Intern, Government Relations

Summary :

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is our nation's first humane organization and one of the largest nonprofit animal welfare organizations in the world. The ASPCA provides local and national leadership in caring for pets and pet parents, providing positive outcomes for at-risk animals, and serving victims of animal cruelty.

The ASPCA's Government Relations (GR) Department helps to enact meaningful legal protections for animals at the state and federal levels. GR team members :

Identify policy barriers and needs and craft legislative proposals, working with legislative leaders at the state and federal level

Lobby for bills that strengthen animal protection and prevent cruelty and against bills hostile to animal protection;

Work to ensure that strong regulations are issued by agencies to implement new policies;

Provide advocacy training and support for citizens who wish to engage in policy change;

Participate in ballot measure campaigns to advance protections when a legislative solution is unavailable.

The ASPCA seeks a dedicated, highly motivated, and passionate GR intern to, under direct supervision, become familiar with the role that the department plays in legislative and policy work and to assist with key projects that advance our goals. Based in Washington, DC, the internship will be a hybrid workplace model of in-office and work from home. The in-office work schedule will be determined by the intern's manager or designee a week in advance, dependent upon Capitol Hill events and other office responsibilities. The intern should expect to work in the Washington, DC office a minimum of one day per week and a maximum of five days per week.

Application Deadline : We will be accepting applications until Friday October 17, 2025 @ 7 : 00pm ET.

Responsibilities :

Interns will be given opportunities to :

Help to manage and mobilize ASPCA GR volunteers on key initiatives

Aid in tracking administrative regulations and laws pertaining to animals;

Draft outreach and media communications andsupporting documents

Conduct legislative and issue research to assist regulatory, federal and state efforts;

Attend Capitol Hill events, such as hearings and briefings;

Attend and / or help organize coalition meetings and local events;

Respond to information requests from ASPCA constituents;

Attend internal strategy and staff meetings;

Assist with miscellaneous office tasks and projects as needed.

Internship Structure :

The duration of each internship position is flexible and will be determined on a case-by- case basis. Generally, we are looking for :

Early January 2026 - August 2026

Full time, 40 hours per week preferred; 20 - 30 hours per week possible if you can commit to a regular schedule

At the will and sole discretion of the ASPCA

Eligibility :

Students currently enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, veterinary, or law programs, who have an interest in pursuing a career in animal welfare, public policy, political science, law, or other relevant field. People not currently enrolled in an educational program may also be considered.

Qualifications :

Animal welfare experience or a strong record of interest or passion for animal welfare issues preferred

Experience in the political realm a plus

Experience formatting, organizing and analyzing data, including sorting and filtering data with Excel or another data analysis program a plus

Coursework in political science or public policy a plus

A strong sense of professionalism

Experience developing a presentation using Canva and / or PowerPoint a plus

Writing communication around policy issues (e.g. a letter to the editor, blog post, public comment, op-ed, blurb for legislative update newsletter, etc.) preferred

Ability to set priorities to meet deadlines effectively

High level of organization and attention to detail

Ability to work independently, as well as be a team player

Excellent communication skills, written and verbal

An intense desire to improve the lives of animals

Enthusiasm for advocacy

Compensation :

The pay rate for this seasonal intern role is $20 / hour.

Pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage.

Housing :

Interns are responsible for securing housing in the Washington, DC area.

Additional Information :

All Interns will be required to sign the ASPCA Work Study / Internship Agreement before the official start date of the internship and review the ASPCA Handbook.

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Qualifications :

See above for qualifications details.

Language : English (Required)

Education and Work Experience :

High School Diploma (Required)

Our EEO Policy :

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA's standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA's People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M / F / D / V).

About Us :

The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay / neuter clinic, mobile spay / neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA's vision - that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Your Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act :

Pursuant to regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), we provide this notice to applicants about eligible employees' protected leave for certain reasons. Click on the link to learn more.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado and Oregon : Per CO Senate Bill 23-058 and ORS 659A.030, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries through completion of the initial interview. We can require / request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant should redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.

Indiana Applicants : Pursuant to Indiana law, we are providing notice that it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by : (1) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or (2) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a member of the Indiana National Guard or a member of a reserve component. Should you feel that you were a victim of discrimination on the basis of veteran status, please let us know at careers@aspca.org. Alternatively, you can file a complaint with the following agencies at any time : Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N103, Indianapolis, IN 46204; Office : (317) 232-2600 | Toll Free : (800) 628-2909; Hearing Impaired : (800) 743-3333 | Fax : (317) 232-6580; E-mail : icrc@crc.in.gov | Website : www.in.gov / icrc. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Indianapolis Field Office; 115 W. Washington Street South Tower Suite 600; Indianapolis, IN 46204; Phone : 463-999-1240; Fax : 317-226-7953; TTY : 1-800-669-6820;ASL Video Phone : 844-234-5122.