Volunteer Requirements
ASAP welcomes new volunteers who can devote a few hours a week to the care and comfort of the deserving shelter felines while they wait for a forever home. Below are a few prerequisites:
Age Requirement: Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age to be eligible for our Volunteer Program. A parent/adult partner volunteer must accompany any volunteer under the age of 16 at all times during their time at the shelter.
Time Requirement: Shelter volunteers are needed every day of the year at ASAP between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Most volunteer shifts are 4 hours long although a shorter shift may be possible to accommodate class schedules or other commitments. Administrative, Social Media, and Office volunteers have a more flexible schedule. All volunteers are asked to commit to volunteering for at least a 4-month period. Please consider seriously if you are able to make this length of a commitment.
Special Needs Volunteers: If you have special needs that require you to have a mentor volunteer alongside you, the mentor is required to complete all steps of the training with you.
Community Service: ASAP does allow students to earn community service hours for volunteering at the shelter (but not for fostering). However, you must volunteer for a minimum of 4 months before we will sign off on any hours. ASAP does not offer court ordered community service.
Steps to Becoming an ASAP Volunteer
1. Submit a Volunteer Application
2. Attend an Orientation
Orientations are scheduled approximately once a month at ASAP. Once you submit your application you will receive an email with the dates of upcoming orientations. Or you can email or call our Volunteer Director at volunteer@asapcats.org or (805) 448-5305.
Orientations are designed to introduce you to ASAP by providing information on our mission, our history, our relationship with Animal Services, and our Volunteer Program.
3. Complete a Basic Training Class
After you attend an Orientation if you are ready to commit to becoming a volunteer you will be scheduled to attend a Training Class. Basic Training Classes are designed to give you detailed information about the operation of our shelter, cleaning procedures, disease prevention, cat temperament and handling techniques, and customer service.
4. Shadowing
Once you are assigned to a volunteer shift, you will initially work with a more experienced volunteer who will help “show you the ropes.”