Volunteer Opportunities
Fill out a volunteer application!
***Please note that a response to your application may not be immediate, as we receive many applications every day. Once you submit your application, a copy will be sent to the email address you provide, and we will contact you as soon as we are able. Thank you for your kind offer to volunteer!
There are many ways to help animals by volunteering with FOCAS. Depending on your interests, abilities and time available, FOCAS has a way for you to help provide second chances for animals. Below is more information about ways you can volunteer, but opportunities are only as limited as your imagination. To learn more about becoming a FOCAS volunteer, complete our Volunteer Application today or call 619-685-3536 for additional information. Please note that for most positions, volunteers must be at least 18 years of age or older.
Foster a Pet
Whether it’s a puppy that needs to learn some manners, a small dog stressed by the noise at the shelter, a cat who keeps being overlooked for adoption or a litter of kittens that need to be bottle-fed, all shelter animals benefit from a foster home.
As a foster parent, you will provide a safe, loving temporary home for a dog, cat, kitten or puppy until they find their forever home. Fosters are needed for all types of cats and dogs and are especially critical during kitten season when we have several litters of kittens that need to be cared for and fed around the clock. Foster homes are also needed for animals recovering from surgery or illness.
Read about some of our fosters here!
The time commitment for being a foster is anywhere from a few days to several months depending on how long a pet takes to be adopted. You can foster as many or as few pets each year as your time allows. Our foster coordinator will work with you to determine what type of cat or dog will work best for you, your family and your pets (many of our fosters have cats and/or dogs of their own) and along with our seasoned fosters, will support you throughout your foster experience. Though it’s hard work, our fosters say that seeing their diamond in the rough start to shine with their new family is thanks enough.
Qualifications: Fosters must own their home or have permission from their landlord to foster a pet. Foster parents need to have time to accommodate their foster’s needs and should be available to meet with potential adopters and/or bring their foster dog to monthly adoption events.Click here to fill out a foster home application.
Volunteer with Dogs
Dog Handlers – Balboa Park
For those who would like to work hands-on with dogs and puppies but can’t bring a pet into their own home, dog handling is the way to go. You can handle a dog at our monthly Balboa Park adoption event where we take dogs from one of the three county shelters or from within our own program to be adopted on the first Saturday of every month. Here dogs also get exercise, socialization and TLC from their volunteer handlers. Volunteers are trained to help the public select animals for adoption and to counsel and educate while doing so.
Qualifications: To volunteer as a dog handler, you must be at least 18 years old, have access to your own vehicle, you should be comfortable handling different sizes and breeds of dogs, as well as interacting with the public. Some training will be provided.
Volunteer with Cats
Cattery Volunteers
FOCAS operates two catteries at PetSmart stores in Encinitas and Point Loma as well as at AMC in El Cajon. Help socialize and groom cats while they await their forever home. Volunteers also help the public select animals for adoption, assist with keeping the cattery tidy, and help by cleaning litter boxes, kennels, etc.
Qualifications: You should be comfortable handling different sizes & types of cats and well as interacting with the public. Training will be provided. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to volunteer at AMC in El Cajon. We ask that you make a commitment of at least 6 months, and sign up for at least one regular shift per week.Medical Volunteers
Transporters
Give a shelter pet a lift to its veterinary and other appointments! Volunteers are needed to transport animals from shelters to vet offices, to other shelters, or to other adoption events. This is an important job because the animals we exit from the shelter often need a little TLC before they are ready to be adopted. The schedule is flexible and FOCAS can provide you with crates or kennels. All driving is within San Diego County.
Qualifications: Willingness to travel to different areas of San Diego County and an understanding that some pets can get carsick. Comfort handling different breeds, sizes of dogs or cats. Valid driver’s license required. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
FOCAS-Animal Medical Center (AMC) House
FOCAS has developed a unique medical fund to provide medical care for cats and dogs whose illnesses or injuries are beyond shelter medicine. Through a partnership with AMC, FOCAS operates the FOCAS-AMC House where we provide medical care and rehabilitation for the animals we support through this medical fund. Volunteers with medical experience or who are willing to learn certain animal care processes are needed to help administer medication, change bandages, conduct rehabilitation and more.
Qualifications: Some veterinary assistance, medical experience or an interest in animal medical care. This is a great experience for those who are veterinary students or considering one of the careers in veterinary medicine. Volunteers at AMC must be at least 18 years old.