added their names to our waitlist.

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People who require court-ordered service hours are welcome to volunteer at HSSV!  Although we cannot sign any court paperwork, we can provide official documentation of service hours provided upon request. You can sign up right away as a laundry volunteer.

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One project that we are in true need for are Puppy and Kitten Rice-Warmies.  Follow this link for instructions: Rice-Warmies. These warmies help the separated neonatal puppies or kittens regulate their body heat which is usually what the mom dog or cat does. If kittens or puppies come to our shelter without their mother, for whatever reason, we use rice-warmies to keep them warm. For our littlest visitors at the shelter, these are life saving items.  Each litter needs it’s own set, so we use a lot. Three Rice-Warmies are good for 1 service hour, if you are keeping track.

We also always need fleece blankets. They are a simple no-sew option that help us keep our furry friends warm. Here are the instructions for making fleece blankets.  You can purchase fleece at any craft store (Michael’s, Joann’s, etc.); feel free to choose whatever fun prints/patterns you like! Be sure to check the clearance fleece for great deals. 5 blankets are good for 2 service hours. Feel free to reach out to Volunteer@hssv.org if you have questions about these projects.

Yes! If you have questions we haven’t covered here, please reach out to the Volunteer Team by emailing volunteer@hssv.org.