Volunteer Opportunities

Join our cat crew to make sure each cat’s environment is safe, clean and comfortable while they wait for their forever families. Volunteers assist with caring for our feline population in a variety of ways, including

• feeding, brushing, and playing with cats

• cleaning cat living areas, bedding, food bowls and litter boxes

• administering medication when applicable as directed by the medical team

• comforting and socializing cats

Requirements:

• The ability to work as a part of a team and communicate well with other volunteers.

• Must have a love and understanding of animals and empathy for those that are sick, injured or abandoned.

• Able to bend and frequently carry light to moderate amounts of supplies.

Help care for our rescue dogs while they wait for their forever families. Volunteers will work with dogs of all breeds and sizes and assist with caring for our canine population in a variety of ways, including

• walking and feeding dogs

• cleaning kennels, bedding and food bowls

• playing with/exercising dogs

• administering medication when applicable as directed by the medical team

• comforting and socializing dogs

Requirements:

• The ability to work as a part of a team and communicate well with other volunteers.

• Must have a love and understanding of animals and empathy for those that are sick, injured or abandoned.

• Able to bend and frequently carry light to moderate amounts of supplies.

• Dog walkers must be physically able to walk long distances in all weather with dogs of varying size and breed.

C.A.R.E. relies on foster homes to provide temporary homes for some cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies awaiting adoption. Training and supplies are provided. More foster homes are desperately needed. Apply to be a cat foster or dog foster.

What does it mean to be a foster:

• Provide a safe space and proper care

• Help save more homeless pets by freeing up space at the adoption center

• Have flexibility based on your availability (short term or long term)

Our Receptionists are the first point of contact for visitors to the Adoption Center and play an important role ensuring that their visit is a success. This role is essential to our day-to-day operations and a great opportunity to learn about how our Adoption Center works! Responsibilities include

• greet and assist visitors

• accept donations

• keep the lobby presentable

• answer phone calls and forward messages to appropriate volunteer teams

Requirements:

• The ability to work as a part of a team and communicate well with other volunteers.

• Must have a love and understanding of animals and empathy for those that are sick, injured or abandoned.

• Able to bend and frequently carry light to moderate amounts of supplies.

Volunteers are needed for community outreach, showing pets at local stores or providing information at events. A car is required because many of our events are in suburban locations, and we may need help transporting animals.

C.A.R.E. operates a Pet Food Pantry out of the Adoption Center twice a month and volunteers also staff the Irving Park Community Food Pantry Pet Food Corner in Chicago. Pet food and supplies are distributed to pet owners in need so pets can remain with their families. We are seeking volunteers who can help with logistics of food transport, distribution, and aggregation. To learn more, visit our pantry page or fill out the C.A.R.E. Volunteer Application.

Requirements:

• The ability to work as a part of a team and communicate well with other volunteers.

• The ability to answer questions about pet care and pet-related topics.

• Able to bend and frequently carry light to moderate amounts of supplies.

After you’ve spent some time getting to know our cats and dogs and have an understanding of our Adoption Center operations, consider joining our Adoption team! Adoption Counselors are responsible for facilitating the adoption of our cats and dogs including the following tasks

• Review applications, conduct phone screens and arrange meet and greets between adopters and cats and dogs.

• Observe interactions between cats and dogs and a potential adopter.

• Assess personalities and needs of animals to determine whether a potential human adopter or family is a good match.

• Redirect or deny application where a good or appropriate match is not possible.

• Educate adopted about proper pet care.

• Complete paperwork and process Adoption fees.

• Train and supervise other counselors when needed.

Requirements:

• The ability to work as a part of a team and communicate well with other volunteers.

• Must have a love and understanding of animals and empathy for those that are sick, injured or abandoned.

• Knowledge of animal safety.

• Able to bend and frequently carry light to moderate amounts of supplies.

Are you a behind-the-scenes person? Team up with other development volunteers to fund C.A.R.E.'s mission to re-home rescue pets:

• research and apply for grants

• brainstorm and plan fundraising events

Do you like teaching and talking to people? Volunteers comfortable in the spotlight are needed as classroom speakers and to assist with educational programs.