Volunteering

Getting Involved

We are always in need of animal lovers who can volunteer their time to bathe, groom, walk and socialize with our furry companions. However, we also need volunteers to help in other ways as well; including groundwork, administrative work, off-site events, photography, laundry and much, much more. Volunteers enable us to give our animals the care and attention they need and deserve. We couldn't do it without their help!



Hannah the dogIf you are interested in volunteering, please complete the Volunteer Application and submit it to ACS by emailing it to Volunteer Coordinator faxing to 207-6673 or mailing to 4710 Hwy 151, SA, TX 78227. As soon as your application is received, the Volunteer Services Supervisor will call you for a short interview and set your orientation date. In order to ensure we have volunteers to match our needs at ACS, you must have a reservation to attend the orientations.

Please click on Events Calendar for Upcoming Volunteer / Guardian Angel Training Sessions.

RSVP for orientations by contacting the Volunteer Coordinator at 207-6644 or email Orientation dates are listed on our event calendar Animal Care Services.

There are two ways to volunteer as ACS: our Onsite Volunteer Team and our Community Action Team (C.A.T.)

C.A.T. - Community Action Team Onsite Volunteer
  • Offsite Events Only (Adoption events, info. booths, mascots, etc.
  • Minimum Age: 8 years old
  • 8-14 must volunteer with a parent/guardian
  • 15-17 can volunteer on their own w/parental consent
  • No minimum time commitment
  • Orientation required
  • $10 donation at orientation covers T-shirt, nametag, etc.
  • Must submit to short interview
  • Orientation is scheduled following interview
  • Minimum Age: 12, 12-15 must volunteer with parent/guardian
  • Minimum commitment of 3 months, 3 shifts/month required
  • May volunteer on or offsite
  • Extra training provided for certain tasks
  • Volunteers positions available in most areas of the shelter
  • Job Training/Job Shadowing Available
  • $10 donation at orientation covers T-shirt, nametag, etc.


Training sessions are conducted at our shelter (4710 State Highway 151).

Community Service Volunteering

We require all community service volunteers to meet with our Volunteer Service Supervisor, prior to beginning their service hours. Community Service Volunteers are asked to fill out a Community Service Volunteer Agreement and background check abide by the Protocols outlined. To set up a meeting, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 207-6688 or email us.

Community Service Protocols:

1. All Community service workers must be pre-approved by the Volunteer Service Supervisor, Assistant Director, or Director.

Animal Care Services allows court-appointed volunteers who are 16 years of age or older. Special cases can be approved by the Director or Assistant Director.

The following offenses will not be allowed to perform community service as Animal Care Services:  Macys Voluntteers

  • fraud
  • arson
  • burglary
  • any drug related offense
  • any violent offense

2. Supervision of clients during the course of their service hours, including proper identification of clients prior to beginning the work assignment

Group Volunteer Activities and Tours:

: If you have a group that would like a tour of our facility or that would like to volunteer for a one-time community project, please contact the Volunteer Services Supervisor at 207-6644. A minimum of one week advance notice or more is usually required to schedule a group. We try to accommodate groups of any size. Be advised that, because of safety issues with our pets and your group, there may be little to no interaction with animals for large scale group projects.

Guardian Angel Program

The ACS Guardian Angel Program needs you! ACS needs your heart and your home to care for one of our shelter’s orphaned animals. Your generosity will provide young and old, injured and sick, abused and under socialized animals a chance to grow or heal before finding forever homes. Every Guardian Angel makes a difference in the lives of our shelter pets!

Being a Guardian Angel helps us to create space in the shelter to accommodate other homeless animals. Animals in the Guardian Angel Program provide companionship and purpose- your act of kindness is repaid in rewards that are beyond words.  Click on link for a Guardian Angel application.

Animals needing a temporary home and a Guardian Angel include:

  • Animals that require more socialization than available at the shelter
  • Neglected or abused animals that need tender loving care
  • Any healthy, non aggressive animal that is brought into Animal Care Services

Donations

Can’t fit another volunteer assignment into your schedule? The City of San Antonio Animal Care Services’ Facility and Adoption Center accepts donations to help care for our impounded animals.

Sponsorship

There is a great need for individual and corporate sponsorships (financial or in-kind) for advertising through mediums such as billboards, marquees, bus ads, newspaper/magazine ads, television/radio ads, and movie theatre ads. Ads on items such as store receipts, soda bottles/cans, and convenience store displays also would be of great benefit.

Sponsorships for marketing items that would create “walking message billboards” also are highly encouraged. Dog/cat collars, leashes, collapsible water bowls, and t-shirts for both the four-legged and two-legged persuasion are also desired!

 If you or your company would like to help make San Antonio a more pet-friendly community, call the Volunteer Coordinator at 207-6644 or email