Furkids is one of the only shelters in Georgia that welcomes children of all ages to volunteer. If you are interested in any of the following opportunities, contact our volunteer manager, Belinda Kach, at volunteer@furkids.org.
 Shelter Caretaker (open to all ages)
Children younger than 16 are welcome with a parent or guardian present. The Furkids shelter has about 200 cats living in a large, cage-free environment that feels more like a day-care center than an animal shelter. With its brightly colored rooms, cat trees and shelving systems, the shelter provides cats and visitors with a happy and comfortable experience.
Responsibilities include working in the rooms to provide the cats with fresh food and water, cleaning litter boxes, and mopping the floors. In addition to cleaning the rooms, there is ample opportunity to engage with the cats by petting and playing with them and providing them with much needed human contact and TLC.
Thrift Store Volunteer (16-18)
This is an opportunity for teens to work on the fundraising side of Furkids at the Furkids Thrift Store, our 7,000 sq. ft. store that generates revenue to help cover the operating expenses of the shelter.
Volunteers will be responsible for receiving and sorting incoming donations and staging them onto the sales floor and/or tidying the merchandise on the display racks. This is a great opportunity for young volunteers that like working in a retail environment or who are allergic to cats.
 Saturday Dog Handler (9-18)
Furkids has a few dogs available for adoption. They can be meet potential owners on Saturdays at one of our PetSmart or PETCO adoption centers located throughout Metro-Atlanta. This opportunity is for young people that are comfortable handling dogs in a bustling retail environment. Dog handlers are responsible for walking the dogs and making sure they are secure at all times. There is some interacting with the public.
Foster Homes for Dogs and Cats (open to all ages)
Young people and their families are needed to provide temporary loving homes to Furkids program dogs and cats. Furkids provides all the medical care, food, and marketing to facilitate an adoption. The foster home experience is great for children of all ages – as it teaches sharing in responsibility and encourages kindness and a nurturing spirit towards homeless animals in need. This opportunity also increases an animal’s chances to be placed into a lifelong, loving home. Furkids will match the most appropriate foster animal for your family, whether it be a litter of kittens, a dog that needs lots of interaction, a laid back quiet cat, an older dog, etc. The timeframe for fostering varies according to availability and can be as short as one week to several weeks.
 Santa Photo Helpers (Seasonal) (9-18)
Young volunteers are needed to help pet owners stage their dogs (and other pets) with Santa for a Christmas keepsake photo. This event takes place at select Furkids’ metro-Atlanta adoption centers. Helpers are needed the first three weekends of December. This is an important fundraiser for Furkids and a great opportunity for groups of young volunteers that enjoy working together. Several helpers are needed at once – people to welcome, people to stage pets, people for photographing, and people for assembling the photos – oh, and dads to fill in as Santa! 
Fundraising Team Captains (open to all ages)
Furkids welcomes the involvement of young people in our fundraising efforts. Children of all ages can initiate a number of projects to raise money for the shelter. From dog washes to lemonade stands and garage sales, children can have an important impact on the day-to-day expenses of caring for the homeless animals in the Furkids program. |
