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Animal Volunteer Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

Follow organizational disease-prevention, sanitation, safety, and animal-handling procedures. * Help ensure the safety of employees, volunteers, visitors, adopters, and animals. * Treat pets and ...

Follow organizational disease-prevention, sanitation, safety, and animal-handling procedures. * Help ensure the safety of employees, volunteers, visitors, adopters, and animals. * Treat pets and ...

Perform bathing and walk-in services while achieving weekly productivity goals Education/Experience: * 0-1 year of animal related experience, including shelter volunteering or pet sitting, prior ...

Perform bathing and walk-in services while achieving weekly productivity goals Education/Experience: * 0-1 year of animal related experience, including shelter volunteering or pet sitting, prior ...

Perform bathing and walk-in services while achieving weekly productivity goals Education/Experience: * 0-1 year of animal related experience, including shelter volunteering or pet sitting, prior ...

... animal welfare programs. Our Community Veterinary Clinic provides affordable, high-quality ... staff, clients, volunteers, vendors, and community partners. * Ability to manage multiple ...

... including animal surgery, simulations, and theoretical investigations; analyze data; and ... Enroll patients and volunteers in research, including contact during clinical and academic ...

... register and volunteer to host the next adoption event * analyze your store sales results and ... Adhering to operational policies and procedures (animal care, safety, cleanliness and security ...

... register and volunteer to host the next adoption event * analyze your store sales results and ... Adhering to operational policies and procedures (animal care, safety, cleanliness and security ...

... register and volunteer to host the next adoption event * analyze your store sales results and ... Adhering to operational policies and procedures (animal care, safety, cleanliness and security ...

Animal Volunteer information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$8

$18

$32

How much do animal volunteer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal volunteer in Raleigh, NC is $18.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.04 and $19.62 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animal volunteer?

Animal volunteers are individuals who offer their time and effort to help care for animals in shelters, rescue organizations, or wildlife centers without receiving monetary compensation. Their duties can include feeding, cleaning, socializing animals, assisting with adoptions, and supporting fundraising or community outreach events. Animal volunteers play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for animals and increasing their chances of finding permanent homes.

What does an animal volunteer do?

As an Animal Volunteer, you may assist with feeding, cleaning enclosures, socializing animals, supporting adoption events, or helping with administrative duties. The specific tasks often depend on the organization and the types of animals in their care. You’ll likely work closely with staff and other volunteers to ensure animal welfare and may be asked to follow specific protocols for safety and hygiene. Animal handling training is commonly provided, and flexibility is valued as needs can change day to day.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animal volunteer?

To thrive as an Animal Volunteer, you typically need a basic understanding of animal care, handling, and safety protocols, often gained through on-site training rather than formal qualifications. Familiarity with animal shelter management systems and basic first aid for animals can be beneficial. Compassion, reliability, and strong communication skills help volunteers work effectively with both animals and staff. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring animal well-being and supporting smooth shelter operations.

What is the difference between Animal Volunteer vs Animal Care Assistant?

AspectAnimal VolunteerAnimal Care Assistant
Required CredentialsNone typically required, training provided on-siteMay require certifications or training in animal handling
Work EnvironmentVolunteering at shelters, rescue centers, or community eventsPaid positions in shelters, clinics, or veterinary practices
Employer & Industry UsageNonprofit organizations, animal shelters, rescue groupsAnimal hospitals, veterinary clinics, shelters
Common Search & ComparisonVolunteer roles focused on supporting animals without formal employmentPaid roles involving direct animal care and medical support

Animal Volunteers typically support shelters and rescue organizations without requiring formal credentials, often working as volunteers. Animal Care Assistants are paid staff who may need certifications and perform more hands-on medical and daily care tasks. Both roles are essential in animal welfare but differ mainly in employment status and level of training required.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animal jobs in Raleigh, NC?

The most popular types of Animal jobs in Raleigh, NC are:

What are popular job titles related to Animal Volunteer jobs in Raleigh, NC?

For Animal Volunteer jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animal Volunteer jobs in Raleigh, NC look for?

The top searched job categories for Animal Volunteer jobs in Raleigh, NC are:

What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Animal Volunteer jobs?

Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Animal Volunteer job openings:

Infographic showing various Animal Volunteer job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Part Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,693 per year, or $18.6 per hour.

Animal Care Specialist - SPCA Wake (Full-Time)

Raleigh, NC • On-site

$21/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 13 days ago


Job description

Animal Care Specialist
If you have a passion for working with animals and enjoy seeing goals met through daily scheduled activities, the Animal Care Specialist may be the most rewarding career journey of your life.


Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $21.00 per hour with scheduled salary increases at anniversary of hire date


Who We Are - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Wake County (SPCA Wake)
Founded in 1967 in Raleigh, NC, SPCA Wake is a progressive and innovative private, non-profit animal welfare and sheltering organization. Our organizational core values are the foundation of a positive work culture that values employees just as much as our mission. We are committed to creating a better future for pets and people and we work hard to achieve our goals and offer a rewarding workplace. SPCA Wake provides competitive pay and excellent benefits (see below). Working at SPCA Wake is about more than just a paycheck, it's about making a difference every day in the lives of pets and people.

With locations in Raleigh and Garner, SPCA Wake rescues, heals and adopts more than 4,000 pets annually and provides assistance to more than 30,000 families and individuals each year. We never place a time limit on how long cats, dogs and other pets stay at our shelter. Our vision is to create a humane community for pets and people. If you are looking to make an impact and to save lives, SPCA Wake is the perfect place for you.


Our Core Values:
1- Hell, Yeah!
2- Be Kind
3- Do What You Say
4- Forward Focused
5- Loose & Wiggly
6- Drop the Mic


Position Overview
As an Animal Care Specialist you (and your teammates) are responsible for the daily care and enrichment for shelter animals who are just entering our care or are waiting to be adopted. You will work with a dynamic assortment of volunteers and customers. The Animal Care Specialist improves the quality of life for homeless pets at SPCA Wake with training, feeding, exercise and socialization. The job is so much more than cleaning kennels, although there is a fair amount of that, to be honest. We practice fear-free animal handling at all times. Training is provided. While this is a front-line position, we don't consider it an "entry level" position, as it takes some time to build the skills needed to excel for the betterment of the animals. One more thing -- you must be comfortable kneeling, crouching, reaching overhead and lifting, carrying, and pulling up to 50 lbs.


You might be a born Animal Care Specialist if:
You're equally comfortable talking to pets or people - you can communicate with either!
You consider yourself to be a bit of a time management freak - you love nothing more than thinking about the most effective way to get your work done.
You're the first to notice when one of your, or your family's, pets isn't acting right and do something about it.
You've never considered yourself only a "dog person" or a "cat person"; you'd snuggle up to any critter that would let you.


Required:

Must love animals and care about people

Previous professional animal handling experience

Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including Saturdays and Sundays, some holidays

Valid driver's license (some animal transport van driving required)

A high school diploma or equivalent

Must be comfortable kneeling, crouching, reaching overhead and lifting, carrying, and pulling up to 50 lbs.

Previous customer service experience

Previous animal handling experience


Benefits:

  • Medical and Dental: Employer pays 90% of employee coverage (full-time)
  • Insurance includes wellness, dental, vision, life, mental health care, prescriptions, emergency & urgent care, chiropractic care, and physical therapy
  • Telemedicine options, 24/7 access to virtual health & wellness care and virtual behavioral health care

PAID TIME OFF -

  • All part-time and full-time staff receive paid time off.
  • Paid Holidays - 9 paid holidays per year (full-time)
  • Vacation Time - 10 paid vacation days per year (full-time) with scheduled increases at milestone anniversaries of hire date
  • Sick Time - 6.5 paid sick days per year (full-time)

FINANCIAL -

  • Healthcare: Flexible Spending Account
  • 401k Plan
  • Coastal Federal Credit Union Membership
  • 20% discount on pet adoptions and in SPCA Wake retail store

OTHER -

  • Bereavement time off
  • Federal & State Leave of Absence options

Only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews. No phone calls or emails, please - we'll have our people call your people!