HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Looking for unconditional love? Why not volunteer at the Madera County Animal Services where there are lots of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens waiting for someone like you to help make them more adoptable. There are many ways to help. Teach a dog to walk on a leash, help a shy cat come out of its shell, be a foster parent for an animal that needs some TLC before it can go up for adoption. Are you a photographer? Graphic Artist?  We can use your talents too!

Madera County Animal Services is always looking for volunteers who want to help our animals find their new forever homes. We couldn't do it without our committed volunteers! You can be involved in a variety of ways: helping with walking dog, training the dogs, socializing the cats, fostering animals, special projects, fundraisers and events, and much more!

We have two basic types of volunteers:

• In-shelter volunteers work at the shelter in a variety of activities. Visit our Volunteer's page for more information.
• Foster-care volunteers care for cats or dogs in their own home. Visit our Foster page for more information. 

Many volunteers want to do both in-shelter activities and fostering. If you would like to do both,  we are more than happy to let you! Please sign up by filling out both applications and our team will contact you.

WHO CAN HELP?

 Madera County Animal Services welcomes volunteers of all ages!

• Are you 16 years or older? 
• Are you a high-school student who needs to complete a student community service project? 
• If you under the age of 16 you will not be able to volunteer with the animals directly at our shelter, however you can still help our shelter animals by working on community projects, such as: 
  • a donation drive
  • collecting newspaper projects
  • cat mobiles and toys
  • rice warming bags
  • homemade toys, blankets, or pet treats
  • Collecting blankets/towels
  • pet treat bags
• Are you a group leader and want to schedule a group project? 
• Do you need to complete court-mandated community service hours?
• Do you only want to foster (must be 18 years or older, own your own property or have landlords permission)? 

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED?

 So you have decided the Madera County Animal Services Volunteer Program is right for you!

Join us by:

• Watching or join in an Orientation video or class.
• Fill out the Volunteer or Foster application and sign our waiver forms.
• Commit to working 1-2 hours shifts of basic shelter volunteering by helping with shelter chores and or working with the shelter animals.
• Continue working a minimum of one shift per month of basic shelter chores/animal care & enrichment.
• Commit to providing excellent customer service to our visitors, staff, and fellow volunteers.
• Commit to treating all animals with respect and care.
• Commit to being Madera County Animal Services advocates in the Madera community and surrounding communities.

Understand that the shelter environment is challenging, rewarding, chaotic, wonderful, crazy, heart-breaking, fulfilling, and lots of hard work!