Volunteer Opportunities
Fill out a volunteer application!
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.
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 should be comfortable handling different sizes and breeds of dogs, as well as interacting with the public. Training will be provided.
Dog Exercisers
Through a special partnership with Animal Medical Center (AMC) in El Cajon, FOCAS operates a house for convalescing dogs. Volunteers are needed to exercise these dogs in the FOCAS-AMC House yard, socialize, groom and clean them.
Qualifications: To volunteer as a dog handler, you should be comfortable handling different sizes and breeds of dogs as well as interacting with the public. Training will be provided.Volunteer with Cats
Cattery Volunteers
FOCAS operates two catteries at PetsMarts 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.
Qualifications: You should be comfortable handling different sizes, types of cats and well as interacting with the public. Training will be provided.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.
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 o the careers in veterinary medicine.