Join the crew
Jobs & volunteering
Love animals and like talking with people? That’s most of the job. Here’s what we ask of everyone who joins us.
Working here
- Available between 8am and 10pm, at least 5 days a week, year round.
- Planning to stay at least a year. We don’t hire for summer only.
Apply for a job
Fill out our application and we’ll be in touch.
Volunteering
We train volunteers for animal careers, so we ask for a real commitment.
- At least one shift a week, at least 5 hours each, for at least 12 shifts.
- The same set time each week, on time and ready to work.
- Clean and dressed for a family store (we’ll give you the dress code).
- Outgoing and comfortable chatting with customers, including kindly correcting someone handling an animal the wrong way.
- Able to learn the key facts about our animals and share them with visitors.
Volunteer guidelines
- Call ahead to schedule each shift; on a busy day a manager may not be able to take you.
- Wear your volunteer badge and let customers know you’re a volunteer, not staff.
- Send animal-care and product questions to a staff member.
- Don’t catch, bag, net or feed fish.
- Tell staff when you finish a task so they can give you the next one.
- If an animal looks sick or distressed, tell a staff member quickly and quietly.
- Ask before holding an animal, just like customers do.
- Stay out from behind the register, and out of the office, basement and utility rooms unless asked.
- No eating or drinking at the counter or in front of customers.
- Don’t buy animals or animal products from our breeders or suppliers.
- A signed medical release is required before your first shift (a parent or guardian signs if you’re under 18).
Want to volunteer?
Send us a note through the contact form, or ask at the counter.




