There are many types of volunteer opportunities with AARF, whether you have a little time or a lot, lots of experience with animals or none, like interacting with other volunteers and/or the public or prefer to work individually. Below are some of the volunteer opportunities that we have available. Do you have a special skill that you’d like to contribute? Just ask! Each of these tasks will fall under the duties of one of the members of the AARF Board of Directors, so you’ll always have someone to contact with questions about your chosen volunteer task. Thanks!
     
How Often: On-going
Time Involved: Varies, Flexible
Equipment Needed: Transportation, donation jars (provided by AARF)
Volunteers Needed: Unlimited		  
AARF is a non-profit organization that receives funding only from donations. In order to help defray expenses, AARF would like to establish a network of donation jars in area pet stores, veterinarian’s offices, boutiques, etc. This project would involve contacting potential locations, mailing them information regarding AARF and its mission (this will be provided to you), and then maintaining the jar. Donations from the jar(s) should be collected regularly and sent to AARF.
 
 
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How Often: On-going
Time Involved: 4 hours per month
Equipment Needed: Transportation, computer
Volunteers Needed: 1
The “Cash for Critters” Project involves collecting used toner cartridges from both ink jet and laser printers and then turning them in to be recycled. The “Cash for Critters” program then donates a portion of the proceeds to the rescue groups submitting the cartridges. So, the more cartridges, the more money! We need an individual who can coordinate this program by contacting various larger businesses that might be willing to donate cartridges. In addition, the director of this project would coordinate other volunteers in their efforts to collect the cartridges. More information can be found at www.cashforcritters.com.
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  How Often: On-going
Time Involved: Varies, Flexible
Equipment Needed: Transportation
Volunteers Needed: Unlimited		  
See the above description of the “Cash for Critters” Project. In addition to the volunteer running the project, we would like to have one individual at each of the businesses collect the cartridges, thus minimizing the work for the director of the project. Each office volunteer would be responsible for maintaining contact with the director of the project, collecting the cartridges on a regular basis, and getting the cartridges to a central location to be mailed. More information can be found at www.cashforcritters.com.
     
             
   
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How Often: As Needed
Time Involved: About 1 hour per trip
Equipment Needed: Transportation, possibly muscle power for heavy items
Volunteers Needed: 1-2 per trip

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These volunteers would work with the Director of Supply and Resource Acquisition to arrange pickup of donated food, animal supplies, and donations for events such as yard sales. Most trips would be to local pet supply stores with a drop-off of the supplies at a self-storage unit.
       
 
 
 

How Often: As Needed
Time Involved: Varies, Flexible
Equipment Needed: Transportation
Volunteers Needed: 1 per small geographic area/neighborhood

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Volunteers are needed to post flyers regarding animals available for adoption, adoption fairs, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising events at various locations such as pet stores, veterinarian’s offices, grocery stores, coffee shops, etc. AARF will provide the material to be posted. Volunteers must get the approval of the store’s manager/owner before posting material.
 
 
 

How Often: As Needed
Time Involved: Varies
Equipment Needed: Transportation, dog/cat carrier, leash, collar, etc. (provided by AARF)
Volunteers Needed: 1 per trip, 3-5 total

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Transportation of animals is most often needed to and from veterinarian appointments when foster care providers are unable to make the trip. This task involves picking up the animal, safely transporting it, and then dropping it back off and may include waiting while the animal has a veterinarian appointment. AARF uses Avondale Veterinary Hospital in Avondale Estates, close to Decatur, and this is most often the destination of the transport. Animal transportation is also needed when adoption fairs are being held, once every several months.
             
 
   
 

How Often: On-going
Time Involved: 1-2 hours per week
Equipment Needed: Computer
Volunteers Needed: 1

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In conjunction with Lifeline Animal Project and Wag-a-Lot Boarding and Doggie Daycare (aka Wags), AARF has begun a program of boarding rescued dogs at Wags. The cost of the boarding is $150, not including food, which we are seeking to support through the “Waggin’ Sponsor” Program. For monthly donations, contributors are listed on our website as “Waggin’ Sponsors” next to the animal that they sponsor. Those who make larger donations received a color photo of their sponsored animal as well as a full description and a listing on the website. We need one individual to oversee this program, which would include: keeping records of Waggin’ Sponsor donations, sending receipts to donors, and providing photos and descriptions (from AARF) of the animals chosen by higher-level sponsors. The program is starting small, with currently only one dog, and will probably not exceed 5 dogs per month.
             
 
   
 

How Often: On-going
Time Involved: 1-2 hours per visit
Equipment Needed: Transportation
Volunteers Needed: 2-3 initially, but increasing

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See the above description of the “Waggin’ Sponsor” program. In addition to a coordinator of the project and those making the donations, we need volunteer caretakers to visit Wag-a-Lot Doggie Day Care and Boarding to check on the animals. Initially, this work is being done by the paid Wag-a-Lot staff, but it will slowly transition to all-volunteer as rescue groups take over the facility. Individuals would be trained by Wag-a-Lot staff members and would be responsible for feeding, grooming, and cleaning up after the dogs on a rotating basis.
 
   
 

How Often: As Needed
Time Involved: 1/2 hour, plus travel time
Equipment Needed: Transportation
Volunteers Needed: 3-5

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AARF uses a network of foster homes to house and care for the animals that we rescue. Foster homes commit to caring for and socializing an animal until it can be placed into a permanent home. Before an animal is placed into a foster home AND before it is placed into a permanent home, we conduct home visits to ensure that the animal is going to a safe, loving, responsible, indoor home. This is done not only for the safety of the animal, but to meet our licensing requirements from the Georgia Department of Agriculture. We need volunteers to conduct home visits to check things such as fencing, the security of the home, the disposition of any other animals in the home, etc. AARF will train volunteers and these visits are always set up by appointment, never as a “surprise.” A short inspection form is required to be filled out after each home visit of a potential foster care provider.
             
 
   
 

How Often: On-going
Time Involved: weeks to months
Equipment Needed: all needed supplies (including vet. care) provided by AARF
Volunteers Needed: Unlimited

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AARF uses a network of foster homes to house and care for the animals that we rescue. Foster homes commit to caring for and socializing an animal until it can be placed into a permanent home. We need volunteers who will open their homes to needy dogs and cats. The time involved varies, with some animals being placed within a matter of a few days (usually kittens and puppies) and others needing much longer. Some animals may also have special medical or behavioral needs. All food, supplies, and medical care is provided by and paid for by AARF. Any costs incurred by the foster home, within reason, will be refunded by AARF. We are looking for as many responsible, indoor-only homes for the vast numbers of animals that need rescuing in our area. For detailed information on foster care, visit our Foster Care FAQs.
             
 
   
 

How Often: As Needed
Time Involved: Unknown
Equipment Needed: Transportation, computer
Volunteers Needed: 1-2

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AARF holds an adoption fair in the Atlanta area approximately once every 2-3 months. We work with a local pet supply store (e.g., The Pet Set, Petco) to set up the date and time of the event, publicize the event, coordinate the dogs and cats that will be coming, and arrange for volunteers to attend and help run the event. We are looking for a person or persons who would be willing to coordinate one or more adoption fairs, with training provided by AARF. This position would be mainly organizational and “behind the scenes.”
 

How Often: As Needed
Time Involved: 1-5 hours
Equipment Needed: n/a
Volunteers Needed: Unlimited

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See description of the adoption fair above. We need volunteers who would be willing to staff some or all of the adoption fair, which typically runs about 4-5 hours. Adoption fair volunteers would be assisting with the animals available for adoption, talking to potential adopters about individual animals, and talking to individuals who stop at the AARF information table.
 

How Often: On-going
Time Involved: 2-3 hours per week
Equipment Needed: Telephone, e-mail
Volunteers Needed: Rotating, unlimited

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AARF receives between 20-50 phone calls each week, depending on the season. Because we must also handle about 150 e-mails per week, we are seeking volunteers who can respond to phone inquiries. Volunteers would commit to a block of time (e.g., one week) and would be e-mailed the messages left on the AARF voicemail lines. Phone volunteers then respond to phone calls (usually in the evenings), providing information on spaying and neutering, the AARF program, AARF animal placement assistance, breed-specific rescue groups, etc. All necessary information and training will be provided by AARF.
 

How Often: On-going
Time Involved: Unknown
Equipment Needed: Computer, grant writing experience
Volunteers Needed: 1-3

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This is a big one! AARF is supported solely through donations and adoption fees, but we would like to change that. We are seeking anyone with experience in grant writing to research and write grants for animal rescue funding from either the public or private sector. Contact us for more information.