Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is giving from your heart. Four Paws and a Wake Up-NC will soon have opportunities to assist with a service dog in training, as well as, learn to become a certified animal-assisted therapy team (with your own dog) to volunteer in the community and to help with event planning. Learn more by completing Contact Us-NC.
Puppy Raiser - Volunteer
Service dogs don't just happen; it takes hours of training.
Volunteer puppy raisers provide puppies a safe home, take them to obedience classes, serve up a healthy diet, provide socialization opportunities and give lots of love.
Each hour spent caring for a Four Paws and a wake Up-NC puppy is vital to its development as a future assistance dog. The puppy raising program provides a unique opportunity for volunteers to assist with our very important mission.
You must be at least 18 years old to be a volunteer puppy raiser. Those under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian as a co-applicant on the puppy raiser application.
Raise a puppy, change a life; maybe even your own.
As a volunteer puppy raiser, you must agree to the following:
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Provide a safe environment for a puppy who will be the only dog under 1-year old in the house
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Work closely with Four Paws and a Wake Up-NC monitoring the puppy’s progress and submit monthly reports
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Attend Four Paws and a Wake Up-NC approved obedience classes
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Teach the puppy manners and basic commands
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Provide financially for the puppy’s food, medical and transportation expenses
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Feed the puppy a diet recommended by Four Paws and a Wake Up-NC
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Provide a kennel or crate for sleeping indoors
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Provide the puppy with age-appropriate socialization opportunities such as public outings and medical appointments
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Keep the puppy on a leash at all times unless in a securely fenced area
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Supervise the young puppy throughout the day
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Agree to return the puppy upon request