Volunteer
- Details
- Category: Get Involved
Our dedicated volunteers help us give more time and attention to nearly every shelter task. From maintenance and animal care to fundraising and clerical work, our volunteers help us to increase the impact of our work on behalf of homeless animals. Our volunteer program is growing and you can be part of it!
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, we request the following:
- Attend a volunteer orientation
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be able to commit to eight hours of service per month for six months
- Be able to commit to scheduled volunteer times
- Attend required training classes
Please contact our volunteer coordinator Annie Garwood at (518) 374-3944, ext. 118, or e-mail JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING .
If you are under 18 or have a child who would like to help the animals, please click here for information.
Volunteer Orientation
Your first step toward becoming a volunteer is to attend a Volunteer Orientation. There you will have a chance to ask questions, meet some of our staff, and tour the shelter.
The next orientation will be on Thursday, April 26 at 6 pm at the APF.
Please call (518) 374-3944, ext. 118 to reserve a seat.
Current Volunteer Opportunties
PetSmart Adoption Center - Help to care for our felines in residence at PetSmart in Mohawk Commons in Niskayuna. Help is needed with both cleaning and adoption support. Flexible hours are available. The PetSmart location adoption hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 1:00-8:00 pm; Wednesday and Thursday, 6:00-8:00 pm; and Saturday and Sunday 12:00-4:00 pm.
Phone Support - We are seeking individuals with excellent communication skills and a desire to work directly with the public to answer phones. Current shifts are available 9:00 am-12:00 pm on Tuesdays-Thursdays.
Greeter - For those people with excellent interpersonal skills and an outgoing personality. You will be responsible for making a great first impression, directing patrons to the location of animals and adoption applications, informing patrons as to how to start the adoption process and directing patrons to staff personel that can answer any question they may have. Current opening Wednesday and Thursday, 4-6 pm.
Feline Friend - Assist our staff in maintaining a clean and comfortable space for our cats. This involves helping with care, sanitation, laundry and other morning duties in preparation for opening to the public in the afternoon. We ask for a time commitment of at least one shift per week, any day except Saturdays, 9:00 am-11:00 am.
Special Events - We often have the opportunity to attend local community events, many of which take place on weekends. We need volunteers with good communication skills to staff our information tables, answer questions, and generally represent the APF in a positive way.
Foster Parent - Whether you have experience caring for orphan kittens or would like to learn, we are looking for reliable people who can provide foster care for the many kittens we receive, particularly in the spring and summer months.
Distribute Flyers and Dog House Merchant Boxes - We have lots of information to get out to the community and the more people we have distributing, the better! We also place Dog House coin collection boxes in various businesses and are always looking for more placements.
Fundraising Assistance - We hold several annual events, such as the Fireplug 500 Walk for Animals and our Tails by Twilight Gala, and are seeking folks who are comfortable approaching businesses for cash or in-kind donations.
For Current Volunteers:
Push Button for Volunteer Login
