If you love dogs, you can help us make a difference.
As a 100% volunteer-run organization based in Bloomfield CT, we are entirely dependent on the efforts of our volunteers, and offer many opportunities to help our rescue’s success, both in person and remote. Explore our volunteer opportunities below. When you’re ready to join us, check out our orientation and volunteer application.
Please note that you must be 18 years or older to volunteer with us.
Get involved today.
Volunteer with one or more teams
Ensuring that the right family adopts the right dog involves a lot of emails and phone calls. We need to conduct vet checks, reference checks, phone interviews and confirm property ownership or rental details. If you like getting to know new people over the phone, we could use your help and can train you to assist our adoption screeners.
Dog Star Rescue holds adoption events each week and each dog that attends needs a dog handler. Being a dog handler is a great opportunity to spend a few hours with a rescue dog, talk to potential adopters about your assigned dog, and make sure that your dog has a great afternoon full of positive interactions and interest from adopters. You will get tips and training at your first event.
This team supports every team at the rescue through social media marketing, email marketing, public relations, brand support and more. Proven experience in these fields in a professional setting is required, and comfort with Canva is also a requirement.
As a foster-based rescue, we are always looking for foster homes for our dogs. Fostering a dog saves two lives: the one of the dog you are fostering and the one of the dogs we can now take into the rescue because we have a slot available. The more fosters we have, the more dogs we can save! Learn more about our foster program and when you’re ready, submit a foster application!
As a non-profit organization, every penny we raise goes toward our dogs. While the dog adoption fee is designed to cover basic expenses, we require additional funding to grow and provide the extra care many of our dogs need. We conduct many events annually and also welcome corporate donors to support our fundraising efforts. We welcome volunteers with experience in fundraising and grant writing or an interest in learning the ropes.
Help keep our Bloomfield headquarters clean, safe and organized. If you’re handy or have a specialty trade we’d love to have you help. And if you just want to help keep things tidy – we’d love to have you too!
Our IT team manages our shelter from both a hardware and software perspective. If you are that “Techie” in your family, or if you have professional experience with IT and would like to get involved, we would love your help!
Many of our dogs come up from the south on group transport vehicles and need rides to their foster homes or to a kennel for temporary boarding. In addition, rides are sometimes needed to and from adoption events or to meet and greets with potential adopters. If you have a car, a valid driver’s license and can safely transport a dog in your car, dog transport may be for you!
Our volunteer team works on improving the overall volunteer experience at Dog Star. We manage the volunteer orientation and onboarding experiences and run recognition programs for our volunteers. If you’d like to work to make our rescue a better place for our dedicated volunteers, the volunteer team is for you!
Our retail team is responsible for branded “merch”. If you are creative and want to help showcase our brand, this might be the perfect team for you!
Some of the roles we need filled immediately
Key Responsibilities
The Adoption process ensures that the right family is the best match for both the dog and the family when placing the right dog in a forever home. Adoption Specialists are the “face” of the rescue and need to be comfortable interacting with the public and have excellent follow-through skills.
- Monitor and triage interest in assigned dog(s), including communicating updates on the status of an application to an interested family promptly.
- Review and validate the information provided to us via the application process and conduct phone interviews.
- Follow up on all assigned pre-qualified applications to assist in matching them with an adoptable dog.
- Responsible for screening all potential homes for assigned dog(s), often balancing multiple interested applicants at once.
- Provide updates on the adoption status of a dog using Shelter Manager and execute adoption movements, as required.
- Discuss a variety of topics and best practices for transitioning a rescue dog to a new home with potential adopters, including how to house train, crate train, and care for a rescue dog.
- Develop a basic understanding of Dog Star Rescue’s intake, vetting, and foster programs to educate potential adopters properly.
- Communicate openly within the team, as well as with potential adopters and other areas of the rescue.
- Facilitate safe meet and greets, using Dog Star’s best practices, with potential adopters and rescue dogs, including for families with children and other resident dogs.
- Follow the processes, procedures, and best practices outlined in the Adoption Manual.
- Advocate for the best interest of each dog.
- Collaborate with the Foster, Behavior, and other teams when necessary for help with placement.
- Attend and participate in weekly Adoption Events (2 weekends minimum – 3 preferred)
- Additional tasks as needed.
Qualifications
- Excellent interpersonal skills, attention to detail, problem resolution, critical thinking, working independently in a collaborative environment, good time management skills, phone etiquette, active listening skills, and ability to communicate and interact with all kinds of people. Passionate about dogs with the ability to interact positively with dogs of ALL breeds and sizes. Computer literate with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Meets, and Shelter Manager or the willingness to learn.
Benefits
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem resolution
- Critical thinking
- Working independently in a collaborative environment
- Good time management skills, phone etiquette, active listening skills, and ability to communicate and interact with all kinds of people.
- Passionate about dogs with the ability to interact positively with dogs of ALL breeds and sizes.
- Computer literate with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Meets, and Shelter Manager – or the willingness to learn.
Time Commitment
Attend a mandatory orientation program, participate in a mentor program, collaborate with the immediate team and other internal teams, follow organization communication procedures, policies, and guidelines at all times, and volunteer five (5) to twenty (20) hours a month minimum.
Working conditions
Requires sitting for long periods, getting up and down with reaching or bending, manual dexterity with normal hand and finger movements for typical office work, and participation in in-person adoption events. Remote work, with access to a laptop, tablet, internet, and phone. The ability to lift/push/pull at least 50 lbs. May be subject to dog bites and scratches while handling dogs with questionable temperament. Regular bending, reaching, kneeling, sitting on the floor, crouching, and standing/walking for extended periods, with the potential for exposure to animal waste, blood, and zoonotic diseases.
Reports to: Adoptions Team Coordinators
Position Overview
The Volunteer Program Team Lead plays a key role in supporting the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to enhance the volunteer experience at Dog Star Rescue. This position helps to oversee initiatives that strengthen volunteer engagement, education, recruitment, appreciation, and communication. The Program Lead manages the Volunteer Team and ensures that Dog Star Rescue’s volunteer program operates efficiently, effectively, and in alignment with the organization’s values.
Key Responsibilities
Program Development & Execution
- Collaborate with the COO to develop and implement initiatives that enhance volunteer engagement, education, recruitment, and retention.
- Manage the execution of volunteer-related projects and initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities.
- Work with the COO to identify, prioritize, and track opportunities for improving the volunteer experience.
Volunteer Team Management
- Lead and coordinate the Volunteer Team, including scheduling and facilitating team meetings.
- Provide guidance, resources, and support to Volunteer Coordinators to ensure smooth operations and effective communication.
- Promote a positive and inclusive volunteer culture across all teams and events.
Volunteer Communication & Resources
- Manage volunteer-wide communications, including sending key announcements and updates.
- Maintain and updates volunteer resources such as job descriptions, manuals, policies, and training materials.
- Oversee the volunteer contact list and related records within Dog Star IT systems (e.g., DonorView)
Volunteer Conduct & Compliance
- Help triage volunteer issues, including conduct concerns, in collaboration with the COO, Executive Director, and relevant team leads.
- Manage and maintain the Volunteer Code of Conduct, ensuring it is communicated and upheld.
- Periodically review and update the volunteer contract to reflect current policies and best practices.
Training & Education
- Coordinate and manage volunteer training sessions and educational opportunities.
- Collaborate with department leads to identify training needs and deliver effective onboarding and continuing education.
Qualifications
Required:
- Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
- Experience working with or managing volunteers.
- Ability to handle sensitive issues with discretion and professionalism.
- Comfort with technology and volunteer management systems (e.g., DonorView or similar platforms).
- Passion for Dog Star Rescue’s mission and the welfare of animals.
Preferred:
- Previous leadership or coordination experience in a nonprofit or volunteer-driven organization.
- Experience developing and implementing volunteer engagement strategies.
- Strong writing skills for crafting volunteer communications and resources.
Benefits
- Play a key role in creating joyful, memorable events that change dogs’ and people’s lives.
- Be part of a supportive, passionate, dog-loving community.
- Gain hands-on experience in event planning and volunteer leadership.
- See the immediate impact of your work at events filled with wagging tails and happy people.
Time Commitment per month
10 – 20 hours
Working conditions
In-person and remote opportunity. Access to a laptop, tablet, internet, and the phone required. In-person attendance at adoption, or other, events is required on a regular basis.
Reports to: COO