A few years ago, Alejandro A. had a thought that so many other New Yorkers have had. “Is my small studio apartment big enough to adopt an animal?” While he’d been tempted to adopt during the Covid-19 pandemic when working remotely became the new norm, he never committed since he was still required to go to his office regularly.

By the summer of 2022, the want to care for an animal was still there, finding Alejandro browsing adoption sites “just to see.” That’s when Alejandro came across the ASPCA website and saw our volunteer opportunities in New York City.

Alejandro felt this could be a great opportunity for him to help animals in need, without committing to something permanent like adoption. He quickly filled out the volunteer application, describing his experience with dogs and history of volunteering, which included cleaning kennels at a shelter when he was in high school. He was later approved as both a volunteer and foster caregiver at the ASPCA Adoption Center.

Growing as a Volunteer

At the Adoption Center, Alejandro hit the ground running, quickly becoming a dependable, dedicated and crucial member of the volunteer team.

To date, Alejandro has volunteered for over 1500 hours, regularly volunteering in shelter support, helping with administrative tasks, and is even a foster caregiver for our animals that need time away from the shelter. He has also taken the time to be trained as an "advanced dog handler" so he can assist our staff with dog walks and accompany them at our mobile adoption events to help get them adopted. He’s even become a mentor to new volunteers and dog handlers and helps them get onboarded.

“The way the ASPCA staff helped me!” Alejando tells us about his journey as a volunteer. “I also finally became a cat handler recently so I could help guide new volunteers who were more interested in becoming cat socializers.”

“I honestly don’t know what we’d do without Alejandro,” says Julie Sonenberg, senior manager of volunteer engagement at the Adoption Center. “He’s the definition of a ‘go-to’ volunteer. He seamlessly transitions from providing a loving foster home, to handling complex dog behavior, to mentoring new volunteers with patience and kindness. He’s a true asset, not just for the animals, but for our staff and fellow volunteers. It’s rare to find someone with such a diverse skillset and unwavering commitment. Alejandro embodies the spirit of what we strive for — he’s a remarkable example of how one person’s dedication can elevate an entire operation and improve the lives of countless animals.”

“There’s not enough we can say to truly express our appreciation for Alejandro,” adds Christina Quinn, integrated care assistant at the Adoption Center. “Alejandro has been a volunteer since before I started and has been such a consistent, strong, reliable volunteer with whatever he sets out to do! He’s an extraordinary mentor, a dog guru and a pleasure to work with! We appreciate everything he does to help and all he does for the dogs, from walks to giving them all the love he has! He is truly a blessing to the ASPCA and all the lives he helps — animals and people alike.”

But Alejandro’s dedication doesn’t stop at the Adoption Center, it extends into his own home. As a committed foster caregiver, he also provides a temporary home for animals in need whether it be for just a night or a few weeks.

“A lot of new volunteers tell me they don't think they can foster because they'd never be willing to give them back,” says Alejandro. “For me, one of the most rewarding parts of my volunteer experience has been seeing challenging animal cases come to the ASPCA and then working with those animals to improve them medically or behaviorally and then finally getting them placed in a loving home.”

Left to right: Biembe, Enero and Mister Twiggy; some of the animals Alejandro has fostered, who have since found loving homes of their own.

In addition to volunteering at the Adoption Center and fostering animals, Alejandro has also deployed as a National Field Response Volunteer on multiple occasions to our Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Ohio to provide extra shelter support.

“Every time Alejandro deploys, he always brings his light to the CRC,” says Rachel Helmick, senior manager of foster and placement at the CRC. “He's an incredible asset to our team — always willing to jump in and never saying no to a task! He cares deeply about our animals and his passionate shines through in everything he does.”

Just like it does in New York, while at the CRC, Alejandro’s unwavering commitment to animals shines through, as does his commitment as a mentor, showing fellow volunteers the ropes and ensuring they feel comfortable.

“Alejandro has been an integral part of my ASPCA journey from when I looked up to him as a fellow volunteer mentor to when he took me under his wing during deployment at the CRC when I felt like I had no idea what was going on all the way to now as an ASPCA employee,” says Sidney Fisher, lead integrated care assistant at the Adoption Center. “Working alongside him more consistently has made it clear what an impact he has on everyone he encounters and every animal he has interacted with. Our work could simply NOT get done without the dedication, selflessness and expertise he brings, and I can’t even begin to name the countless animals he has touched and put energy into that have come out for the better because of it. Alejandro is truly the unsung hero of the Integrated Care Assistant team!”

Finding Fulfillment Through Volunteering

Though Alejandro still hasn’t adopted a dog, he finds his volunteer work gives him a greater sense of satisfaction than being a pet parent could.

“Every animal at the ASPCA has the benefit of a large team of staff and volunteers like me that can care for them with coverage throughout the day,” says Alejandro. “All these shelter animals have their own funny quirks and personalities I can enjoy, and they all benefit from the care I help provide. It's very rewarding to see them finally get adopted or fostered.”

Working in animal welfare comes with its ups and downs, but Alejandro finds the hardest part to be how attached he gets to each animal.

“It’s bittersweet to see them get adopted,” he tells us.

Alejandro and foster dog Empanada.

But getting to experience the bittersweet feeling of watching an animal you’ve connected with find a loving home is just one of the many joys that come with volunteering at a shelter, something Alejandro highly recommends.

“Signing up for even a couple of shifts a month is a huge help and makes a big difference in supporting these animals' welfare in the long run,” he says.

Celebrating National Volunteer and Responder Appreciation Week

This week is National Volunteer and Responder Appreciation Week, and we couldn’t be more grateful for Alejandro and volunteers like him. Take it from some of those who know him best:

“Alejandro is INCREDIBLE! There’s a reason we call him our superhero,” says Ammie Levi, senior manager of animal welfare at the Adoption Center “When we call for help, he’s almost always one of the first to respond, and has regularly adjusted his routine and opened his home to fit  animals’ needs. From the Adoption Center to the Cruelty Recovery Center and everywhere in between, Alejandro has proven his dedication to ensuring all dogs get the best possible care, and that operations are equally prioritized. Alejandro’s creativity has been crucial to the growth of the Adoption Center volunteer program and on top of all that, we thank him for the ownership he takes in his mentor role, taking in new volunteers and showing them why the volunteer work is important!”

“Alejandro's involvement as a volunteer is unmeasurably helpful and incredibly impactful,” adds Ashley Arnett, manager of animal welfare at Adoption Center . “As one of our leading shelter support volunteer mentors, Alejandro's passion and dedication supports developing newer volunteers while tending to operational needs alongside staff members. He ensures the best care for our animals, and we are so appreciative to have him with us. Alejandro is our Superman!”

Our volunteers like Alejandro help make our work for animals possible. That’s why we want to give a big thank you to ALL of our incredible volunteers across the country. We couldn’t do the impactful work we do without them! 

“I’m constantly humbled by the dedication of our volunteers,” says Julie. “They give their time and energy so freely, and they do it with such enthusiasm. It’s truly inspiring. From the quiet work behind the scenes to the public-facing roles to in-home care of our animals, every contribution matters. Our volunteers and fosters are the backbone of our operations, and we are so grateful for all that they do. Their invaluable contributions make our mission possible, every single day.”

How You Can Get Involved

If you’re interested in signing up to be an ASPCA volunteer or foster caregiver, check out our programs in New York City, Los Angeles (cat fostering only), Weaverville, North Carolina, and Columbus, Ohio. You can also find out more information on becoming an ASPCA National Field Response volunteer responder here. 

Not in these areas? Learn more about volunteer programs at your local shelter or with our friends at Animal Care Centers of New York City.