Austin Humane Society
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“We’d like to think that many of our volunteer opportunities would appeal to KUT listeners because of the importance and enormity of Animal Welfare issues in Austin as well as around the globe. The types of volunteers that we are looking for seem to fit with KUT listeners: informed, dedicated and diverse individuals who are passionate about making our community a better place. We also know that many of our existing volunteers are avid listeners of KUT because of the news, information, and insightful stories that it provides to the Austin community.”
Austin Humane Society Mission Statement:
The Austin Humane Society is a community resource which promotes compassion towards animals. We advocate responsible ownership of companion animals. The Austin Humane Society (AHS) is dedicated to making our community a better place for people and pets by placing more cats and dogs into caring responsible homes each and every year.
Major Activities and Services:
The Austin Humane Society (AHS) is Austin’s only 501©-3 non-profit, no kill pet adoption shelter. We dedicated to making our community a better place for people and pets by placing more cats and dogs into caring, responsible homes each and every year. Our shelter is supported by individuals and businesses in our community, a strong infrastructure of partners, and animal welfare alliances. AHS receives no funds from national, state or local government entities. Each year, AHS adopts over 2500 cats and dogs, receives over 32,000 visitors, and has a dedicated Board of Directors, advisors, staff and over 450 volunteers.
- Pet Adoption: The Austin Humane Society places healthy and temperamentally sound animals in responsible new homes. Each adoption package includes spaying or neutering, vaccinations including Rabies, de-worming, grooming, medical testing and animal care information. For numerous reasons, owners relinquish their pets to the Humane Society. The Humane Society takes in approximately 2,700 unwanted dogs and cats a year. Animals are evaluated for their health and temperament, and if adoptable are accepted and placed in the Pet Adoption Center.
- Pet Loss Support Group: this group meets on the last Saturday of every month and offers an environment of caring, compassion and understanding for those who are anticipating the loss, or who have lost a cherished member of the family. The support group meets from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in the Humane Society’s Conference room and facilitated by a dedicated volunteer and licensed counselor. The support group is free of charge.
- Obedience training: Classes include Puppy Kindergarten and Dog Manners. Classes use positive reinforcement based training, so choke collars, pinch collars or shock collars are not permitted. The classes are limited to eight dogs to allow each dog and his or her family plenty of one-on-one time with our trainers. All of our trainers are very experienced, and they are all members of APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers). Classes are held in the evenings at the Austin Humane Society. New classes begin approximately every 8 weeks.
- Humane Education and Community Outreach: The humane education program teaches children and adults about responsible pet ownership, animal safety and pet overpopulation through presentations of educational materials at schools and community events.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Persons wishing to volunteer will tell us which positions they are interested in, and together we decide which positions would be a proper fit. All dog volunteers receive training on dog behavior and proper walking techniques prior to handling Shelter dogs.
There is an interviewing process for all administrative and Board volunteer positions.
Administrative Support/Internships: Provide assistance with mailings, departmental office operations, computer data entry, and general office tasks. This is a Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm opportunity.
Adoption Counselor: Adoption Counselor volunteers provide assistance and support to our adoption staff at the Shelter and at adoption outreach locations (various PETsMART locations and adoption events). These volunteers are responsible for assisting the customers with the completion of adoption applications, getting animals from their kennels for visitations, filing adoption paperwork, and counseling customers on responsible pet ownership. Adoption Counselor volunteers must have exemplary customer service skills and must be at least 18 years of age.
Adoption Greeter: Adoption Greeters assist the adoption staff by helping to greet our customers and explain the adoption and visitation process. Greeters also help direct the flow of traffic in our adoption area during busy weekend hours. Adoption Greeters should enjoy working with people and have customer service experience. It is not necessary for Greeters to have a vast knowledge of cat behaviors and dog breed tendencies, but it would certainly be helpful.
Cat Socializer, CAT: CAT volunteers help the Shelter by spending loving and therapeutic time with cats and kittens. CAT volunteers also assist with the cleaning and upkeep of the cat habitats to ensure a pleasant environment for our kitties.
Cattery Companion: Cattery Companions are volunteers who are responsible for coming in at a scheduled time at least once a week from 9am-12pm to help clean some of our many cat areas. Cattery Companions should enjoy working with cats and handling cats of all ages. Volunteers must be able to lift at least 15 pounds and be able to work independently. Volunteers must also be at least 18 years of age.
Dog Walker, BRATT: Our dog-walking volunteers are affectionately referred to as BRATTs (Behavior Re-homing Assessment Training Team). BRATTs help us walk, socialize, lightly train, and clean for our dogs and older puppies. All dog volunteers receive training on dog behavior and proper walking techniques prior to handling Shelter dogs.
Foster Care Program: Become a foster parent by taking kittens, puppies or other special needs animals into your home and caring for them until they are ready for adoption. To be a foster parent, you must be at least 18 years of age and be able to provide food and shelter for the foster animals. The Shelter can provide on-going medical care.
Shelter Educator/Docent: This is a new position that we are seeking volunteers. Become a tour guide/docent for the Shelter! General tours include a brief educational seminar, usually held in the auditorium, covering the services of the Austin Humane Society; general pet care information; reasons people give up their animals; the responsibility of owning a pet and safety around animals.
Special Events Volunteer: Assist staff members with a variety of fundraising initiatives including special event support, research and development of fundraising projects, and securing donations for the organization.
Contact Information:
Lisa Starr ( lstarr@austinhumanesociety.org )
Phone: 512.837.7985 X226
FAX: 512.837.9132
124 West Anderson Lane
Austin, Texas 78752
For More Information about Austin Humane Society, visit their website at
www.austinhumanesociety.org.
