COVID-19 Volunteer Update: Please note that we are onboarding new volunteers at the shelter as we need them. Once you have completed the application and Online Orientation you will be able to fill specific volunteer opportunities that are sent out by the Volunteer Team. We ask that you sit tight until you receive those recruiting emails.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Adoption Follow Up- A remote position that assists adoptive parents with their questions after adopting from APA! Adoptline- A remote position that helps answer inquiries from the public regarding an animal they are interested in adopting. Cat Foster Team- Volunteer remotely and help process foster applications, assist our foster parents, send out foster pleas, and much more! Cat Marketing- Help get cats adopted by marketing them! Our cat marketing team photographs and videos the cats for the website, gathers information about them, writes bios, and posts ads to websites like Petfinder and Craigslist. Dog Foster Team- Volunteer remotely and help process foster applications, assist our foster parents, send out foster pleas, and much more! Dog Marketing- Help get dogs adopted by marketing them! Our dog marketing team photographs and videos the dogs for the website, gathers information about the dogs, writes bios, and posts ads to websites like Petfinder and Nextdoor.
APA! Thrift stores are boutique-style, selling high quality new and gently used items for very low prices. All net proceeds directly support the innovative life-saving programs of Austin Pets Alive!. We utilize volunteers in every aspect of store operations, this helps to keep our overhead low and means that more money goes to the animals. Volunteers help with sorting clothes and other donations, pricing items, and organizing the store.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Cat Care- TLAC Cattery houses up to 60 cats awaiting their forever homes! Several volunteers are needed each day to keep the cattery clean, keep the residents happy, and to facilitate adoptions. Cat Enrichment- Help us enrich the lives of the kitties that live on campus at APA! Neonatal Foster Team- Volunteer remotely and help process foster applications, support our foster parents, send out foster pleas, and much more! Neonatal Kitten Nursery- Feed and care for neonatal kittens in the on-site neonatal ICU. Ensure sanitation of ward, all equipment, and supplies. Shifts available around the clock; volunteers must be able to commit to regular 3-hour shifts during kitten season.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: Behavior Training and Classes- Learn to train dogs and help our pups that need it the very most. Dog Enrichment- Join our Dog Enrichment Team to help us provide daily in-kennel enrichment to our dogs at TLAC! Enrichment helps stimulate the mind and can reduce the stress and boredom of the shelter environment. Our enrichment volunteer team helps clean, stuff, or distribute frozen treats daily! Dog Walking- Ensure APA! dogs get the walks, exercise, and TLC they need (and deserve) every day. Walkers are most needed before 11 am and after 5 pm to meet our dogs' basic needs, but trained walkers are welcome all day long. *Additional training is required. Must be at least 16 years of age. CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTING VOLUNTEERS- Small Dogs- Provide support to our Tarrytown dog adoption location. This can include monitoring play yard and walks, providing socialization, greeting the public and directing to adoption staff and keep a high standard of cleanliness.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: Medical Program- Our clinic sees hundreds of our foster pets and on-site animals each week. It is not open to the public. You can volunteer in the clinic, with administrative duties, surgery recovery and other tasks. You do need to be 18 to volunteer in the clinic. Parvo ICU- Help save dogs and puppies infected with the parvo virus. Parvo is a contagious disease that can be cured with treatment. Help care for puppies that have parvovirus in our isolated intensive care unit. You don't need any previous medical experience, but if you have human or animal medical experience that's great too! Triage & Wellness Clinic- 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.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: Facilities- Assist with things like monthly campus clean up, large repair projects, general maintenance, and yard work and gardening. IT- The IT Team can use volunteers to help with hardware maintenance, software development, technology project management. Marketing and Communications- Help APA! market to the masses with one off projects and ongoing assistance. Volunteer Team Support- Support the Volunteer Staff with some at-home tasks such as: responding to emails, data entry and regular correspondence.
American Pets Alive! is our annual national conference that takes place in early Spring. Individuals and shelters can come and learn from Austin’s no-kill leaders how to implement innovative, lifesaving programs in their communities or shelters. We need volunteers for registration, tabling, retail sales, etc.
Do you enjoy helping and interacting with people? Do you like advocating for a cause? Promote APA!’s mission, raise donations, 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!.
Want to learn more? Visit our FAQs
All net proceeds from our APA! Thrift stores directly support our lifesaving programs.
When you make a difference in a life, you're making a difference in your own as well.
There is one day left to act before we know whether the city council has taken action on our APA! Resolution by adding it to the next city council meeting agenda.
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