Animal Friends Alliance Volunteer Policies
Due to limited available shifts, we are only able to accept volunteers whose interests and availability align with our current needs. Not all roles are open at all times. After applying, please keep an eye on the email address you used to apply for updates regarding your volunteer status.
Location & Transportation
Our shelter is located at: 2200 N Taft Hill Rd. Fort Collins, CO 80524
Please note: Public transportation does not drop off near our shelter location. Reliable transportation is required.
Volunteer Time Commitment & Communication Policies
Our volunteer program is primarily designed for long-term volunteers.
Some roles require onboarding and training that can take up to 1 month. Because of this, we may not be the best fit for short-term volunteer projects with strict deadlines (example: school projects, graduation requirements, community service, etc.) as we cannot guarantee completion of a specific number of hours by a certain date.
- We prefer volunteers to complete at least 2 shifts per month. Shifts are typically 2 hours long.
- We ask that new volunteers commit to at least 4 months of service, but we hope you'll stay much longer!
- All communication is done by email - please check regularly!
- We ask all volunteers to help with at least one event or fundraiser each year. This could be a fundraising event such as our annual Gala for Animals, an outreach event, a Supply Drive, or a Kibble Supply distribution day.
Please Email Us Before Completing Your Application If...
- You are a job coach planning to volunteer with a client
- You are seeking to complete court-ordered community service hours (please include your required number of hours and deadline in the email)
- You are needing to complete volunteer hours for a school requirement
And/Or - You have questions about accommodations or additional support
Please contact us at volunteer@savinganimalstoday.org and we can discuss next steps!
Available Shifts
Cat Care: Mondays & Tuesdays -- 10am, 1pm, or 3pm
Dog Shelter Cleaning & Cuddling: Sundays, Mondays, Fridays, & Saturdays -- 5pm
Dog Walking as of April 2026:
We are not currently seeking new dog walking volunteers. To better align with our needs and current dog population, we are only open to new dog walkers who are 18+ with some dog handling experience who will also be volunteering in areas other than dog walking. We are greatly in need of shelter cleaners but may allow volunteers to become dog walkers who have the capacity to help us with our sick and/or behavior dogs on 8am or 5pm shifts Wednesdays - Saturdays.
Supply Drives: Select weekends
Laundry: Monday, Tuesdays, & Thursdays (flexible once trained)
Weeding: Weekdays at 8am
Scanning/Admin: Weekdays (flexible once trained)
Age Requirements
- Volunteers must be age 18+.
- Family Groups: Up to two minors aged 13 - 17 may join a trained adult volunteer. Because our volunteers are responsible for a significant portion of daily care, opportunities for minors are limited. If you are applying as a family group, the parent/guardian is required to fill out the application. Shelter opportunities for families are limited to cat care and dog shelter cleaning & cuddling.
Volunteer Fee
As part of our onboarding process, we ask for a non-refundable $40 volunteer fee ($55 for family groups) to help cover the costs of your volunteer t-shirt, nametag, background check (if 18 or older), volunteer appreciation events, and your account on our volunteer platform. We hope it is a small price to pay for the good feeling of knowing that you are helping animals and people in our community!
