There are several ways to volunteer and help KC animals:
1. WALK DOGS: Animal shelters depends on compassionate volunteers to give the dogs some freedom each day. Volunteers are needed to walk dogs every day of the year, including holidays, rain or shine. If you would like to interact with companionable canines, send an email with your contact information to britton@friendsofkcanimals.org **The KCMO Animal Shelter has a particularly small volunteer force- If you'd like to help, please contact it at 816.513.9821
2. SOCIALIZE CATS: Felines love personal attention so it's vital that cat-loving volunteers provide it. If you would like to interact with friendly felines, send an email with your contact information to britton@friendsofkcanimals.org.
3. TRANSPORTS: Volunteers work diligently each day to arrange for animals at the shelter to go elsewhere to trusted rescue groups. We depend on volunteers to transport the animals from the KCMO shelter and other KC places to various destinations. Via a small network of drivers, animals find their way to new homes in Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska and more! If you would like to offer assistance as a TRANSPORT DRIVER, OR can help LOAD animals onto transport or UNLOAD AND CLEAN transport kennels, please send your contact information to stacysreeves@gmail.com
4. RESCUE: We need individuals to help our Rescue Team. Those wishing to volunteer in this capacity would search out and qualify reputable rescue groups so more options exist for placement. The Rescue Team will provide training and communication while you and others on the team work to save lives. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact katiea_knapp@yahoo.com
5. PHOTOGRAPHY and LISTINGS: With so many animals coming through the KCMO shelter's doors (in particular) each week since it is an "open door" shelter, it's crucial that photos are promptly taken and uploaded to Petfinder.com. Accurate listings on these sites are necessary in getting the animals adopted. If you would like to volunteer to take photos each week and/or to upload photos and descriptions of dogs and cats to various websites, hence increasing the probability that the animals will be seen and adopted, please contact piperphotography@swbell.net
6. OUTREACH: Another opportunity that is not part of Friends, but CAN/DOES affect the shelter's intake relates to a non-profit organization in Kansas City called CHAIN OF HOPE. Chain of Hope's mission statement includes helping owners of animals within the urban core become aware of the crucial needs of their pets, canvassing target areas searching for animals in distress, and providing survival supplies (such as food, shelter, water, medical supplies and vet info), providing pet owners information to spay/neuter their animals at low cost, and educating inner city youth groups on responsible pet ownership. Chain of Hope's success in alleviating the suffering of abused and neglected animals by breaking the chain of ignorance and unwanted litters is extremely important and can affect how many animals are taken into Kansas City shelters. The work this organization does is very important so they need volunteers who are diplomatic, street smart and tenacious. If you would like to join Chain of Hope's outreach effort, please visit its website: www.chainofhopekc.org
Volunteer opportunities at area shelters often include the following:
Dog Walking Assist with assessing incoming animals (medically)
Dog grooming Assisting with behavioral assessments
Socializing Cats Helping with fundraisers
Socializing Dogs Planning/Working at offsite adoption events
Assisting the public with adoptions Follow-up phone calls to adopters
Serving as a foster home Data entry including Petfinder
Photography/Videography Pet retention efforts