Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton - Animal Shelter of Massachusetts for Dogs and Cats

At the Shelter

At the Shelter:

If you love animals and are interested in getting more involved with Baypath, we would love to hear from you! We always need volunteers to help out with fundraisers and events, general shelter help, cat socialization, dog walking, and more. For information on volunteering at the Shelter, please see below to learn about just a few of the myriad volunteer opportunites available.

If you would like to help out with fundraising and events, click here for information on our upcoming activities. We also have the need for foster homes for some of our animals, usually pregnant cats and kittens. Please check out the Foster Care page for details. A Volunteer Application is available for download, or you can pick one up at the shelter.

Please note: Volunteers under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (who is at least 17) while at the shelter. We request a minimum commitment of 8 hours per month from all of our Volunteers.

Shelter Volunteer Opportunities

Feel like scrubbing like a bubble? We always need help cleaning: cat cages, dog kennels, laundry, dishes, general cleaning of the shelter. No, it isn't glamorous work, but it is essential nonetheless. Cleaning chores are done each morning before we open the shelter, and throughout the day as needed.

Perhaps you would prefer some early morning exercise? We walk all of our dogs daily before opening hours. It's a great way to get a hike in and bond with an animal who would love to spend the time with you! Dogs are also walked in the afternoon. Preferred hours for dog walking are mornings between 8AM and 11AM, and afternoons between 3PM and 5PM.

Have a soft touch? We often need kind, gentle souls to help socialize our animals. Some of our animals have been neglected and are fearful. Spending time with them, grooming them, playing with them, showing them genuine kindness and understanding helps to calm them. This in turn makes it easier to successfully adopt them out into a new, loving forever home much more quickly!

Volunteers are needed to transport animals to and from the vets. We need people who can drop animals off early in the morning (usually bewteen 7:30AM and 8AM) at a variety of local animal hospitals. We also need help with pick-ups, which usually occur at the close of business between 4PM and 6PM, depending upon the facility.

Need For Foster Parents

Baypath currently has a critical, immediate need for foster families for cats who are pregnant or who have just had a litter. Sadly, kitten season is no longer a season – it has become a year round situation. If you would like to help out by offering a loving, temporary home for cats in need, please call Elaine Brem at 508-877-8072. For more information on what foster families do, please click here. To read a testimonial on how rewarding Fostering can be, read our success stories.

On occasion, we also have a need for foster families for dogs as well. A dog may benefit from being out of the shelter for a short while as he or she recovers from minor surgery or medical treatments. We also sometimes have dogs who, due to their size or breed, can find the shelter environment a bit overwhelming. If you could open your heart and home to a dog for a short time, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, who can tell you about any current dogs who may benefit from this program.

Big Buddy Program - A Special Opportunity

If you are not able to own a pet but love animals, consider

"semi-adopting" one of our special needs dogs.

Though it is

not common, we occasionally have dogs who become longer-term guests at the shelter because of age or health issues. These animals deserve a little extra attention and affection, and show unconditional love in return for just a little bit of your time.

A wonderful friendship can be made in just a few hours a week, and the experience will stay with you always. If you can commit to 3-5 hours a week of spending time with "your" dog, you'd be giving him or her a ton of joy. You can walk your dog, play fetch in our outdoor exercise pens, or just give him or her some hugs and tummy rubs. If you're interested, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator or call the shelter at 508-435-6938 to find out about any current longer-term canine guests.

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