Official Website of the City of San Antonio
   
                        





* * Get Involved *
*

Volunteer Today!Volunteer Today!

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!

 It is easy to become a volunteer.  Simply complete a Volunteer  application and attend a brief  orientation, which we require prior to beginning any volunteer services. For more information please access our ACS Volunteer Handbook

For more information, email or contact us at 288-9784 to get involved.  What a rewarding way to spend some time!


Upcoming Training Sessions:  Please RSVP for our next session

ACS will not hold an Orientation during the Holiday Season.  Individuals and Groups wishing to volunteer should contact our Volunteer Coordinator to schedule a private training session.

Training sessions are conducted at our shelter (4710 State Highway 151). For directions to our facility, please select our Directions link.
As an ACS Volunteer, we ask that you acquire an ACS Volunteer T-Shirt.  These red t-shirts are available at a price of $10.00 or 2 for $15.00 and are available for purchase at all Orientations.  All proceeds are placed into ACS Volunteer Donation Account to provide for volunteer supplies, t-shirt orders, and other volunteer items required.  Wearing your red shirt at the facility and at off-site events, provides immediate identification to the public and staff members that you are an ACS Volunteer.
  


Age Guidelines:

We accept volunteers as young as 12 years of age, however, those volunteers ages 12-15 must attend the orientation with a parent or legal guardian and this parent or legal guardian must volunteer alongside the child at all times.

Ages 16-17 may volunteer without a parent present, but must have parental consent.

A background check will be performed on all interested volunteers.

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 abide by the Protocols outlined.  To set up a meeting, please contact Danni at 288-9784.

  • Individual Community Service Volunteers -  Animal Care Services provides a valuable opportunity to receive community service hours for school or community projects.  Volunteers are needed to assist with groundwork, administrative work, off-site events, photography, laundry and much, much more.   This program is ideal for high school and college students, boy scouts and girl scouts, and other individuals in community programs.   

  • Group Volunteers -  If you have a group that would like to volunteer for a one-time community service project, please contact the Volunteer Service Supervisor at 288-9784.  Groups can consist of 10-25 volunteers. (Exceptions are possible if planned far enough in advance).  Potential group projects vary from time to time depending on the need of our facility.  There may be little to no animal participation in larger scale projects.

  • Court Appointed Community Service Volunteering - ACS participates in a program to provide meaningful work to individuals who have been assigned community service/ restitution hours by a court or probation official. In turn, the hours served by community service workers provide a labor source which assists the Department in maintaining our facility and the care of our animals. We require all community service volunteers to meet with our Volunteer Service Coordinator, prior to beginning their service hours.  Restitution Volunteers are required to fill out our Volunteer Agreement and abide by the Protocols outlined.  To set up a meeting, please contact Danni at 288-9784

    ACS will provide:

     

    1. City staff that will:

    a. Coordinate the assignment of Volunteer

    b. Research any questions regarding hours worked by Volunteer

    c. Report any problems or concerns to the proper referring agency,

    d. Verify hours worked before signing an authorization form,

    e. Maintain records regarding volunteer and hours worked,

    f. Prepare letter stating hours served by the Volunteer to the court, probation officer, etc.

     

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

     

    ACS requires the referral agency and volunteer:

    1. Thorough information regarding the Volunteer, including address, emergency contact telephone number, case number, hours assigned, completion due date, offense, any health or physical limitations that may affect the Volunteer’s ability to perform community service, available work days;

             a. Coordinate the assignment of Volunteer

     

    2.  A referral agency contact person in case of questions regarding the Volunteer or hours performed.  


 Guardian Angels Logo

Guardian Angel Program

 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.

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. 

Here are some ways you can help:

  •  Money Donations
     Make checks payable to " The City of San Antonio Animal Care Services " 
    and mail to:
    The City of San Antonio Animal Care Services
    4710 State Highway 151
    San Antonio, Texas 78227

  •  Sponsor a Pet
     should you be unable to adopt a pet yourself, you may want to consider sponsoring one of our animals. As a sponsor, you help someone find a new home by prepaying all or a portion of the adoption fee. For more information, call (210) 207-6681.

  •  Gift Certificates
     finding the perfect gift for an animal lover just got easier!  The City of San Antonio Animal Care Services Adoption Center offers an arrangement of gift certificates to be used in adopting a new friend. Please contact ACS Adoption Center for information on our programs, events and wish list. at 210-470-4PET (7387).

  • Make a Pet Comforter
     we are enlisting volunteers to sew small comforters for kittens, cats and small dogs in our care. These comforters will help keep the pets warm during our outdoor adoption events. Before you begin sewing, learn more about the size specifications.

  • Mobile Adoptions
     The mobile Adoption and Rescue Unit is available to visit your workplace. This vehicle can bring adoptable animals to your employees or community. Consider sponsoring these animals. If your organization is interested, email Sabrina Steenbeke .

How about helping ACS pets by making a donation of items they need and use on a daily basis?

These items may be purchased during your normal shopping trips and drop them off at the facility or we can arrange to pick up large items. Either way, the dogs and cats at the facility will definitely appreciate you keeping them in your hearts and on your list of charitable giving. We also thank you for your commitment and support of this community’s four-legged friends.

Desired Donations

  • Dog houses (especially the plastic “igloo” type)
  • Collars and Leashes
  • Towels, Sheets and Blankets (large sizes are helpful)
  • Paper Towels
  • Ice cube trays
  • Kuranda beds (access the following link http://kuranda.com/catalog/select_donee.phpto to learn how you can donate one on-line to ACS)
  • Cat beds
  • Laundry soap
  • Flea shampoo
  • Dog biscuits
  • Tearless baby shampoo
  • Hand sanitizer
  • “Adopt Me” vests
  • Cat cubes
  • Pet toys (Kong toys, rope toys, etc.)
  • Newspapers

Sponsorship

Getting the message out to the community of responsible pet ownership, spay/neuter and adoption is critical to the success of the strategic plan which calls for San Antonio to become a “no kill” community by 2012.

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 Danni Alcantara at 288-9784 or email Danni to get involved.
   
* Get Adobe PDF Reader | Privacy Policy and Disclaimer | Site Map
*