Animal Centre Volunteering
At SPCA, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. As a Centre Volunteer, you'll join a passionate whānau dedicated to creating better lives for animals across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Whether you're caring for animals, helping maintain our facilities, supporting administration, transporting animals and supplies, or assisting at events, every contribution helps animals receive the care, comfort, and second chance they deserve.
What you could be doing
Depending on your interests, skills, and availability, Animal Centre Volunteers may support:
Animal Care
- Dog and Puppy: Help with the daily care and wellbeing of dogs and puppies at the centre. This may include feeding, cleaning kennels and runs, walking, providing enrichment and socialisation.
- Cat and Kitten: Help with the daily care and wellbeing of cats and kittens. This may include feeding, cleaning enclosures, refreshing bedding, assisting with enrichment and socialisation.
- Small Animal: Help care for small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and other species in SPCA care. This may include feeding, cleaning hutches or habitats, providing enrichment and spending time socialising with them.
- Farm: Assist with the care of farmed animals where centres have these animals on site. This may include feeding, cleaning pens or animal areas, supporting basic daily care, and helping with enrichment.
- **Hospital:**Support staff in hospital or recovery areas by helping maintain a clean, organised environment for unwell or recovering animals. This may include cleaning, preparing food, restocking supplies, bedding and laundry and further hands-on animal care assistance under staff guidance.
Centre Support
- Driving: Help transport animals, supplies, donations, equipment, or other items between SPCA sites, vet clinics, foster homes or community locations, depending on centre needs.
- Administration: Support centre teams with data entry, filing, phone calls, reception tasks, appointment support, and other office-based activities that help keep daily operations running smoothly.
- Gardening: Help maintain outdoor spaces so they are safe, tidy, and welcoming for animals, staff, volunteers, and visitors, including weeding, planting, pruning, watering, and general garden care.
- Laundry: Support animal care by washing, drying, folding, and organising bedding, towels, blankets, and other washable items so animals have clean and comfortable spaces.
- Repairs and Maintenance: Assist with practical maintenance tasks such as minor repairs, painting, tidying storage areas, assembling equipment, or helping keep centre spaces safe, functional, and well presented.
- Specialist Skills: Contribute professional, technical or advanced practical skills, such as photography, grooming, behaviour support, trades, IT, design, training, fundraising, or other expertise that can strengthen centre operations and animal welfare outcomes.
What we're looking for
- Reliable and committed volunteers
- Positive team players who are happy working independently and alongside others
- A genuine passion for animal welfare
- Willingness to learn and follow health and safety procedures
- Good communication skills and a friendly attitude
- Ability to commit regularly where possible
- 16 Years+ (18+ to drive or work with dogs)
What's in it for you?
- Make a meaningful difference to animal welfare
- Gain valuable skills and experience
- Meet like-minded people who care about animals
- Be part of a supportive volunteer community
- Experience the reward of helping animals on their journey to loving homes
Every Helping Hand makes a difference
From walking dogs and socialising cats to supporting laundry, driving, gardening and daily centre tasks, Animal Centre Volunteers help create safe, caring and welcoming spaces for animals across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Together, we can create a better life for New Zealand's animals.