Denver Animal Shelter volunteer orientation — May 2026
Attend a 2-hour Saturday orientation at Denver Animal Shelter to start volunteering with dogs, cats, and small animals in Denver's city shelter.
Why we picked this
A two-hour Saturday morning that unlocks months of animal care volunteering — the May application window is open now and spots fill within days of opening.
Volunteers at Denver Animal Shelter work alongside staff in the kennels and cat rooms — cleaning, providing enrichment, socializing animals between adoptions. The May 9 orientation is the starting point: a two-hour walk-through of shelter operations, available roles, and what weekly volunteering actually looks like.
The session runs 10 AM to noon at 1241 W. Bayaud Ave. Closed-toe shoes are required in all animal areas. Street parking is available on Bayaud and side streets. After orientation, the full onboarding process takes 2–3 more weeks and includes a facility tour, staff interview, and background check (required for volunteers 18 and up). Applications open approximately two weeks before each monthly orientation date.
Denver Animal Shelter is a municipal facility — not a private nonprofit with fundraising staff. The animals here depend directly on city resources and community volunteers. Regular weekly volunteers become familiar faces in the kennels, which makes a measurable difference for anxious animals in a loud, unfamiliar environment.