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Volunteer
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What our volunteers do

The Austin Humane Society has a robust volunteer program with opportunities for cat and dog lovers alike! You can help out in a variety of ways:
  • Assist with direct animal care
  • Help AHS to end homelessness for pets
  • Serve the Central Texas communities through outreach projects

For individuals needing court-ordered community service hours, check out our Community Service Restitution page.

Are you interested in becoming a Foster Care Volunteer? Learn More →
Is your company or group interested in volunteering? Learn More!
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A few requirements to consider before joining the pack or pride:
  • Minimum three-month commitment for two hours each week – that’s just 24 hours!
  • Must be 14 years and older. All volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times while volunteering.
  • Volunteers ages 16 & 17 may volunteer independently with parental consent.
  • Be sure to read our essential volunteer capabilities before signing up!
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Registration

  1. Attend a virtual Welcome Session
  2. Complete registration

The Basics:

  1. Online Video Learning: Safety, Cat, & Dog 101
  2. Review Cat 102 materials
  3. Invitation to schedule hands-on training
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Onboarding

Attend a 90-minute group training session and tour at AHS

First Shift

Select the shift of your choice and get started!

There are so many ways to get involved!

Once you create your volunteer profile, you can let us know what programs/special areas you’d like to participate in, including:

🐾 Cat or Dog Socializing

🐾 Bubble Brigade

🐾 Pet Photography

🐾 Clinic & Community Cat Support

🐾 Event & Education Support

🐾 Adoption Support

Frequently asked questions

How old do you have to be to volunteer?

Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age to volunteer for the Austin Humane Society. No exceptions to this policy will be made. In addition to meeting the minimum age requirement, 14 and 15-year old volunteers must have a parent or guardian over the age of 21 train and volunteer with them at all times. 16 and 17-year old volunteers only need parental consent, which is given during the online application process. If you have kids under 14, please check out our Humane Heroes page for ways to get them involved!

Does the Austin Humane Society have volunteer opportunities for groups?

Yes! We offer group volunteer activities for youth and adults. Through our Service Day program, we can accommodate groups up to 20 volunteers per session. Learn more by clicking here, or for youth Service Opportunities, click here.

Why do you charge a fee for volunteering?

We have a very large volunteer program that requires resources to coordinate. By charging for volunteer orientation, we can offset these costs and ensure that more of our resources can go directly to the care of the animals. The fee is paid at orientation and can be paid with cash or credit.

Is there a dress code for volunteers?

We ask that our volunteers wear long pants, close-toed shoes, and t-shirts with sleeves. We do not permit volunteers to wear shorts, flip flops, tank tops, or bare mid-riff shirts. If you are dressed inappropriately, you may be asked to leave.

Do I have to volunteer a certain number of hours?

We require our volunteers to make a commitment of 2 hours per week for at least three months. This ensures that the volunteers have a good understanding of the shelter’s policy and procedures and also ensures the well-being of the shelter animals through consistent care. The two hours may be split in to two separate one-hour shifts if necessary to fit your schedule.

When can I volunteer?

The shelter is open to its volunteers from 8am to 7pm Monday through Saturday and 8am to 5pm on Sunday. These hours are not the adoption hours for the public, but are solely for the convenience of the volunteers. We open to the public at noon every day for adoptions!

Can I volunteer for the shelter at any other location besides 124 West Anderson Lane?

While we are an independent shelter with one location, AHS has many events for you to participate in throughout the community. Through our weekly newsletter you will be kept up to date with those opportunities. We also have cats available for adoption at several north PetSmart and Petco stores and volunteers in our cat team work with them at those locations.

Can I join multiple volunteer programs (Cat, Dog, and Foster Care)?

We recommend that you pick one group and get familiar with the duties involved before adding on additional training. However, you can go through different training classes in later months with no additional charge.

Do you have a program for court-ordered community service hours?

Please click here to read more about our Community Service Restitution (CSR) program

My company wants to volunteer as a group, how can we set this up?

We can accommodate groups of up to 20 people. Please email development@austinhumanesociety.org to get this set up.