City of Fort Worth

Volunteer with the Fort Worth Animal Shelter!

Want to make a difference? Join us!

There are so many ways to volunteer your time to help Fort Worth Animal Care and Control (FWACC). We could not save more than 90% of the pets who come through our doors annually without our incredible volunteer team. If you're passionate about helping people and pets, we have a "job" for you!

Volunteers are needed for almost everything we do, but our biggest volunteer needs are:

• Adoption Matchmaker (most needed for medium and large dogs) - help families find their perfect match among the 300 or more pets waiting at our shelter. 
• Dog Enrichment Program - provide enrichment (in the form of toys, treats, and more) to pets in our care. Enrichment is critically important to help pets stay mentally and physically stimulated while they are in the confinement of a shelter.
• Pawparazzi - help photograph the pets in our care waiting for their homes. By having clear, distinguishing photos showcasing the animals personality, it helps increase their adoptability and connect them with their new family.
• Play Yard Monitors - with over 300 dogs in our shelter on any given day, we rely on our play yard areas to help dogs get much needed exercise and enrichment in play groups. These volunteers help us monitor the yards and ensure the play groups are safe and fun for every dog involved.
• Greeters - help potential adopters find their way around the shelter and meet adoptable cats and dogs
• Off-Site Adoption Centers/Events - assist with adoption matchmaking, cleaning and greeting potential adopters at our two off-site adoption centers and off-site adoption events
• General assistance with cleaning, laundry, dishes, and more!
• Foster Volunteers - volunteering in our foster care program is an extremely rewarding opportunity for individuals and families. Our foster program allows pets that are too young for adoption, who are recovering from an illness or injury, or who are in need of other care to stay in private homes until they are ready to be adopted.

  Click here to learn more about our foster program.

Our general volunteer program is open to individuals as young as 13 years of age however, anyone between the ages of 13 and 15 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian when volunteering at any location. Volunteers age 16 and older may volunteer on their own.

Looking for group activites?

We love having volunteer groups visit us! We are able to accommodate groups of at least 5 but no more than 25 volunteers, all of whom must be at least 18 years old. We call this our “Day of Service Program”. Opportunities are available most Mondays-Sundays, and must be scheduled at least two (2) week in advance. Scheduling is made on a first come, first-served basis. Please contact our volunteer coordinator, Lydia McKaye, by email at lydia.mckaye@fortworthtexas.gov (be sure to include the preferred date, time, and names of volunteers in your email). 

By choosing to volunteer, you will have the opportunity to strengthen our great city by connecting with families, neighbors, and communities through service. Your help is very much appreciated by staff and the shelter pets - help us make a difference in your community!

Keep Fort Worth Beautiful (KFWB) is an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful that has served our community for more than 40 years. Our mission is to educate and engage Fort Worth residents and businesses to take responsibility for improving their community environment.

KFWB has three goals:

• End Littering
• Improve Recycling
• Beautify Communities

We encourage all residents, businesses and visitors to become a volunteer to help prevent litter and make a difference in our community!

If you have any questions, please contact us at: KFWB@fortworthtexas.gov

Visit our website for more information: fortworthtexas.gov/kfwb

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Fort Worth Public Library.  At this time, due to pandemic conditions, we are not utilizing volunteers inside our facilities or in special projects.  We appreciate your willingness to share time and talents with the City of Fort Worth.   Once restrictions related to COVID-19 are lifted, we will re-open applications for Library volunteers.  

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the City of Fort Worth Neighborhood Services Department.  We are currently not accepting applications.  Please check back with us once the COVID 19 virus threat has passed.  

If you are looking to serve during this state of emergency, please visit http://fortworthtexas.gov/COVID-19/volunteer/ to discover ways to help.

We are currently not accepting applications.  Please check back with us once the COVID 19 virus threat has passed.  

If you are looking to serve during this state of emergency, please visit http://fortworthtexas.gov/COVID-19/volunteer/ to discover ways to help.

           Thank you for your interest in Citizens on Patrol (COP)

Citizens on Patrol volunteers act as additional "eyes and ears" for the Fort Worth Police Department, within neighborhoods. Citizens volunteer time to actively patrol their neighborhoods to watch for and report suspicious and/or criminal activity. They receive training involving vehicle, bicycle, and foot patrol and the use of their radio. Volunteers choose the days and times they wish to patrol and they adhere to no fixed schedule.