We use volunteers in three areas. Click each link below to read details about each:

Volunteer for events throughout Texas

Volunteer at the Training Center in Dripping Springs

Foster a dog in your home for nights and/or weekends

The training for assistance dogs is highly specialized and only very experienced trainers work directly with the dogs. However, you will be around our dogs almost every time you volunteer. We also have opportunities to foster our dogs over-night and on weekends!

Adult volunteers of all ages are welcome. Children 7-17 may volunteer with a parent present at all times. All volunteers must comply with the volunteer guidelines and all safety procedures.

Something comfortable and easy to clean! Wear shoes with good traction to prevent slipping. Please note, we do not allow flip flops, sandals or open toed shoes for safety reasons.

If you need anything special, SDI will provide it.

We’ll keep track for you. The volunteer log is located in the Volunteer Coordinator’s office where you sign in and out. This helps SDI track your time and is also important information when we apply for grants where volunteer hours and activity are considered.

Volunteer Hours Tracker

Please address any concern directly with a staff member. If you need further help, you can contact any of our executive team listed on the “Contact Us” page of our website at servicedogs.org.

Committed volunteers greatly improve our training program, community outreach, and events. We are very grateful for the help and always try to keep an upbeat atmosphere. People are expected to have fun, as long as we are being productive in the process. However, if volunteers do not properly follow the guidelines with the dogs, it can actually hinder the training process.

Service Dogs are working dogs. We ask that volunteers do not interact with them freely, as they do with their own pets or other animals. Because of the type of training our dogs are undergoing, volunteers must be conscientious during each interaction with our dogs and not approach, pet, or interact with them without a trainer’s guidance. If you have questions please ask a staff memeber.

If you sign up for an activity, we are counting on you to be there. If you must cancel, please do so as soon as possible. We ask for at least 48 hours notice prior to the activity, in order to allow us time to find someone else. If you “no show” more than 2 times without notice, you will no longer be scheduled for volunteer shifts.