Opportunities From: SPCA of Southwest Michigan

Ready for Hands-On Volunteer Training?

You’ve watched the video, passed the quiz, and now it’s time for the fun part. Hands-On Training is the final step before you begin volunteering with our animals!

Hands-On Training Details
Length: 40 minutes to 1 hour
With: SPCA Staff

What You’ll Do:

Learn how to log into the volunteer computer

Review and refresh what you learned in the training video

Meet our cats and walk an advanced dog as a group

Walk your very first dog on your own

Please arrive 5–10 minutes early. Training begins promptly at the scheduled time.

Dress for the Weather
About 20 minutes of training takes place outdoors with the dogs. We train in light rain, snow, and cold, so please dress accordingly. Boots are recommended (we may be standing in snow), along with a warm coat, gloves, and layers in winter. Snow pants are welcome if needed.
Training will be canceled in cases of moderate to heavy rain, flooded grounds, snowstorms, or severe weather. If canceled, you’ll be asked to reschedule for another day.

Volunteers with Minors

Minors must be 8 years or older

Minors must attend training with a guardian until age 16

Minors should watch the orientation video (quiz not required)

Minors may attend training without being signed up separately

Sign up here:
New Volunteer Hands-On Training (Step 3 of 3) | SPCA of Southwest Michigan

If you don’t yet have a volunteer profile, please create one and mark “Yes” under qualifications for watching the video and passing the quiz. Training times are updated monthly, so if the current dates don’t work, be sure to check back.

Optional: Help Kick Off Your Volunteer Journey with a Gift
Many new volunteers choose to bring a small donation to their training session to support the animals they’ll soon be helping. While never required, every gift makes a difference. One can of food equals one meal for an animal in our care. 

Our Current Top Needs:

BIGGEST NEED: Pet-safe sidewalk salt/ice melt

Dry cat food (any size or brand)

Cat litter

Dog treats (all kinds welcome, soft chews most needed)

Hard, long-lasting chew bones (especially large sizes)

Dish soap (any brand)

Gift cards (Meijer, Menards, Walmart, PetSmart)

The SPCA does not receive government funding. Every donation and volunteer hour comes from our amazing community. Thank you for helping us make tails wag and purrs happen! 

FOSTER NEEDED: FRITO IS EXPECTING KITTENS

Meet Frito—a very pregnant mama-to-be who is due to have her kittens in the next 1–3 weeks. Her belly is beautifully round, and you can even feel the babies kicking. Yes, it’s as magical as it sounds.

Frito is incredibly sweet. She’ll roll right over, invite your hand onto her tummy, and happily make biscuits on you while soaking up the love. She’s calm, affectionate, and clearly ready for a safe, cozy place to welcome her babies.

Frito will need a foster home until her kittens are 8 weeks old (or 2 lbs).

No experience? No problem. There’s a first time for everything. We’ll provide guidance, tips, and support every step of the way to make sure you feel confident and prepared.

If you’ve ever thought about fostering—or even just thought, “maybe I could do that”—this is your sign.
Frito and her future kittens are counting on you.

Friendly reminder: Volunteers are not required to stay for the full shift. You’re welcome to come by anytime during the scheduled hours and help out for as little or as long as you’d like. Every bit of help makes a difference!

Friendly reminder: Volunteers are not required to stay for the entire shift. Feel free to stop by anytime during the scheduled hours and help out for as little or as long as you’re able. Every bit of time you give makes a difference for the cats! 

Please sign in to begin your court-ordered community service.
Only hours logged in this system will be reported to the court. Remember to sign out when you leave. Thank you for helping support the SPCA of Southwest Michigan!

The best part about this activity is when you're the first person to walk into the cat room in the morning all the cats come to greet you with purrs and cuddles. 

It takes about 2 hours to clean Cat City.

We allot three hours for this activity to give the volunteer the time and space to spend with the cats. Volunteers do not need to be at the SPCA the full 3 hours. 

Duties Include: 

Sweeping and Mopping

Feeding the cats and changing out the water. 

Putting out clean blankets. 

Scooping the litter boxes and putting fresh litter in.

Making sure Cat City is clean and tidy. 

Thank you! 

Friendly reminder: Volunteers are not required to stay for the entire shift. Feel free to stop by anytime during the scheduled hours and help out for as little or as long as you’re able. Every bit of time you give makes a difference for the dogs! 

Friendly reminder: Volunteers are not required to stay for the full shift. You’re welcome to come by anytime during the scheduled hours and help out for as little or as long as you’d like. Every bit of help makes a difference!

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Calling All Creative Volunteers!

We’re looking for talented volunteers with experience in mixed media—including photography, videography, and social media—to help us bring our projects to life!

If you have skills in one or more of these areas:

Creating or editing photos or videos

Designing multimedia content

Managing or creating content for social media platforms

Working with collage, graphics, or visual storytelling

…we’d love to hear from you!

Please respond to this post to let us know you’re interested
In the notes section, briefly share your experience (e.g., platforms you’ve used, tools you’re skilled in, or past projects).

Your creativity can make a real impact—thank you for sharing your time and talent with us!

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