Volunteer Opportunities
The Animal Adoption Center of Blount County is current seeking volunteers for several positions, as described below.
Adults 55 and older are encouraged to volunteer through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), a free resource offered by Positive Maturity’s Americorps Senior Corps.
Foster Parent
The shelter is in great need of short-term caretakers, such as for neonatal kittens and puppies, pregnant and nursing mamas, and animals that need one-on-one care. See Fostering for information and to apply.
Greeter
The Greeter is the welcoming face and voice of the shelter. A friendly, helpful person facilitates positive experiences for everyone who calls or visits the shelter. Responsibilities include:
- Greeting and guiding visitors
- Answering phone calls and returning messages
- Working with staff to answer questions
- Taking adoption day photos
- Providing informational materials
- Unfolding newspapers for use in the puppy room
Interaction with shelter animals is encouraged but not required. For example, if you feel comfortable with cats, shelter staff can show you how to safely take cats and kittens out of kennels so that visitors can hold them or play with them.
The ideal Greeter has related experience, such as in a receptionist or customer service role and can commit to one or two days per week at the shelter. This position is open to community members at least 18 years old; older adults can be an especially great fit. To apply, email cadams@blountcountyal.gov with an introduction to yourself, your experience, and why you are interested in this position.
Cat or Dog Socializer
Socialization Volunteers give shelter cats and/or dogs plenty of attention and TLC! You can work with cats, dogs, or both. Socialization includes:
- Gently petting, talking to, and playing with animals
- Sitting quietly with cats or dogs
- Reading to cats or dogs (a great way to involve kids! See this example from a Pennsylvania shelter.)
- Taking dogs outside to the grass or on walks
Your time with shelter pets increases their chances of finding a good home and helps them stay healthy. For example, cats who are petted and talked to daily have a markedly lower incidence of upper respiratory infection, according to a study published by the NIH. Your care enriches everyone.
All ages are welcome. Children must be in the direct supervision of a parent or guardian, while 16- and 17 year-olds may volunteer on their own with the signature consent of a parent or guardian.
If you have questions, contact the shelter; otherwise simply come anytime during shelter hours, especially during weekdays when socialization is especially needed. You'll fill out the shelter's volunteer application upon arrival. Shelter pets and staff especially appreciate volunteers who can visit frequently and/or regularly.
Pet Description Writer
Do you have a way with words? Would you enjoy meeting pets, learning about them from shelter staff and volunteers, and writing an attractive and informative description for potential adopters?
Pet descriptions can be written from home, on your schedule. You could even experiment with utilizing AI, like Rescue Writer or ChatGPT! If interested, you'll have the opportunity to expand from pet descriptions to other writing projects, such as adoption stories; bios of shelter staff, volunteers, and supporters; educational information; and other shelter communications.
This position is open to community members at least 18 years old; older adults can be an especially great fit. To apply, email cadams@blountcountyal.gov with an introduction to yourself and why you are interested in this position.
Journalist
There is endless opportunity for pro-bono animal-related journalism in Blount County and across the state. See the News page, top section, for a few examples.
You can choose to write informative news stories, engaging feature stories, investigative coverage such as on legal topics like legislation and cruelty, opinion pieces, heartfelt pieces about your personal experience, or try your hand at any approach that calls to you.
We will guide you on options of what you might cover, and you’ll also be free to suggest topics. You'll have support on how to find the information for your article, how to get your work published in newspapers, and how to share on Facebook. Nearly all writing and research can be done from home on your own schedule.
This position is open to community members at least 18 years old; older adults can be an especially great fit. To apply, email kristin@alabamaanimaladvocates.info with an introduction to yourself and why you are interested in this position. Include a writing sample, if you’d like.