Volunteer Opportunities for Kids

Thank you for your interest in helping animals! Volunteering is a wonderful way to learn, have fun and give back to your community. At PAWS, you must be 18 years or older to work with or around animals, however, there are many other ways to help the animals at PAWS.

School service credit

If you would like to receive credit from PAWS for a school service project, you and your parent or guardian must print and complete a Youth Service Projects Form (Adobe PDF). PAWS does not have regular volunteer opportunities for people under 18 years old, however, you may want to consider one of the projects listed below.

Note: You'll need Adobe Acrobat program to view the Youth Service Project Form. Download a free copy from Adobe.

Foster an animal

Save lives by temporarily taking care of pets in your home who are too young or too sick to be adopted into new homes right away. More than 1,000 kittens, puppies, cats and dogs are saved each year through this important program. This is a great way to work hands-on with animals, and help so many little ones who need tender loving care. Have your parent or guardian learn how your family can foster a PAWS animal.

Participate in PAWSwalk

PAWSwalk is our biggest fundraising event of the year, a walkathon occurring at the end of the summer to raise money to care for the animals. You can collect donations with the help of your family, friends and school, and then walk in the event, with your dog.

If you don't have a dog, it's still a blast seeing all the hundreds of adorable dogs who come to PAWSwalk. Sometimes we have volunteer opportunities kids can do with their parents or guardians. To learn more, have your parent or guardian check out our upcoming events.

Help the animals at PAWS from home

Here are some ideas you can complete from home or school. Grab a friend, be creative, and feel free to think of your own ideas!

Supply (or donation) Drive

We are always in need of items from our wish list, and money donations to help us purchase equipment, food and supplies to keep the animals warm, fed and healthy. Check out these helpful tips for a successful supply drive!

Bake Sale

Selling homemade dog cookies is a yummy way to help the animals. PAWS can provide informational brochures to give out along with the cookies, so people can learn about PAWS at the same time. You can find homemade dog cookie recipes on the Internet or by checking out cookbooks for dogs at the library.

Movie Night

Invite friends, family, neighbors and classmates to watch your favorite animal movie, like Babe or Charlotte's Web. Have animal-friendly snacks to enjoy with the show, such as veggie dogs, or soy ice cream. Ask attendees to bring an "admission fee" of donations or supplies from the PAWS wish list.

What to do with supplies/donations you collected

After you collect donations and supplies, drop everything off at PAWS in Lynnwood, Washington. Make sure to check PAWS' hours and directions before coming here. If you have any questions about donations, call 425.787.2500 x261.

For more ideas, check out ways you can help animals everyday.

Youth Work Party

If you are 10 years or older, you can join the Youth Work Party Team with a parent or guardian, to work on different projects at PAWS in Lynnwood, WA. Dates vary, generally one youth work party per quarter. Projects may include spreading bark on our dog-walking trail, landscaping, or building special enclosures. Ask your parent or guardian to sign up to join a work party and we will let you know about the next opportunity!

Youth Work Party Group requests

Group requests will still follow the program's guidelines, requiring each youth to be accompanied by their immediate parent/guardian. In order to participate, please have parents and guardians in your group sign-up their child for the Youth Work Party program.

Other places to volunteer with animals

If you want hands-on volunteer work with animals, the organizations below may have volunteer opportunities for youth. Please contact these organizations to find out more.

Thanks again for your interest in PAWS and helping animals. Share your ideas with your parents and grab a few friends to join you in helping make a difference for animals.