Hi everyone. Island Cat Mom here…taking over the blog once again. The other day I was in PetSmart buying some kitty litter and a few other things. The shelter I volunteer with has a few cats in the adoption habitat at the store. I walked over and saw Perseous…one of the cats from our shelter…and said hello to him. A young woman with her small child also was standing there checking out the cats. I mentioned to her that the cats are from the shelter I volunteer with and she said “I could never volunteer at a shelter…I would want to take all the animals home!” I can’t tell you how many times I hear this comment from people.
Awhile back, I shared my experience as an animal shelter volunteer. While I enjoy feeding, cleaning and interacting with the shelter cats, I know it’s not for everyone…like the young woman that I spoke with at PetSmart. But there are some other ways you can volunteer with a shelter or rescue group. And some of them don’t involve going to the shelter. Some you can do from your home in your spare time.
Here are several non-traditional ways of volunteering…
You could help out in the office or with other administrative tasks. Along with running a shelter comes paperwork. And I know shelters and rescues can use help with this. In addition 
to volunteering at my local shelter, I also help out one of our local rescue groups by writing and sending the thank you notes for donations they receive. And I do this from the comfort of my own home at my own pace.
Are you good with the computer? How about helping out with the shelter’s website? Or listing the adoptable animals on various adoption websites? Once again, this could be done from your home and when you have the time.
Our shelter, like most shelters and rescue groups, has a number of fundraising events during the year…like spaghetti dinners, garage sales, and wine and beer tasting parties. They always need assistance coordinating these events as well as at the event itself. And not only would you be helping…you’d have some fun, too!
Are you good at photography? Why not offer to take photos of the adoptable animals that can be posted to 
adoption websites or other social media sites like Facebook and Twitter?
You could be an animal transporter. Shelter animals need to go to the vet, whether it’s to be spayed or neutered or to be treated for a health issue. Transportation to and from the vet clinic is always needed. Also, some animals are transferred to other shelters or rescues or foster homes and they may need a ride to get them to their new location. So if you drive and have car, you could help out this way.
Volunteering can be done in many ways. I hope these ideas I’ve shared help give you some other ways on how you can volunteer with your local animal shelter or rescue group. Talk with the shelter or rescue group people, too. They may have some suggestions as well.
However you decide to volunteer…whether at a shelter or some other non-traditional way…remember that you are helping the animals. And that is what’s most important.
And now…a gratuitous photo of Wally and Ernie…because I know all of you want to see some cats, too.
35 Responses to “Non-Traditional Ways to Volunteer with an Animal Shelter or Rescue”
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Those are some fantastic suggestions. I feel the same way about going to a shelter.I would bring them all home. So we will ask the shelters around here if they need some help. Thanks for that great post. Have a great week.
Great ideas. We liked the two sleepy ManCats too!
The Florida Furkids
i definitely will volunteer in some way once some of my other non work activities are finished and i have some time to spare again…
Really great ways to help out the shelters!
What a great head pillow you make, Ernie!
These are beyond wonderful ideas on how to help shelters and rescues. I will honestly admit that I am much like the woman you met at PetSmart. It takes me roughly half a second to get attached to a furbaby, so I often volunteer in ways that don’t always involve getting immediately attached to the adoptees. One of my local rescues hosts frequent raffles to raise funds for the adoptees, and one of my favorite ways to help is to provide or create items for these raffles. Thank you for sharing these great tips!
That’s another great way to help a shelter or rescue…especially when you’re as talented as you are.
We love the many ways humans can help and we would love it if more would do it!
OH, you have t have the most loving and sweet two kitties in one family that we have ever known.
Just adorable. I wish I were there with them sometimes…I’m an only child.
Ernie has a Wally blanket!
I buy things at the shelter, to help them raise money!
We’re always up for a photo of Wally and Ernie!
Shelters deserve all the help we can give them. – Tom x
I follow a local shelter’s Facebook page and they often share what their current needs are. This makes it easy to grab something when I’m at the grocery store. I also crochet blankets on an ongoing basis to donate.
Those are great ideas for volunteering. Whatever we can do for homeless animals would help them!
Love the photo of them both together. I loved volunteering at my local Cats Protection Shelter. I had to give it up to care for my 20 year old son. I do miss it.
Great post! Pets deserve it!
Purrs
Marv
doodz….yur mom iz verre wize ….theeze R eggs an lent eye deaz N frank lee therz a few we
never thinked of …984 pawz up… N again for yur foto…it rockz ~~ 🙂 ♥♥♥
Great post ! Those are many great ideas to help a shelter. Purrs
Wonderful suggestions on how to help out at your local shelter…….it is a HUGE job with lots of integral parts – there’s always a need for help. We also think that photo of “the boys” is priceless…………so sweet……….(in a manly kind of way of course!).
Love, Teddy
These are great points. And that picture of your own babies is incredibly sweet.
excellent points on other ways to volunteer!! Love the gratuitous photo!
Very important post!!! I’m unable to volunteer “hands on” at my shelter right now, but I love that I can do online work. Really, everyone can help in some way.
Great post, we all have some gift to share with others. Great photo of Ernie and Wally.
These are all great ideas! I do admin work for two non-profits (neither are shelters, one is animal-related) and it’s something I can do from the comfort of my couch!
What great ideas. We know shelters and rescues can always use help.
P.S. Boys, Ivan and Izzy sleep that way too. It must be a black cat/orange cat thing!
Such great ideas! TW wishes she had a car. It would make getting to shelters so much easier.
These are great suggestions! My human is pretty well able to resist adopting more cats, as long as their lives aren’t in danger. She knows how many she can and can’t handle and we are already at our max.
These are some really great ideas on how to help shelters. Admittedly, I’m a little like that lady you met. For me, Tabby’s Place is a perfect place for me, but I now live on the opposite side of the country. I have it in my mind to look into the shelters that are nearby. I’m going to keep your ideas in mind.
I love this photo of Wally & Ernie!!
Great ways to make people consider to help at a shelter. Granny was voluteering as a cat-sitter and all the money went to the shelter. You feel so satified when you can do something for them and they are so grateful in response. Now she brings food for the cats and clothes to sell to do at least something for them. Your picture is so sweet, Wally and Ernie that I almost sqeeeee you <3 Pawkisses for a happy day 🙂 <3
Pawsum posty. We wish there were no kitties waitin’ fur furevers, but, we’re so glad so many peeps are willin’ to help. Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
That’s my favorite picture of your boys! They sure know how to work it without working it! This post reminds me that there are more ways to help in shelters than animal care. I’ve always avoided it because I knew I’d end up with a zoo – but you bring up some great alternatives.
I can hear shelters around the world cheering for all of these ideas! I’m still looking for a shelter to work with here in our new area. It is so important. ♥
This is such a great post with great information! We hope this will inspire people to volunteer.
What great ideas! Since I’m a homebody, some of these would work great for me. Plus our closest shelter is a 45 minute drive which makes it difficult too.
I shared hoping others will see this and get inspired as well.
Bless you for what you do to help!! ♥
Grate post Lady Sue! LadyMum does commint-athonss an werkss at thee raffullss to raise $money$ fur thee Feral Kat group. Shee all so doe-natess food to feed thee katss which iss all wayss needed.
If efurryone does a littul; a lot getss dun rite?
An Wally you DO know Ernie iss a kat not a pill-oh rite???? Mew mew mew…..
***nose bumpsss*** Siddhartha Henry xXx
The website idea is a great one, and one that I could definitely do! I’ve always wished that they needed people to volunteer to pet the cats and dogs, though… I’d be there every week to “help” if that was the case 🙂
Great ideas! Thanks!
When petcretary no longer works, she may try to volunteer in the shelters nearby…but she will need lots of will power, MOL!