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Behavior Volunteers Program

About our Program

Make a hands-on difference in the lives of animals at Memphis Animal Services.

The Behavior Volunteers Program gives volunteers the opportunity to support the emotional well-being, socialization, enrichment, and adoptability of the dogs and cats in our care. Volunteers may help provide enrichment, gather photos and personality information for adoptable pets, socialize animals, assist with community behavior classes, support dog playgroups, and more.

Volunteers can choose the activities that interest them and may work with dogs, cats, or both. All volunteers receive online and in-person training before participating. Available activities may change based on the current needs of Memphis Animal Services.

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What Behavior Volunteers Do

Depending on their training level, volunteers may help with:

    • Preparing, distributing, and monitoring enrichment
    • Giving “fly-by” treats to help animals build positive associations with people
    • Refilling treat buckets on kennel doors
    • Photographing and recording videos of adoptable animals
    • Writing animal bios and gathering personality information
    • Socializing fearful, shy, or under-socialized animals
    • Walking approved dogs and providing supervised playtime
    • Taking approved dogs on community field trips
    • Assisting with puppy and kitten socialization
    • Supporting dog tests and playgroups
    • Assisting with clicker training and behavior modification plans
    • Helping with canine and feline behavior evaluations
    • Supporting community behavior classes
    • Assisting with laundry, dishes, and enrichment organization
    • Helping supervise large volunteer groups

Volunteers may participate in one or several activities after receiving approval and completing the required training for each responsibility.

Volunteer Tiers

Our tier system allows volunteers to build their knowledge and skills gradually while keeping both volunteers and animals safe. Volunteers who advance to a higher tier may continue participating in activities from the tiers below them

Foundational Support

  • Description:
    Tier 1 activities are primarily hands-off and provide an introduction to animal enrichment and shelter operations.

    Activities may include:

    • Preparing and monitoring enrichment
    • Distributing treats and refilling kennel treat buckets
    • Supporting community behavior classes
    • Assisting with laundry and dishes
    • Organizing enrichment supplies
    • Helping with large volunteer groups
    • Taking photos or videos with staff assistance
Supervised Animal Interaction

  • Description:
    Tier 2 includes all Tier 1 activities and introduces hands-on interaction with approved animals.

    Activities may include:

    • Supervised dog walking and outdoor playtime
    • Dog field trips with pre-approved dogs
    • Puppy and kitten socialization
    • Assisting with animal bios and volunteer notes
    • Taking photos and videos independently
    • Socializing approved fearful or shy animals
    • Providing one-on-one enrichment and basic manners practice
Advanced Behavior Support

  • Description:
    Tier 3 includes all Tier 1 and Tier 2 activities and is intended for volunteers with advanced handling and animal behavior knowledge.

    Activities may include:

    • Assisting with dog tests and playgroups
    • Supporting canine and feline behavior evaluations
    • Walking approved dogs without direct staff supervision
    • Assisting with personality cards
    • Clicker training and behavior modification
    • Supporting individualized behavior plans
    • Recording and documenting animal training progress
Lead Behavior & Enrichment Volunteer

Description:
Experienced, long-term volunteers who demonstrate a strong understanding of animal body language, safe handling, shelter protocols, and volunteer expectations may be selected as Lead Behavior & Enrichment Volunteers.

Lead Volunteers may:

    • Assist with training and supervising other volunteers
    • Support volunteers advancing to higher tiers
    • Help create new enrichment activities and plans
    • Assist with animal training sessions
    • Identify training needs and provide feedback to the Behavior Enrichment Specialist

Advancement through the program is based on completed training, demonstrated skills, reliability, and approval from the Behavior Enrichment Specialist.

 

Training Requirements

Volunteers must complete the required online and in-person training before becoming active or participating in activities within their assigned tier.

Training may include:

  • Canine or feline body language
  • Fear-free and low-stress handling
  • Defensive dog handling
  • Safe kennel and leash procedures
  • Dog fight prevention and response
  • Puppy and kitten handling
  • Animal enrichment
  • Memphis Animal Services protocols and safety rules

Some activities require additional training. Volunteers may also request refresher or advanced training as they progress through the program.

SECTION: Questions?

For questions about the Behavior Volunteers Program, training requirements, or volunteer activities, contact:

Behavior Enrichment Specialist
Alex Cuesta
[email protected]

Ready to Make a Difference?

Help us provide every animal with more enrichment, positive interaction, and opportunities to show potential adopters who they truly are.

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