** You have selected a volunteering opportunity that has its own detailed webpage and/or requires its own form or application. Once you submit this form, you will be directed to one of the following pages:

• Fostering: www.barcs.org/volunteer-fostering
• Transport: Public Facebook Group
• Group Volunteers: www.barcs.org/group-volunteers
• Family Volunteering, School Projects and Youth Groups: www.barcs.org/kids

A little more about dog walking and enrichment volunteer shifts:

Here at BARCS, a majority of our dogs are large and many are still working on their leash manners. As a volunteer dog walker, your objective is to help our dogs get exercise, learn more about their unique characteristics, and show them love and affection. Dog-related volunteering does require additional training (scheduled in shifts) after first attending a volunteer orientation. More dog-related volunteer activities:

• Making and distributing enrichment treats
• Handling dogs at offsite adoption events
• Sunday morning group "pack walk" with fellow volunteers
• Kennel cleaning

Dog-related volunteer hours at our shelter are as follows:

• Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Weekends from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A little more about Community Cats Program (CCP) volunteer opportunities:

The BARCS Community Cats Program is the humane, effective way to reduce the number of cats living on our streets. Community cats are the unowned stray or feral cats who live outdoors in our neighborhoods. Some CCP volunteer opportunities include: Providing care for cats pre-and post-surgery, providing food and water to cats in the Community Cats Program, clean cages and cat holding areas, and trapping community cats.

If you have any questions about volunteer opportunities within the Community Cats Program, please email communitycats@barcs.org. 

Onsite help is specifically needed on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

A little more about cat socialization and enrichment volunteer shifts:

As a cat socialization volunteer, your objective is to provide mental stimulation to each cat, learn more about their quirks, and show them love and affection. Cat-related volunteering does require additional training (scheduled in shifts) after first attending a volunteer orientation. More cat-related volunteer activities:

• Providing care for cats at offsite locations
• Assisting our Working Cat Program

Cat-related volunteer hours at our shelter are as follows:

• Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Weekends from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

What to expect: Please wear closed-toe boots or sneakers and long pants. Volunteer orientation is an in-person orientation that is typically an hour and a half long. Combined, training sessions to handle dogs at BARCS are approximately a 5-hour commitment in the first 30 days. This includes orientation (which you will sign up for below,) a mandatory follow-up dog walking training session, and your first independent dog-walking shift.

If you are unable to commit to completing this training over the next month, we ask that you please check back and reserve an orientation date at a later more available time!

What to expect: Please wear closed-toe boots or sneakers and long pants. Volunteer orientation is an in-person orientation that is typically an hour and a half long. Combined, training sessions to socialize cats at BARCS are approximately a 5-hour commitment in the first 30 days. This includes orientation (which you will sign up for below,) a mandatory follow-up cat training session, and your first independent cat socialization shift.

If you are unable to commit to completing this training over the next month, we ask that you please check back and reserve an orientation date at a later more available time!

What to expect: Please wear closed-toe boots or sneakers and long pants. Volunteer orientation is an in-person orientation that is typically an hour and a half long.