Browse opportunities
9 opportunities
Wayne Animal Shelter
The municipal animal shelter in Wayne. Volunteer roles include shelter and foster care giver, adoption counselor, adoption follow-up counselor, fundraising and publicity, and office and clerical support — so there are options whether or not you want hands-on animal work. Complete the volunteer application and submit it in person at the shelter. The shelter does not publish a minimum volunteer age, so ask when you drop off your application.
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo — VolunTEEN Program
VolunTEENs assist camp counselors with the Zoo's summer camp — preparing for daily sessions, helping campers with activities, and keeping groups together and safe on Zoo grounds. It is a good way to learn about the animals while earning hours. You must be at least 14, or entering grade 9 in the fall. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are welcome. You must commit to at least one full week over the summer, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm each day. The separate Docent program runs its own application cycle and the current class is closed.
Cape May County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center
The county animal shelter in Cape May Court House. Volunteers help seven days a week with kennel cleaning, cat cage cleaning, and kitchen sanitizing, between 8:30am and 4:00pm. The shelter asks for a commitment of at least 3 to 4 hours a week. A New Volunteer Orientation is mandatory and is held on Wednesdays at the County Administration Building in the Crest Haven Complex. The shelter does not publish a minimum volunteer age — email or call before attending orientation to confirm you are eligible.
Monmouth County SPCA
The Eatontown animal shelter. Be aware of the age rule before you apply: all volunteers working at the shelter must be at least 18 years old, with no exceptions. Students under 18 are pointed to the Junior Volunteer Guide instead, which covers hosting fundraisers and donation drives in your own community rather than working on site with the animals. That still earns service hours at most schools, but it is not shelter work. Adult volunteering requires orientation (held every two months), a $100 volunteer fee, a background check, a shelter tour and training, and 16 hours of basic shelter work.
Salem County Humane Society
A no-kill shelter for homeless dogs and cats in Carneys Point, staffed entirely by volunteers — there is no paid staff, so volunteers do everything. Salem County has very few organizations running formal teen volunteer programs, and this shelter does not publish a minimum age or an online application. Email or call first to ask whether they take volunteers your age and what help they currently need. Visits are by appointment only.
Bergen County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center
The county animal shelter in Teterboro. Volunteers walk dogs and socialize cats, which improves the animals' quality of life in the shelter and helps them build the behaviors they need to be adopted. No prior experience is required. The shelter does not publish a minimum volunteer age — email or call before applying to confirm whether they take volunteers your age.
Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter
A no-kill animal shelter in East Hanover with one of the few volunteer programs in the state that takes volunteers well under 16. Roles include cat companion, shelter helper, kennel attendant, dog walker, and outreach assistant. The shelter runs a Junior Volunteer track for younger teens alongside regular volunteering for ages 16 and up; some roles require a parent or guardian to accompany you. Call or email to confirm which roles are open to your age before applying.
Animal Welfare Association
A Voorhees animal shelter where volunteers walk dogs, socialize cats and small animals, build enrichment toys, help with animal care, and staff community outreach events, pet food pantries, and pet therapy programs. Regular volunteering starts at age 16. There is also a Jr. Volunteer program for ages 12 to 15, where a parent or legal guardian must be present at all times. Fill in the adult or junior application through their volunteer portal — the coordinator contacts applicants within two weeks to schedule orientation.
Associated Humane Societies — Newark Shelter
Newark's animal shelter on Evergreen Avenue. Volunteering on the shelter floor with the animals requires you to be 18 or older, but there is a junior volunteer track for those 17 and under that does not involve handling animals directly. Call or email first to ask which junior roles are currently open before filling out an application.