By Heidi Dahms Foster
If you want to enjoy your passion for animals and make a difference while you do, volunteering at a local rescue might be a wonderful way to start the New Year.
Foster families that can take in dogs and help raise vulnerable puppies and kittens are always needed. Rescues can always use people with writing, media, fundraising and graphics skills to get their message out to the public. Love to walk dogs, or just spend time with them? Many dogs are just waiting for someone to walk with them, throw a ball, or give them ear scratches. Specific rescues have unique needs, and there is something for everyone to do, whether you have a lot of time to give or a little.
Most local rescues prepare for and attend several events per year, including adoption days at pet supply stores, such as Petco adoptions, Dogtoberfest in Prescott and Woofstock in Prescott Valley, the annual Stocking Stuffer Bazaar non-profit fundraiser in Prescott, and more. Volunteers are always needed to make these events run smoothly.
United Animal Friends
United Animal Friends is a rapidly growing rescue, and volunteers are much appreciated. UAF is always in need of new foster families. It’s a time and effort commitment but truly rewarding.
Pets who have lived in a foster home are more attractive to potential adopters because they know what it is like to live in a home, they’re usually more socialized, and have been undergoing manners training. The foster families know the animal’s individual personality and needs that will help to make a successful match.
UAF will pay all veterinary expenses for foster animals, and can provide food, bedding, crates, and cat needs if fostering a feline. Another volunteer opportunity is to help transport animals from the foster to the vet or to adoption events.
Volunteers also help at the UAF Snip n’ Go Clinic. The clinic provides affordable spay/neuter surgeries and vaccines for Yavapai County cats and dogs. Volunteers help on clinic days with intake, sit with pets as they come out of surgery, and assist with cleanup, laundry and other tasks.
Other UAF volunteer opportunities include dog walkers and spending time in the play yard with the animals. When the rescue has puppies, volunteers help with cleaning and other puppy care. In the “Cat-sita,” a special cat area, volunteers help to clean, feed and socialize cats, and transport them to the cat adoption area at Prescott Petco.
Administrative volunteers are appreciated at adoption and fundraising events, answering phones, and writing thank you notes.
To find out more about volunteer opportunities at UAF, and fill out a volunteer application, visit unitedanimalfriends.org.
Yavapai Humane Society
The Yavapai Humane Society has myriad ways for animal lovers to volunteer.
Dog walkers and cat cuddlers are always needed and welcome. If you’re active, walking or playing with a dog in the play yard is a great way for volunteer and dog to get some fresh air and exercise. Cat cuddlers are self-explanatory for those who just want to sit and enjoy a purring critter!
Customer service and donation sorters are needed at the YHS Thrift Shop, and ambassadors are welcome at events, information booths and more. The shelter always needs help feeding, washing dishes, doing laundry, folding towels or any number of other necessary tasks.
A benefit of volunteering at the Humane Society, said Loree Walden, Marketing Manager, is the extensive training program. The training for volunteers includes dog behavior and learning about body language, how to interact with other dogs, training tips, and more. It’s a great way to learn more about all kinds of dogs. YHS also has a foster program and welcomes suitable foster homes.
Volunteers are also welcome at the Humane Society’s equine center. Opportunities include cleaning stalls, help to feed and groom horses, and other related chores for horse loving people.
For information and to fill out a volunteer or foster application, check out the Yavapai Humane Society online at yavapaihumane.org.
Yavapai Humane Trappers
Yavapai Humane Trappers has built a solid reputation as the go to place when a dog is lost or abandoned in Yavapai County, or sometimes beyond. This search team has found dogs who have run from traffic accidents and returned them to grateful owners, humanely trapped abandoned, starving or injured dogs and transported them for medical care and later adoption, and found numerous family pets that have escaped and happily returned them home.
YHT’s Foster Program allows pets to live in a home setting while they wait for adoption. Those who want to increase their medical knowledge can foster injured and ill pets and learn invaluable skills. YHT provides vet recommended medical services for fosters, and trainers to coach with the behavior needs of the foster animal. YHT also assigns a mentor to new fosters to answer and help with any questions or concerns. Fostering can include animals with more intense needs, such as bottle feeding puppies or kittens.
YHT has many animals for adoption, and has recently opened an adoption branch for cats. Volunteers are needed to transport pets from fosters to the site each Saturday, and assist with pet meet and greets. Other volunteer needs include administrative duties such as fundraising, social media and media, and events.
Check out the website at yavapaihumanetrappers.org for more information on all things YHT, and fill out a volunteer application!
Dogtree Pines
Dogtree Pines nonprofit senior dog rescue and sanctuary located on six acres in the pines of Prescott. The sanctuary is dedicated to seniors in need of a forever home, medical, hospice and end of life care, and houses high risk, medium to large breeds 10 years and older. The sanctuary adopts and fosters out a few, but the majority are there to stay until the time of their passing. The Pines currently houses about 22 dogs.
Because the sanctuary is specialized, volunteer opportunities also are unique. Some opportunities include dog walking, feeding and other loving care of these special senior dogs. Find out more at dogtreepines.com or email olddogs@dogtreepines.com.
LASER (Large Animal Shelters & Emergency Readiness)
The Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management (YCOEM), alerts the LASER Large Animal Shelter at the first notice of an incident that could threaten human life and/or property in areas where there are barn animals. The large animal shelter is set up by LASER’s Quick Response Team, ready to open to Yavapai County residents once an evacuation GO order is issued by the Sheriff or at the direction of YCOEM.
The organization is always in need of volunteers who can deploy when the shelter is activated. Some opportunities include being a greeter at the shelter when it is in operation, intake (gathering needed information from owners), and practical needs during shifts including feeding, cleaning and other care of animals. Volunteers train and drill several times during each year so they are ready if the shelter is opened.
Volunteers are also welcome for administrative duties such as fundraising, events, newsletter, and more.
Find more information or fill out a volunteer application at laser-shelter.org or email info@laser-shelter.org.
