King County Animal Care and Control - Volunteer Opportunities Program
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with King County Animal Care and Control. Our volunteers are an important part of our operation and critical to our success in helping animals and serving the public. Volunteer opportunities fall into three general categories: Shelter volunteering, foster care volunteering, and special projects.
Check our training schedule for volunteer training opportunities.
Shelter Volunteer Opportunities
Dog Walking
Volunteers take dogs available for adoption on leash walks in two locations -- a walking trail near the Kent Shelter and in Crossroads Park next to the Eastside Shelter.
Dog Exercising
At the Kent Shelter, volunteers take dogs available for adoption to the fenced, off-leash area on the north end of the facility and let them run loose. In addition to monitoring and supervising animals, volunteers can also throw balls and play other games. There is no fenced, off-leash area at the Eastside Shelter, so dog exercising is not available there.
Cat Cuddling
Volunteers take cats and kittens out of their adoption cages and into a separate cat cuddling room so they can interact with people (be held, petted, played with, etc.).
Digital Photography
Volunteers take pictures of pets available for adoption and post them to on the Web.
Bathing/grooming
Volunteers groom animals so they can look, smell and feel their best for potential adopters.
Meet and Greet
Volunteers assist customers who come to the animal shelters. Tasks include handing out brochures and application forms, and pointing customers to the appropriate staff person.
Getting involved
Residents who want to join the shelter volunteer program must fill out an application form and attend a volunteer orientation session. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of four hours per month for at least six months. We welcome kids and families in our shelter volunteer program. However, volunteers younger than 17 must have a parent or guardian with them at all times while volunteering.
Foster Care Volunteer Opportunities
Foster care involves taking care of pets on a temporary basis in the volunteer's home, with the goal of getting them ready for adoption. Pets in the foster care program are either too sick or too young to be adopted, and can not stay in the shelter. Occasionally, fostering may also occur when the shelter is over capacity. Fostering can last for several weeks.
Foster care for under-age animals
Attend a 2-hour foster orientation and open up a whole new world to shelter animals. Puppies and kittens under 8-weeks of age need time to mature and grow in a safe and loving home before adoption. Open your home and experience the act of saving a life.
Weekend Retreat
Share your home with a dog that needs a weekend break from the shelter. Report the weekend experience with shelter staff to share with potential new owners. Watch a two-day outing give a shelter dog a second chance for a new life.
Special Needs Animals
Dogs and cats with medical needs or behavior issues can require extra care from a special foster home before being made available for adoption. By opening up your home, extra time is given to the pets in need to get appropriate help or a home that is willing to adopt a special needs pet.
Read more about foster care volunteering on our foster care page.
Special Projects
Fundraising
Work with Friends of King County Animal Care and Control, a non-profit group committed to raising money for shelter animals and programs.
Food Drive
Coordinate a pet -food drive at your school or office. King County animal shelters can always use high quality pet food.
Blanket Drive
Coordinate a blanket drive at your school or office. Make our shelter animals a little more comfortable by collecting blankets for them to lounge on.
Other special projects
If you have an idea for a special project, please let us know.
Please send e-mail to pets@kingcounty.gov if you are interested in volunteer opportunities. | 