Volunteer Program
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Austin Humane Society! We rely on volunteers every day to help us in many ways.
We have opportunities for volunteers to help with everything from taking care of the animals in the shelter, caring for foster animals at their homes, helping customers through the adoption process,
assisting staff with special events and much more.
Please scroll down to read about all of our volunteer positions.
In order to become a volunteer for the Austin Humane Society, you will need to attend
a volunteer orientation, which is held the first Saturday of each month in our facility
at 124 West Anderson Lane. All Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age. Click here for map and directions.
**Please note July's orientation is full, please sign up for our August 1st session.
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Volunteer Orientation:
All new volunteers must begin by attending general orientation at 9am. We then split into groups based on interest (dog, cat, adoption/special events, feral cat program, foster care), so please specify which volunteer group you wish to join the first month. You may join other groups in subsequent months with no additional fees. Orientation begins at 9am and runs until 12 noon. No one will be admitted to orientation after 9:15 a.m., so please be on time.
9am to 10am General Orientation - Everyone Must attend!
10am - 12 noon Specialized Orientation - We break up into groups according to your interest, below is a listing of the areas you can specialize in at the shelter:
- Dog Walking and Handling
- Cat Socialization/Handling
- Adoption Support/Special Events
- Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Program Assistant
- Foster Care
The Austin Humane Society charges a one-time administrative fee to help us cover our costs for our volunteer program. As long as volunteers remain active, (Volunteers are dropped after three months of inactivity) one fee covers all volunteer programs at AHS. The fees are as follows:
- Students $20.00
- Adults $35.00
- Seniors 60 and over $20.00
Space at our monthly volunteer orientation is limited, so please sign up in advance! Click here to register to become an AHS Volunteer.
For more information on how to get involved, please contact us at volunteercoordinator@austinhumanesociety.org, or by telephone at 512-646-7387 Ext. 114.
2009 Orientation Dates:
Saturday, July 11 - Thank you for your interest in volunteering, July orientation is now FULL. We are now taking reservations for August 1st orientation.
Saturday, August 1
Saturday, September 5
Saturday, October 3
Saturday, November 7
Saturday, December 5
Volunteer Positions
Administrative Support:
Provide assistance with mailings, departmental office operations, computer data entry, and general
office tasks.
Adoption Support and Special Events Team (ASSET):
Adoption Support/Special Events (ASSET) volunteers provide assistance and support to our adoption staff and with special events/programs. These volunteers are responsible for explaining the Meet Your Match program to potential adopters, assisting the potential adopters with the completion of adoption applications, transporting animals from their kennels for visitations, directing the flow of traffic in the adoption area during busy weekend/evening hours, filing adoption paperwork, and counseling customers on responsible pet ownership. ASSET volunteers must have exemplary customer service skills, enjoy working with people and must be at least 18 years of age. It is not necessary for ASSET volunteers to have a vast knowledge of cat behaviors and dog breed tendencies.
Feral Friend - Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Program Assistant:
Join the Feral Cat Program Trap/Neuter/Release Team! We have volunteer positions ranging from trapping ferals, data entry to clinic assistant. For more information on our program, click here.
Cat Adoption Team (CAT):
Teaching life skills is one of the most important things you can do to help a deserving cat find a home. Volunteers are not just playing with cats and kittens, but teaching them how to be loving, affectionate and playful pets. As a volunteer, your job can be summed up in one word, "Socialization!" We rely on our volunteers to help our cats adapt to the shelter and develop friendly behaviors. Volunteers are especially important for socializing the particularly frightened, shy and lonely cats here at the shelter. Remeber this - A happy cat is an adoptable cat!
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Dog Walker/Handler:
Our dog-walking volunteers are affectionately referred to as BRATTs (Behavior Re-homing Assessment Training Team).
BRATTs help us walk, socialize, lightly train, and clean for our dogs and puppies. All dog volunteers receive
training on dog behavior and proper walking techniques prior to handling Shelter dogs.
Volunteers will need to provide their own 6' non-retractable leash.
Foster Care Program:
Become a foster parent by taking kittens, puppies or other special needs animals into your home and caring for
them until they are ready for adoption. To be a foster parent, you must be at least 18 years of age and be able
to provide food and shelter for the foster animals. The Shelter can provide on-going medical care.
Volunteer FAQ
Q: How old do you have to be to volunteer?
A: 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 with them at all times.
Q: If I'm a student, so I have to have a parent or guardian come with me?
A: No, not if you are at least 16 years of age. We require that volunteers who are 14 or 15 years of age have a
parent or guardian over the age of 21 attend orientation with them, as well as supervise their volunteering at
all times. Sixteen and 17-year old volunteers only need a parental consent form on file and may volunteer alone.
Q: Does the Austin Humane Society have volunteer opportunities for groups?
A: Our group opportunities are project-based since we do require that all volunteers who will be working directly
with the animals attend our orientation. If you have a group that is interested in volunteering at our facility for
a project, please contact our volunteer department at 512.646.7387 x 114
Q: Is there a dress code for volunteers?
A: 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.
Q: Does the Austin Humane Society have a summer volunteer program for students?
A: We do not have any special summer programs for students. Our summer policies are the same: age limit (14) and
parental/guardian supervision as we always have.
Q: Do I have to volunteer a certain number of hours?
A: We encourage our volunteers to make a commitment of 2 hours per week for at least the first three months. This
ensures that the volunteers have a good understanding of shelter 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.
Q: When can I volunteer?
A: 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.
Q: Can I volunteer for the shelter at any other location besides 124 West Anderson Lane?
A: Yes, AHS has many events for you to participate in and through our weekly newsletter you will be kept up to date with those opportunities.
Q: What type of payment does the AHS accept for volunteer orientation fees?
A: We accept cash, check, or charge. Checks can be made out to the "Austin Humane Society."
Q: Can I join multiple volunteer groups (CAT, BRATT, ASSET and Foster Care)?
A: We recommend that you pick one group and get familiar with the duties involved before adding on additional
training. However, you can go through a different orientation classes in later months with no additional charge.
Volunteers make the AHS world go around. Click here to see some of our many volunteers in action, doing what they love for the animals.
Do you have pictures of AHS volunteers doing what they love best? Please submit to: marketing@austinhumanesociety.org Thanks!
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