King County Animal Care and Control - Volunteer Opportunities
On behalf of the animals and staff at King County Animal Care and Control, thank you for your interest in volunteering with us. Our volunteers are a critical part of our organization and all of our volunteer positions have one goal - to help the animals in our care. We look forward to having you join our team!
The first thing you'll need to do is complete and submit a volunteer application. It is important you review the list of opportunities and openings listed below - for both shelters. Be sure to note programs where we currently have no shifts available. In these programs it may be weeks or months before there are openings and you are invited to a training.
Age Requirements
Please note volunteers are:
- 10-15 years old with a parent or legal guardian
- 16-17 year olds can Cuddle Cats alone, but not work with the dogs
Volunteer Positions at the Kent shelter
We currently have openings in the following volunteer programs at the Kent shelter. You must be 18 years or older to work in these programs without a parent or guardian:
Early Morning Dog Crew
Shift time: 8am-10am (currently there are no weekend shifts available)
Age requirement: You must be 18 years or older to do this program alone; 10-17 year olds with a parent or guardian
Physical requirement: Must be able to handle large and very large (usually not well trained) dogs
Training: Orientation/Dog Training/work 2 shifts with a volunteer currently in the program
Commitment: Two hours per week with an overall volunteer commitment of 6 months.
The Early Morning Dog Crew volunteers arrive before we open to the public. They get the adoption dogs out of their kennels and into the play yards. The dogs get out early to get some exercise and staff can then clean empty kennels. The dogs love it, the staff love it and our early rising volunteers love it!
Meet & Greet
Shift time: Tuesday-Friday 11am-7pm; Saturday-Sunday 10am-6pm; Monday 3pm-7pm
Age requirement: You must be 18 years or older (sorry no youth/adult teams in this program)
Physical requirement: Must be comfortable handling cats and/or large dogs. You will be on your feet for the entire length of your 2 hour shift.
Must be extremely outgoing and comfortable talking to customers as they come into the shelter.
Training: Orientation/Meet & Greet training
Commitment: Two hours per week with an overall volunteer commitment of 6 months.
Meet & Greet volunteers greet our customers as they come in the door and provide them information about the adoption process and all of KCACC services
Cat Care at Reber Ranch
We have cats available for adoption at Reber Ranch in Kent. There are morning shift and evening shifts available to help clean, feed, socialize the cats in that location.
The morning Off-site Cat Care volunteer will clean the cats' cages, feed them breakfast, and give the cats some love and attention. The evening volunteer will do a spot check clean (litter, water, etc.), feed the cats' dinner and provide more love and attention.
Must be comfortable handling cats
Age requirement: You must be 18 years or older to do this program alone; 10-17 year olds with a parent or guardian
Physical requirement: Must be comfortable handling cats and able to bend to the floor to reach lower cages
Training: Orientation/On site training
Commitment: Two hours per week with an overall volunteer commitment of 6 months.
Dog Walking
We currently have no openings in our Dog Walking program at the Kent shelter. If you submit your volunteer application for this program, please note that it could take several months before we have shifts open up and you are invited to a training.
Cat Cuddling
We currently have no openings in our Cat Cuddling program at the Kent shelter. If you submit your volunteer application for this program, please note that it could take several months before we have shifts open up and you are invited to a training.
Foster (Kent & Bellevue/Crossroads)
Open your heart and your home to dogs/puppies and cats/kittens who need to get well or get bigger before they can go out for adoption. Sick animals get better faster in a stress-free environment. Your home is the perfect place for them to get one on one attention and the love they need to grow and/or get well.
Foster Care for Special Needs Animals
Dog and cats with special medical needs or behavior issues can require extra care from a special foster home before being made available for adoption. By opening your home to these animals, you are providing them with extra time and special assistance before their new home is found.
We also have a need for Foster Care when the shelter is over capacity. Fostering is a great experience and a great way to involve the whole family in volunteering. Foster homes expand our walls.
It is a requirement that all foster animals be indoor animals and not kept outdoors.
Age Requirement: You must be 18 years or older to foster. If you live at home you must bring a parent or head of the household with you to the training, and they must also complete paperwork to become a foster parent.
Physical requirement: You must be able to transport animals to and from the shelter for vet care as needed.
Required training: Volunteer Orientation/Foster Care training
Commitment: Varies with animals' need. Fostering can last for several weeks.
Click here to read more about foster care volunteering.
Volunteer Positions at the Bellevue/Crossroads shelter
Dog Walking
What's better than a nice long walk with a furry friend. Become a Dog Walking volunteer and take adoption dogs on a walk to the friendly park near the Crossroads shelter!
You must be comfortable with all sized dogs; some dog experience is helpful. The dogs have good hearts, but not always good leash manners. Exercise is key to keeping them healthy and happy while at the shelter. And most importantly their time outside with the volunteers releases some of their energy so they visit better with prospective adopters.
Age requirement: Your must be 18 years or older to do this program alone; 10-17 year olds with a parent or guardian
Physical requirement: You must be able to handle large to very large (most untrained) dogs
Required training: Volunteer Orientation/Dog Walking training
Commitment: Two hours a week, with an overall commitment of 6 months
Cat Cuddling
Cat lovers this volunteer position is for you! Imagine spending a couple of hours doing nothing but playing and loving adoption cats! It's fun for the volunteer and awesome for the cats and kittens. Volunteers take cats and kittens out of their adoption cages and into a separate room. Sometimes the cats want to play and some just want to be snuggle bugs and be held and pet. Some experience with cats is encouraged.
Age requirement: You must be 16 years or older to do this program alone; 10-15 year olds with a parent or guardian
Physical requirement: You must be able to bend to the floor to reach lower cages and carry cats to cuddle rooms
Required training: Volunteer Orientation/Cat Cuddling training
Commitment: Two hours a week, with an overall commitment of 6 months
Off-site Cat Care at Petco in Bellevue/Crossroads
We have great cats available for adoption at Petco, and we need help caring for them!
We have morning and late afternoon/evening shifts available. This is a great opportunity for the cat person who lives close to the store, or drives by on their way to or from work, school, etc.
The morning Off-site Cat Care volunteer will clean the cats' cages, feed them breakfast, and give the cats some love and attention. The evening volunteer will do a spot check clean (litter, water, etc.), feed the cats' dinner and provide more love and attention.
Age requirement: You must be 18 years or older to do this program alone; 10-17 year olds with a parent or guardian
Physical requirement: You must be able to bend to the floor to reach lower cages
Required training: Volunteer Orientation, Off-site Cat Care training
Commitment: Weekly (length depends on number of cats at the location), with an overall commitment of 6 months
Additional ways to help the animals
Towel or Blanket Drive
Coordinate a towel or blanket drive at your school or office. Towels and blankets make our shelter animals a little more comfortable by having blankets to lounge on. Towels and blankets are laundered frequently so we really go through them!
Leash Drive
We use dog leashes to walk the dogs at the shelters, in foster care, adoption events and during training classes.
KCACC Wish List
For more items please go to our Wish List.
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