The animals and staff at ACC need you! We are a very busy shelter with many animals and people entering through our doors. We strive to provide the best possible service and always need volunteers!
To be considered a full time volunteer there's a minimum time requirement of 4 hours a month.
Where volunteers are most needed:
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Lobby Attendant & Animal Interaction – Volunteers assist front counter staff by retrieving animals from the adoption kennels for citizen introduction and adoption consideration. Pet owner education also is relayed through conversations with the adopters. Plus, pet owners often search for lost animals at our shelter and need direction from volunteers.
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Exercising/Socializing Animals – The shelter's dogs, cats and rodents spend a lot of time in their cages and kennel runs. Volunteer attention given to the animals through walks, petting, side yard runs and toy play provide the physical release and trust building interaction needed.
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Laundry – The staff needs help with making sure laundry is washed, dried, and folded up.
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Off-site Adoption Events – Adoption saves animal lives and the opportunity to adopt is given not only within the shelter but also at various off-site locations throughout the county. Volunteers are needed to assist with adoption event preparation including animal social skill assessment, animal bathing and supply gathering. Adoption events are managed through volunteer shifts and the jobs include animal showcases, public education, adoption agent paperwork duties and mascot costume wear!
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Rabies Vaccination/Microchip Clinics – Volunteer support to the vet staff within clinics is needed on the second Saturday of each month. Assistance includes filling out paperwork and line control.
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Weekdays Spay/Neuter Clinics - Animal patient check-in, surgery recovery monitoring, instrument pack assembly and crowd control are some of the jobs assisted by the volunteers.
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Pictures, videos, bios – Animals are made adoptable every day. New pictures, videos, and bios need to be created for marketing them in order to help them find new homes.
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Kennel Cleaning - We are always in need of kennel cleaning assistance due to staffing and other challenges. This includes both dogs kennels, cat cages, and even washing bowls and Kong toys.
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Tag Team - We have an ID tag machine that prints info on ID tags for pets. We use it at the shelter as well as at offsite info booths during pet events to provide free ID tags to those who want/need one. Volunteers are trained to use the machine and it is super easy.
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Microchip Check Point Booths - We go out to loads of events every year. Events where there are lots of animals attending are the perfect place to do a microchip check point where microchips are scanned and written down to not only register in our local and national databases, but also to give to the owners. Volunteers are trained how to use the scanner and fill out of the forms; super easy.
After processing your application, and completing a background check, you'll be scheduled for a drug test. Once cleared, you'll be scheduled to meet with a CMPD staff member. Then, you will be partnered with a volunteer mentor for training, and receive your On-Site Activity shirt for $5.
The volunteer process can take some time since we are part of the police department. We ask that you be patient while your application and background checks are processed. Once complete, you'll be contacted for a drug test, and then contacted to attend a volunteer orientation. The process could take 3-6 weeks but the wait is worth it.
Ready to join the volunteer team? Great! Fill out the volunteer application.
Are you looking to have your group come visit and give a helping hand for a few hours or a day? We appreciate the assistance with tasks like laundry and cleaning around the shelter! Please contact our volunteer coordinator at cody.trespalacios@cmpd.org.
If you are already a volunteer, be sure to enter your hours at myimpact.com.
Our Volunteer Coordinator Cody Trespalacios