Volunteering FAQs

You must first complete a volunteer application at located here. Upon completing the application, you will automatically receive a list with the dates of the next several volunteer orientation sessions via email.  Please respond to the email with your preferred date.  Please note that we only have a certain number of spots at each orientation, so you must reserve your space in advance.

The orientation and training process takes approximately 2-3 weeks, depending on the volunteer job you would like to do. After attending general orientation, which lasts 1.5-2 hours, you will be scheduled for a site-specific training before you can begin volunteering.

You can volunteer for community service hours, but you must go through the same application, orientation, and training process as every other volunteer, and you are expected to commit to 8 hours a month for 3 months, regardless of the time you need to complete for your school or the court.

Because of the nature of our work, we generally do not have one-day or group volunteering opportunities at the facility.  Group volunteers can help at Pet Soup on Fridays and at special events in the community.  Contact Jillian Perry, Manager of Volunteer Services at 803-465-9187 for more details.

Volunteers must wear close-toed shoes when working in the facility. Shorts must be knee-length or longer, no revealing clothes, and hats are not permitted in our building.  T-shirts can be purchased in our boutique.  T-shirts are sometimes provided at special events.

Volunteer hours at our facility are Monday through Saturday 8:30 am - 7:00 pm, and Sundays 8:30 am - 5 pm, including all holidays.  Special events and community outreach volunteering have varying hours. Volunteers can sign up for available shifts through our online Volunteer Information Center.  Upon completion of training, each volunteer will receive login information and a password for this system.

Personal pets are not allowed during your volunteer shift.

We do not have opportunities for job shadowing currently.

Internships will be considered on a case by case basis. Please contact Jillian Perry, Manager of Volunteer Services at 803-465-9187 to learn of available opportunities.

Pawmetto Lifeline has a fee-based summer camp for 5-10-year-olds called Fur Friends.  We also have opportunities to host birthday parties and Girl/Boy Scout troop meetings at our facility.  Our Special Events Manager, Karen Deas, also provides humane education to school groups at their schools and in the facility.  Contact her at 803-465-9173 or kdeas@pawmettolifeline.org for more details.