Our organization could not exist without volunteers. As a private, nonprofit organization, we rely on the assistance of caring and hard-working volunteers in all of our programs. Volunteers who work directly with the animals can increase an animal’s chances of adoption by providing additional human contact. Volunteers also help us inform the community of the aims and objectives of APA! and promote responsible pet ownership.
The future of APA! lies largely with its volunteers. We are all working for the animals.
Volunteers are required to:
- submit an on-line application, which includes signing a Volunteer Agreement and a Release and Waiver of Liability form
- commit to a minimum of 8 hours of volunteer work per month
- attend an orientation session
- join an APA! Yahoo! Group
- be supervised at all times by a parent or guardian if age 13-17 (under 13 not permitted)
- attend additional training sessions as required by APA!
- treat animals in our care with kindness and concern for their welfare
- represent themselves and APA! in a professional manner and treat clients with respect
Please complete and return our Volunteer Application prior to attending orientation. After submitting the application, you will receive an email with more information. The next orientation sessions are as follows:
- June 1st 10am @ Town Lake Animal Center
- June 15th 10am @ Town Lake Animal Center
- June 30th 10am @ Town Lake Animal Center
- July 13th 10am @ Town Lake Animal Center
- July 28th 10am @ Town Lake Animal Center
Thank you again for your interest!
Frequently Asked Questions about Volunteering
What can I do as an Austin Pets Alive! volunteer?
How do I become an APA! volunteer?
I’m having problems with the volunteer application.
I completed the online application, now what?
Is advance registration required for orientation?
How long is orientation?
Can I just come walk dogs?
I attended an orientation, now what?
I’m under 18, can I volunteer?
I want to take a dog for a walk/run on the Lady Bird Lake Trail.
I need to fulfill community service hours, what should I do?
Can my group set up a service day?
What can I do as an Austin Pets Alive! volunteer?
Volunteer opportunities are constantly changing as we grow and develop new programs. Below is a listing of current opportunities, but you will get more details and learn about the latest needs and options when you attend orientation.
Adoptline
Work from home to return phone calls and e-mails form the public about animals that APA! has up for adoption.
Adoption Sites
Assist adoption staff at APA! facilities and offsite locations by answering questions from the public and facilitating introductions between potential adopters and our dogs and cats. Follow up with clients after adoption to check in and answer any questions or concerns.
Animal Marketing
Help get animals adopted by marketing them! This team photographs the animals for the website, gathers information about the dogs and cats, writes bios, and posts ads to websites like Petfinder and Craigslist.
Behavior (dog)
Work with our highest need dogs on manners, socialization, and basic obedience to make them more adoptable. Dog Behavior volunteers are eligible to take dogs on field trips and participate in training opportunities like TTouch, Doga, and Playgroups.
Big Brother/Big Sister for Dogs
Volunteers act as “bigs” to dogs who are waiting to be adopted. Pamper, love, and spoil the “littles” by doing things like field trips, sleepovers, and trips to the groomer.
Data Entry/Office Work
Enter data or perform other office tasks to keep our processes running smoothly.
Development
Our organization is completely dependent on donations. This committee assists in finding individual and business sponsors, researching and writing grants, and overseeing donor recognition.
Dog Walking
Ensure APA! dogs get the walks, exercise and TLC they need (and deserve) every day. Walkers are most needed during early morning and evening shifts to get the dogs out for their first and last breaks of the day, but trained walkers are welcome all day long.
Events
Promote APA!’s mission and recruit volunteers, fosters, adopters, and donors at special events around town. Work at info tables and booths, and hang out with adoptable animals while representing Austin Pets Alive!.
Facilities
Help with various handy projects and maintenance around the APA! facility like carpentry, painting, lawn care, plumbing, electrical work, etc.
Foster
Provide temporary care for cats or dogs in your home until they can be adopted. You must be the owner/renter of home and fill out a Foster Care Volunteer Application. Over the summer, fostering will count as school community service hours for high school students too! See our Foster page for more information.
Medical
Assist in clinic areas like reception and recovery; ensure pets are up to date on all medical requirements prior to attending adoption events; ensure medical information is in database; help fosters with medical questions; coordinate medical needs with veterinarians.
Neonatal Ward
Feed and care for bottle baby kittens (and occasionally puppies) in the on-site neonatal ward. Ensure sanitation of ward, all equipment, and supplies. Shifts available around the clock; volunteers must be able to commit to regular shifts during kitten season.
PASS Helpline
As part of our Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender program, answer calls from public one day a week to help them rehome their pet instead of surrendering it to the city shelter.
Parvo Ward
Parvo is a contagious disease among puppies that can be cured with treatment. Help care for puppies that have parvovirus in our isolated ward.
Photography
Take and post digital photos of adoptable animals for marketing materials. Experience and DSLR camera strongly preferred.
Marketing/PR/Graphic Design
Help educate the public about APA! and our mission via media relations, social media, and marketing campaigns. Create a variety of promotional materials including brochures, ads, posters and flyers.
Ringworm Ward
Help care for cats with ringworm (a fungus similar to athlete’s foot) in our ringworm ward until they are no longer contagious and can be moved into a foster home or the Cat Adoption Center.
Transport
Transport dogs from Austin Animal Center and other locations to APA! facilities via your own vehicle.
WingDawgs
Be an advocate for an entire wing of kennels at the APA! facility by specially marketing your wing, keeping up the appearance, and spoiling the dogs.
How do I become an APA! volunteer?
The first step to becoming a volunteer is to fill out our online Volunteer Application. Once you have completed the application, you will receive a confirmation email that prompts you to attend one of the orientation sessions listed at the top of this page. At the orientation session you will learn about our organization and all of the various ways to get involved.
I’m having problems with the volunteer application. How can I get help?
A common reason that an application fails to submit is if required fields are left blank. All items with a red asterisk must be completed. Also, each application must have a unique email address, so duplicate applications from the same email address (shared by family members, for example) will not submit.
After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email with information on attending an orientation session. This is a very important email, as it contains an attachment and pertinent details relating to orientation. If you don’t receive the email, that doesn’t necessarily mean your application wasn’t received. In most cases, if you don’t find the email in your regular inbox, it will be in your spam filter or junk mail folder because your email settings are not allowing email from Austin Pets Alive.
If you continue to have problems submitting your application or finding the email about orientation, please let us know by emailing email hidden; JavaScript is required.
I completed the online application, now what?
Shortly after submitting the online application, you will receive an email from us prompting you to attend a volunteer orientation. This is a very important email, as it contains an attachment and pertinent details relating to orientation. Please see the question above if you are having trouble with the application or the confirmation email.
We usually hold two orientations per month. All sessions are held at APA @ TLAC (Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 W. Cesar Chavez).
Is advance registration required for orientation?
Submitting the volunteer application is required, but advance registration for a specific orientation session is not. You simply need to submit the online application and review the confirmation email prior to attending.
Feel free to attend whichever orientation is most convenient for you. The sessions do usually fill up and sometimes parking is a challenge, so we strongly recommend that you arrive at least 15 minutes early. We will seat people in the order of arrival, but standing room in the back will be available if the seats fill up.
How long is orientation?
The entire program typically lasts two to two and a half hours. Approximately the last half-hour is devoted to separate trainings for dog walking and cat care so you can get started right after orientation if you want to work in those areas.
Can I just come walk dogs?
If you are have been through Volunteer Orientation, yes! If you have not been through an APA! Volunteer Orientation yet, please follow these steps. Only trained APA! volunteers may walk dogs.
I attended an orientation, now what?
During orientation, you will complete a form indicating areas in which you’d like to volunteer. Afterwards, we transmit new volunteer information to the various team leaders and they should contact you within a week to ten days to follow up and get you started. You will also be contacted by a volunteer matchmaker who can help you get in touch with team leaders of interest or otherwise assist you in getting started volunteering. At any time, whether a week or a year after orientation, you may email email hidden; JavaScript is required for information, direction, or other assistance related to APA! volunteering.
I’m under 18, can I volunteer?
Volunteers age 13-17 are welcome to volunteer when accompanied by a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian must also register to volunteer by filling out the online application and attending an orientation session. We consider supervising adults to be volunteers as well. APA! does not permit volunteers under age 13.
Dog volunteering: Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to hold and control a dog’s leash.
Neonatal ward: Volunteers must be at least 16 years to bottle feed with a trained adult.
I want to take a dog for a walk/run on the Lady Bird Lake Trail, do I need to be trained to do that?
Yes, you need to complete some training in order to take APA! dogs off-site to the Lady Bird Lake Trail. there are two options:
- RuffTail Runners: You do not need to be an existing APA! volunteer to participate in this program. Attend a one-time training session to get approved for walking/running APA! dogs on the trail.
- Dog Behavior Program: Volunteers that have attended an APA! orientation session can join our Dog Behavior Team to learn dog handling, socialization, and basic training skills. Trained Dog Behavior volunteers can take approved dogs out on field trips, including (but not limited to!) the trail.
I need to fulfill community service hours, what should I do?
If you are seeking court-ordered community service hours, please contact email hidden; JavaScript is required before beginning your service. In your email, list the nature of your charge, number of service hours required, and the deadline by which the hours are due.
If you are seeking community service hours for school, an organization, or personal pleasure, please follow the steps above for How do I become an APA! volunteer?. You will be in charge of any documentation, including tracking your volunteer hours on your own time sheet. You may request than an APA! supervisor initial your time sheet each time you volunteer. If you require other documentation of your volunteer hours including APA! letterhead, please contact email hidden; JavaScript is required before beginning your service.
Can my group set up a service day?
Based on the age, size, and availability of the group, we may be able to arrange a service activity appropriate activity for you. Small groups of 4-5 volunteers over 18 are preferred. Please email email hidden; JavaScript is required and include the name of your organization, number of volunteers, and whether anyone in your group is under 18. Please note that group volunteer opportunities are subject to availability based on APA!’s current needs. Groups will not be handling the animals.
