Volunteer
Volunteers are the backbone of our organization, and we rely on their compassion and commitment to serve our Ruff Riders family members (i.e., clients). If you love working with people and pets, and if you’re dedicated to social and economic justice, then the Ruff Riders project might be a great fit for you!
Ruff Riders is committed to treating all pet owners with respect, compassion, and kindness, and we do not pass judgment based on a pet owner’s circumstances, socioeconomic background, or past behaviors. Therefore, Ruff Riders volunteers must reflect these values when representing our project.
Training, support, and appropriate resources will be provided to all of our volunteers.
We have a wide range of opportunities available, listed below.
Home Deliveries:
Description: Volunteers deliver pet food and supplies to Ruff Riders family members’ homes.
Location: Deliveries take place in Brooklyn. All pet food and supplies can be picked up from our pantry in Brooklyn (1561 Bushwick Avenue, near the A, C, L, and J trains). Most Ruff Riders family members live in the following neighborhoods: Bed-Stuy, Brownsville, Bushwick, East New York, Crown Heights, and East Flatbush. We occasionally deliver to families in surrounding neighborhoods, including Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Ridgewood (Queens).
Frequency: We have one-time and ongoing opportunities. Delivery days/times can be arranged according to your schedule and the family’s availability.
Requirements: Volunteers will either need access to a car or be able to transport heavy objects (e.g., bags of pet food) via public transportation, biking, or walking. You’ll need to pick up the food/supplies from our pantry. Volunteers should be comfortable interacting with people and pets in the community, but you do not need to enter the family’s home to complete the delivery. (Note: Volunteers will only deliver to existing Ruff Riders family members, after an approved Ruff Riders representative has completed an intake/home visit.)
Phone/Email Outreach:
Description: Volunteers conduct phone/email outreach to Ruff Riders family members to check in, answer questions, and identify unmet needs. Volunteers also respond to general pet care inquiries we receive from the public and refer people to the appropriate resources and information. We will provide you with a resource guide and FAQs.
Location: You can make the phone call/emails from anywhere; no travel required.
Frequency: We have one-time and ongoing opportunities.
Requirements: Volunteers must have access to a phone and an email address. No travel is required. Spanish speakers are highly desired!
Transportation Volunteers:
Description: Volunteers help transport Ruff Riders family members’ pets to and from veterinary and spay/neuter appointments.
Location: Most of the veterinary appointments take place in Brooklyn. The spay/neuter appointments take place in various locations in Brooklyn or in Queens (ASPCA stationary spay/neuter clinic in Glendale).
Frequency: We have one-time opportunities taking place throughout the year, depending on our Ruff Riders family members’ needs. Appointments take place during the weekdays or on weekends, usually in the mornings or afternoons. Most spay/neuter appointments require early-morning travel.
Requirements: Most of these opportunities require access to a car. If a volunteer is using a car to transport a pet, then the volunteer must have a valid driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance. We occasionally have opportunities where volunteers can transport pets via carrier using public transportation; in these cases, you don’t need a driver’s license or automobile insurance.
Special Projects:
Description: Volunteers assist with special projects including research, grant-writing, fundraising, data-entry, or other tasks as they arise. If you have a professional skill to offer (e.g., website design, accounting), then there’s a good chance we can use it! We are always looking for help with fundraising and donation drives.
Location: Most of these projects can be done remotely, with no travel required.
Frequency: Some projects require one-time assistance, while others are ongoing.
Requirements: Varies, depending on the project.
Ready to Volunteer?
To request a volunteer application, please contact Kim at kim@beyondbreed.com or (917) 386-7965.
Thanks for your interest in volunteering with our Ruff Riders project!
