501 (c)(3) Non Profit
27-1964906
828-559-7608
Big Title
Paws Ranch
Farm Animal Sanctuary
158 Paws Ranch Rd
Bostic, NC 28018
Who can volunteer
We accept volunteers of all experience levels. Barn volunteers must be in excellent physical condition. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Teens and Young Adults between the ages of 13 and 17 are required to complete volunteer orientation with a parent or guardian. Children younger than 13 must have an adult present to volunteer. There is an exception granted for youth groups.
Community Service School Programs, 4-H clubs, Girl and Boy Scout Troops, etc. may apply to volunteer for a day project. Each group is required to have one adult supervisor per three youth. All volunteers must complete a Volunteer Application and a Volunteer Release form before attending volunteer orientation at PRERI.
What do volunteers do?
ALL BARN VOLUNTEERS
Spend some time outside and help feed our 25 horses! Then it’s on to watering the horses, general barn clean-up, and preparing feed buckets for the next shift. We often have special projects that we need help with so any time you can spare after the regular chores are complete is appreciated. We welcome all volunteers who are strong team players and have a desire to work hard in order to help the horses. There is a minimum 3 month commitment to one day per week.
BEGINNER BARN VOLUNTEERS
Enjoy working outside around our horses! Beginner volunteers may interact directly with our Geriatric herd, but are asked to not enter other pastures as those horses can be more unpredictable.
INTERMEDIATE BARN VOLUNTEERS
After regular chores are complete, get some one-on-one horse time by haltering and grooming specific color coded horses. We ask that intermediate volunteers not enter any pastures besides the assigned, as our other horses can be more unpredictable.
ADVANCED BARN VOLUNTEERS
Lead our barn chore teams through a morning or evening feeding. Coordinate, manage, and assist in the activities of all volunteers including horse handling, horse care, feeding, and general clean up. These volunteers must be detail oriented and efficient so as to ensure the continuity of all barn procedures. Intermediate level horse handling skills are required. Human resource management experience is helpful.
It is very rare for a new applicant to be accepted as an advanced level barn volunteer. After working several shifts and getting to know PRERI’s routine, intermediate level volunteers may be promoted to an advanced level.
Our Volunteer's
FACILITIES AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE VOLUNTEERS
Light and heavy vehicle maintenance: We utilize a number of vehicles here at the farm for all the many activities we work through each day. We are looking for mechanical people who can help maintain our “work horses” such as our pick-up trucks, tractors, hay equipment lawn mowers, and horse trailer.
Building, grounds, and fence upkeep: In our efforts to keep our facility looking sharp, we can utilize more volunteers to help with such things as fence repair, harrowing of our pastures, horse shelter and barn repair, rock removal, manure spreading and/or hauling, and building of additional horse pens and pastures. These projects can be completed by an individual or a group of volunteers who enjoy outdoor farm work. If your work group has the necessary skills to help with these sorts of projects, we could certainly use the help.
Gardening: With over 29 acres of pasture space we are in need of individuals or groups of volunteers who can help with maintenance of the garden spaces around our office and barn. This includes weeding, planting flowers, watering trees, and mowing. If you have flowers or plants you would like to donate to help make our facility look better, we can always find spots for you to plant your favorite items! This can be a church or community service activity for large or small work groups that are looking for a day-long project.
Plumbing and Electrical: There is always a need for various indoor and outdoor plumbing or electrical projects. Running electric fencing or providing more lights outside are both ongoing projects here at the rescue. Any previous experience is extremely helpful!
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT VOLUNTEERS - Assist our Communications Director and Executive Director with administrative tasks such as filing, archiving, special mailings, office cleaning, answering phones and emails, and light computer work. Writing and organizational skills are helpful. If you are detail oriented and can work within deadlines, please consider donating your time for this important work on behalf of our horses.
BARN STORE VOLUNTEERS - Help raise money for our horses! Run PRERI’s barn store by sorting and cleaning recently donated items, selling various donated items, keeping an inventory of current items, and helping to ‘get the word out’ about the store itself. Cash register skills are required.
Although volunteers can gain experience working around horses, our Volunteer Program is not designed as a teaching/learning opportunity for riding lessons, horsemanship training, groundwork, medical care, husbandry, etc.
If you are interested in horse education, PRERI regularly offers classes and clinics for both the general public and volunteers.
