Join The Pack
Volunteer
For Volunteers 18+
Volunteering at the
York County SPCA
Each task performed by our volunteers makes a difference in the health and welfare of the animals in our care. By offering your time and talent, you improve their quality of life as they wait for their forever homes.
Works with Dogs
Works with Cats
Works with People
Works with Medical
Spay/Neuter Clinic
Our low-cost, high-quality spay/neuter services are made possible thanks to our dedicated volunteers. Volunteers assist in the clinic by helping with registration on weekday mornings from 7-9 a.m. Each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., volunteers also support our staff by scrubbing surgical instruments, doing laundry, cleaning the general area, and helping with the check-out process of animals.
Dog Walking
Volunteer dog walkers help provide the essential exercise, socialization, and outdoor time our dogs need to thrive. A dog walker’s commitment to and impact on our animals’ well-being is invaluable. Dog walkers must attend a three-class training session and be able to walk several miles over varying terrain in all weather. Volunteer dog walking hours occur daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., including weekends.
Kennel Greeting
We love welcoming the public to our shelter to visit our adoptable animals. Kennel Greeters provide information about adoptable dogs and help walk potential adoptees through our adoption process. They also ensure visitors follow our safety policies while in the kennel, such as keeping fingers away from cages and being mindful of dogs entering and exiting the kennel.
Canine Enrichment
It is our goal to provide our animals with a mentally stimulating environment throughout their stay with us. Help our Canine Enrichment program by filling Kongs, snuffle mats, and various other toys to enhance our dogs’ wellbeing.
Cat & Small Animal Cuddling
Can you think of a better way to spend your time than snuggling adorable shelter cats and other small animals? Through playtime and cuddles, our volunteers provide necessary socialization for our sweet fluffy friends that is instrumental in increasing their adoptability and helping them find their ‘furever’ homes.
Satellite Adoption Center Volunteers
The York County SPCA partners with two satellite adoption centers – PetSmart in West York and Petco in East York – to house and care for adoptable cats. Volunteers at these satellite adoption centers are trained to care for the animals as it pertains to feeding, cleaning, enrichment, and socialization.
Interested in a date with one of our pawsome pups?
Take one of our adoptable dogs out of the shelter for a day filled with adventure!
Dogs’ Day Out gives our dogs a nice break from kennel life, provides more insight into their personalities, and helps increase their chances of meeting their forever family. You can take them to a park for a hike/walk, through a drive-thru for a pup cup, or to a dog-friendly store to meet new people. You can be as creative as you would like!
Can't Volunteer At The Shelter?
Save A Life By Fostering
In 2023, more than
0
pets were saved thanks to the dedication of our volunteer foster families.
Fostering saves two lives – the life of the animal in your home and the one we now have space for in the shelter. Our foster families create the capacity for us to care for more animals, and for pets struggling in the shelter environment, a foster family’s loving home can make a lifesaving difference. Join our foster team to help pets heal, grow, and prepare for their forever home.
0
+
pets saved thanks to our volunteer foster families
0
volunteer hours
0
+
pounds of food donated through our Pet Food Pantry
For Volunteers Of All Ages
Volunteer Projects
For safety reasons, volunteers under the age of 18 are not able to work directly with animals in our care, but this doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference. We have service opportunities for volunteers of all ages who have a passion for helping animals, and we need you – along with your student club, scout troop, and youth group – to partner with us to support animal welfare throughout York County.
For Cats
Build Community Cat Houses
Building an outdoor community cat shelter helps keep cats safe from harsh weather, offers them a secure place to rest, and enables caregivers to monitor and care for them more effectively.
For Dogs
Make Snuffle Mats
Snuffle mats provide our dogs with beneficial mental and physical stimulation. These entertaining puzzle feeder toys encourage our furry friends to use their most natural training tool — their nose!
For Cats
Upcycle Toys For Enrichment
Our cats love to play, and an engaging environment enhances their confidence, happiness, and health. Environmental enrichment helps our cats exercise and hone their natural instincts in a safe way.
For All Animals
Plan A Facebook Fundraiser
Celebrate your birthday or other special milestone by collecting donations in lieu of gifts. Every donation brings us one step closer to a brighter future for our furry friends!
For Cats
Sew Cat Trap Covers
TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) helps community cats live safer and healthier lives within their home areas by spaying/neutering and vaccinating them. Trap covers provide a much-needed sense of security for cats during transport to and from our clinic.
Your kindness can save lives.
Organize a donation drive to provide the essential nourishment, medical care, and enrichment supplies our animals need to thrive.
Donation drives are a great way to engage your family, friends, classmates, or community by giving back. You can host a general donation drive at any time or in honor of a special occasion, such as your birthday. Check out our wish list for our current, most-needed items.
For Groups
Group Volunteer Opportunities
As a community resource center, our work wouldn’t be possible without you, our community. If you’re interested in completing a group project, please submit an interest form, and our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you with more information.
Submit an Interest Form
Complete our group project interest form or reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator to share your idea.
Plan Your Project
Work with your Project Coordinator to plan a worthwhile project for your group.
Celebrate Your Impact
Host a party to complete the group project and celebrate your accomplishment.
Schedule A Tour
Visit the shelter for a tour to learn more about how to support the well-being of our shelter residents and community animals.
Mission Moment
Happy Tails
Rogan originally came to the York County SPCA as a stray with sores and a lump on one of his rear legs.
Our veterinary team worked quickly to treat him. Although he was nervous at first and in pain from the wounds on his leg, he quickly became a favorite at the shelter due to his sweet nature and ability to make anyone smile.
Rogan was originally adopted four months after arrival; however, the resident dog was not getting along with him, so it just wasn’t the right fit at the moment. His special day finally came at the New Year Dog Adoption Event.
We couldn’t be more blessed to have him in our family. He does great with his sister, Korah the Pomeranian, and brother, Raziel. And Willow, the American bulldog, is still learning to play with him.
“He truly is amazing, and I’m blessed to have adopted him. I love sharing his story and want people to know they deserve a second chance. I don’t know his past, and his scars show it was a rough one, but I’ll give him a better future.”
Shawna
Rogan (now Tolkien's) Adopter
