About
Adoption
Donations
FAQ
Lost-N-Found
Membership
News / Events
Our History
Relinquishing
Spay & Neuter
Sponsors
Thrift Shoppe
Volunteer
Wishlist
Volunteer
As a nonprofit organization, the Friends of the Shelter relies on volunteers for the operation of the Panhandle Animal Shelter and the Thrift Shoppe. We have opportunities for all ages and volunteers may establish a regular schedule, work as time permits or be part of a special project. Volunteers under the age of 14 should be accompanied by an adult and a tetanus shot is recommended.

If you'd like to volunteer please click here to access the form or contact the Panhandle Animal Shelter or the Thrift Shoppe:

Panhandle Animal Shelter
1604 Great Northern Road

Sandpoint
, ID 83864

208-265-PAWS (7297)
Thrift Shoppe
506 Oak Street
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
208-263-0706

Shelter volunteer activities:
  • Rotating dogs outdoors, walking dogs
  • Greet and help visitors with animals
  • Answer phone, transact business, filing, record-keeping, computer data entry
  • Assist with pet registration and I.D.
  • Lost-n-found report cross referencing
  • Cleaning kennels, feeding and watering dogs
  • Cleaning cages and colony rooms, feeding and watering cats
  • Cleaning shelter, washing bowls, laundering bedding
  • Grooming, bathing, flea dips
  • P.M. feeding and watering
Volunteer activities outside the shelter:   
  • Pet visitation to residential care facilities
  • Shelter tours
  • Walking dogs around town or at off-site events
  • Maintenance and repairs
  • Landscaping
  • Snowplowing, shoveling, sanding
  • Plumbing, heating, electrical
  • Special maintenance and construction projects
Thrift Shoppe volunteer activities:
  • Light housekeeping
  • Sorting, cleaning, pricing merchandise
  • Display, window dressing
  • Customer assistance
  • Cashiering
  • Maintenance and repairs
  • Disposal of surplus merchandise
  • General maintenance and repairs
Friends of the Shelter Committees activities:
  • Public Relations: Advertising & promotion, media & consumer relations, Quarterly Paw Prints newsletter, Website
  • Education: School visitation, community education & awareness
  • Shelter and Grounds: Maintenance, repairs, improvements
  • Animal Care: Adoption, pet registration, lost pets
  • Finance: Budget, purchasing, accounting, taxes
  • Enterprise: Thrift Shoppe
  • Membership: Recruitment, renewal, notification; maintain membership list
  • Fundraising: Organize or participate in on-going special events
  • Adoption: Organize, promote and particpate in adoption events
Miscellaneous activities:
  • Grant writing: Design projects, estimate costs, document and prepare applications for grants as approved by the Board for programs or capital improvements; submit progress reports and final reports with receipts as required; prepare specifications for bids and supervise bidding process.
  • Veterinary Services: Provide telephone consultation to Shelter staff at no charge; provide compensated services for Shelter animals when authorized; participate in scheduled, on-site visits for staff consultation at an established fee.
  • Photography: Photograph adoptable animals for newspaper photo ads; photograph special events and activities; organize and maintain photo archives for historical purposes; maintain photographic record of facility, improvements and equipment for insurance purposes.
  • Videography: Develop and market video productions for promotion, advertising of adoptable animals; Shelter "tour"; public information education and special events; make a video record of facilities, improvements, equipment and inventory for historical and insurance purposes.
  • Historian: Resurrect, organize and maintains records of press releases, articles, editorials, special events, Shelter improvements to maintain a comprehensive historical record of events.
  • Legal Services: Advise the organization on a variety of legal issues including leases, personnel action, liabilities, policies, nonprofit status, contracts and bequests, etc.