If you are interested in joining the Saint Francis Family of volunteers, click here to complete
the Volunteer Questionnaire form online. Once we receive your information, our
Volunteer Coordinator Mary Wingfield will contact to you to discuss your area of interest.
If you are presently a Saint Francis volunteer and would like to explore other volunteer options, please contact Mary Wingfield.
If you are presently a Saint Francis volunteer and would like to explore other volunteer options, please contact Mary Wingfield.
For questions or additional information about how you can help Saint Francis
Service Dogs, contact Mary Wingfield at mwingfield@saintfrancisdogs.org
or call 540.342.DOGS (3647).
or call 540.342.DOGS (3647).
Another important way you can help is by sharing Saint Francis Service Dogs
with others. If you are aware of family, friends, clubs or organizations that might
be interested in services or interested in volunteer opportunities, we hope you
will share your knowledge and direct them to us.
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It really does take a village to raise and place a Saint Francis Service Dog. Saint Francis
would not be able to continue our mission without the tireless efforts of hundreds of
dedicated volunteers.
We invite you to join our Saint Francis Family by becoming involved in special events, by being a dog walker, puppy raiser, puppy sitter, foster family or undertaking a service project at our training facility. The list is long and varied. We welcome all levels of involvement, and work hard to provide our volunteers with a unique and fulfilling experience.
We invite you to join our Saint Francis Family by becoming involved in special events, by being a dog walker, puppy raiser, puppy sitter, foster family or undertaking a service project at our training facility. The list is long and varied. We welcome all levels of involvement, and work hard to provide our volunteers with a unique and fulfilling experience.
In addition, below are brief descriptions of our volunteer programs that always need a
helping hand or loving home.
• Puppy Raisers: Puppy raisers open their homes and hearts to future service
dogs, raising puppies for approximately one year and helping them learn their basic
obedience skills before returning them to Saint Francis Service Dogs for advanced
training.
• Puppy Sitters: Puppy sitters look after Saint Francis puppies and dogs on
weekends or for periods of one or two weeks while their regular puppy raisers are on
vacation. Puppy sitters help our Saint Francis puppies by exposing them to new friends
and different places.
• Foster Families: Dogs in advanced training with Saint Francis staff trainers need a
home when not in "school". By becoming a Saint Francis Foster Family, you will enjoy
the companionship of a wonderful, well-behaved adult dog evenings and weekends
while also making a huge contribution to the training process.
• Dog Walkers: Our Dog Walkers assist our staff trainers by exercising Saint Francis
dogs according to guidelines set by the trainers, and adapted to the needs of each
dog. Dog Walkers must successfully complete a mandatory training class before
joining the program.
• Special Events: Volunteering to assist with a Saint Francis fundraising event is a
wonderful way to have a great time while you help us strengthen our organization
and mission. Our signature events could not take place without our army of helpers,
and we appreciate each and every one.
• Service Projects: If your civic group, scout troop, fraternal organization or
business is seeking a cooperative working and learning experience, a project at the
Saint Francis Training Center may be right for you.
• Reading Program: The Reading Program enables you and your dog to work as a
volunteer team with Saint Francis. Below are the general qualifications for
participating in the Saint Francis Reading Program.
• All volunteers are considered regardless of race, breed, color, religion,
marital status, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or veteran's
status. Handler must be a legal adult.
• All dogs/handler teams participating in the program must be Delta-certified therapy dog teams.
• Volunteer must show ability and willingness to interact with children to increase their reading ability and their enjoyment of reading.
• Volunteer must be able to commit and consistently attend reading programs as scheduled in the selected school(s).
• All dogs/handler teams participating in the program must be Delta-certified therapy dog teams.
• Volunteer must show ability and willingness to interact with children to increase their reading ability and their enjoyment of reading.
• Volunteer must be able to commit and consistently attend reading programs as scheduled in the selected school(s).
Volunteering