Changes Everything
Every volunteer at Humane Society of Tampa Bay is trained, supported, and matched to a role that fits their schedule. Whether you want a weekly shift, a one-day commitment, a foster placement, or a way to get your family or group involved, there’s a place for you here.
Volunteer opportunities are listed by category below. Start by choosing the type of role that works for you, then complete the orientation and training for that position. Come see what a few hours can do for a pet waiting on their family.
Current volunteers please click the button below.
Not a volunteer yet? Scroll down to review the programs available and how to get started.
Chris Madalena
Messages and voicemails will be returned.
Rachel Fefer
Messages and voicemails will be returned.
This program is ideal for anyone who only wants to volunteer once or for less than 6 months. The program is quick-start with minimal training required. This program is only open to volunteers who are 16 or older. Volunteers can earn hours for school or work through this program.
Please Note: If you need community service hours for court, or hours for a PreTrial Diversion or PreTrial Intervention (PTI) program, those must be done through our Court Program and cannot be completed through the Short-Term Program.
Simply click below to create an account and schedule your hours!
• Be at least 16 years of age
• May only sign up for ONE shift per time slot
• Must cancel ASAP if you are unable to fulfill your shift
• Two no-shows will make you ineligible to volunteer
• Shifts are set times, you MUST be present at the beginning time of your shift to volunteer
• No sandals or flip-flops, rubber soled, closed-toed shoes are recommended
• No tank or tube tops, no bare midriff showing
• No revealing and/or offensive clothing; shorts must cover at least to the mid-thigh
• Clothes may get dirty and/or be exposed to bleach, please dress accordingly
This program provides a wide variety of opportunities and schedules for those who are interested in volunteering regularly.
All ages are welcome in this program, but volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Volunteers can earn hours for school or work through this program.
Intake Path: Working in the medical areas of our shelter to assist our vets and vet techs.
Adoption Path: Providing support to our adoption team as they help match our pets with the perfect family.
Animal Handling Path: Working directly with our pets to provide daily needs, exercise and socialization.
Special Events Path: Representing our organization throughout the community during our outreach and special events
Humane Education Path: Helping our local youth learn about our pets through our various humane education programs.
• Be willing to volunteer on an ongoing basis.
• Complete new volunteer training program (mixture of online and in-person sessions that take approximately 2 hours to complete).
• Ages 10 and up are welcome in this program, but those who are under the age of 16 will need to volunteer with a parent or guardian at all times. The adult accompanying a child under 16 must create a separate account and complete all training requirements as well.
- Click the button below to access our online training system
- Click the Volunteer Program Overview course
- Click Enroll for Free to create your online account
- Watch the Volunteer Program Overview for more information on our program and to learn your next steps! If you want to volunteer and are under the age of 16, a parent or guardian must complete the above steps as well.
Our unique group volunteering and Team Building experiences for groups of 6–30 people offer the perfect opportunity to connect, volunteer, and make a meaningful impact for shelter animals. Earn volunteer hours, spend time with adorable animals, and create lasting memories while supporting a great cause.
Level 1 and 2 experiences are available for groups of 6–15 people and include beverages and a light snack.
Upgrade to a Team Building experience to show your company’s philanthropic spirit and get more hands-on time at the shelter. Participants walk dogs, prepare and distribute treats for the animals, take a behind-the-scenes shelter tour, and receive marketing recognition for your company or organization.
Our Level 3 Team Building experience is designed for groups of 10–30 people and includes lunch or a happy hour, making it the perfect way to reward your team while giving back.
Whether you’re looking for a quick volunteer outing or a more immersive experience, we have an option to fit your team.
To Schedule a Group Volunteering or Team Building Event or to receive more information, please email us at the address below with your request and we will contact you shortly.
• All group members must be 16 years of age or older
• Minimum Group Size is 6
• Group members must be willing and prepared to get wet or dirty and to interact with all types of animals
• All group members must arrive wearing close-toed shoes
• We have limited group shifts available each day; please book early!
• Group shifts are available daily in the morning or afternoon.
• Shifts are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis
• Socializing our shelter pets
• Dog walking
• Light cleaning or washing bowls
• Passing out treats or animal enrichment
• Organizing donations or working on special projects
• Providing animal baths or feeding pets
Please email groupvolunteers@hstb.org with any questions and a member of our team will contact you soon!
Join our Camp Counselor Program and make a lasting impact on animals and people. This highly competitive program is for responsible high school and college students, ages 14+, who are ready to learn, lead, and inspire.
This program provides an overview of the many aspects of the Humane Education department at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and introduces Camp Counselors to a professional environment. By the end of the summer, our Camp Counselors will have:
- Learned about animal welfare and ways they can inspire others to care for it.
- Delivered extraordinary customer service to our campers.
- Practiced public speaking and/or classroom management.
Camp Counselors build confidence, communication, and leadership skills while making a difference in the lives of animals and the community.
All Camp Counselors are required to commit to volunteering one full week (8 hours per day) during the summer. Schedules will be determined prior to the summer to allow for scheduling around this commitment.
All Camp Counselors will be required to attend a training course prior to your hours.
We ask that parents and guardians allow their child to be the primary point of contact for this application.
If selected, parents are asked to support their child by providing reliable transportation, ensuring they are prepared for each shift, and giving advance notice of any schedule conflicts so their child can communicate directly with their supervisor.
- Submit your application using age-appropriate link on this page
- Applications will be reviewed after deadline. Not all applicants will be selected
- Candidates will be notified about acceptance. Check your email!
- Accepted volunteers will recieve next steps and training information.
Jessica Tiso
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
If you need community service hours for court, or hours for a PreTrial Diversion or PreTrial Intervention (PTI) program, you can complete those through our court program. We offer daily morning and afternoon shifts through this program. Participants in this program must be 16 or older.
• Be at least 16 years of age
• Must be available for shifts of 4-5 hours that start at 7 AM or 12 PM
• Must provide copy of your charges and a photo ID before starting
• Must wear pants (no shorts)
• Mandatory: Rubber soled, closed-toed shoes (No sandals, flip-flops, or slides)
• No tank or tube tops, no bare midriff showing
• No revealing and/or offensive clothing
• Please note that clothes may get dirty and/or be exposed to bleach
- Decide whether you prefer to complete your service at the Tampa Campus or the Pinellas Campus. Click the “Get Started” button below for your preferred campus to create your account.
- Create your account in the VolunteerHub online portal by following all the on-screen prompts. Your account will be in “Pending” status until you complete Step Three.
- Bring a copy of your charges and your photo ID to the campus where you chose to complete your service. If you are under 18, your parent/legal guardian will need to be with you. Program enrollment is only available on the days/times listed above for each campus.
- Once you have completed Steps One through Three and have been accepted into the program, you will be able to log into your VolunteerHub account to sign up for service shifts, which are available 7 days a week at both campuses.
Tuesday – Saturday
12:30 pm – 3:00 pm*
Contact the Tampa Campus Program lead, Tony Sherrod, at (813) 291-7168 or CS@hstb.org for questions
Tuesday – Saturday
12:30 pm – 3:00 pm*
Contact the Pinellas Campus Program lead, Patrick Kelley, at 727-797-7722 ext. 445 or CSP@hstb.org for questions
*Enrollment windows may change. Confirm the current schedule through the signup links above.
If you are interested in caring for animals who are not quite ready for adoption, fostering might be for you! Foster parents care for animals in their own homes, providing a loving environment to young or injured animals. Foster parents must be 18 or older.
Volunteers can earn hours for school or work through this program (check with your school to verify they accept foster hours).
Volunteers earn hours with HSTB through this program, however most schools do not accept foster hours for credit towards merit based scholarships. Please check with your school to verify they accept foster hours. Students will split the hours earned with the parent/guardian that is the foster.
• Be at least 18 years of age. If you are under 18 you MUST have the application filled out by your parent or guardian.
• Have an extra room or space in your home to keep foster animals separate from your pets
At this time, we are most in need of cat/kitten fostering. Please apply below if you would like to foster cats. Thank you!