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Animal Care and Control
Volunteers must be at least 16 years old to volunteer with Fort Worth Animal Care & Control.
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- 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.
- Dog Walking- walk, socialize and train selected pets in our care that are most in need!
- Paw-parazzi - 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 Group 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.
Looking for group activities?
We love having volunteer groups visit us! We are able to accommodate groups of at least 5 but no more than 8 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 three weeks in advance. Scheduling is made on a first come, first-served basis. Please contact our volunteer coordinator, Melanie Pena @ melanie.pena@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!
General Interests
Mobile Adoption Events
Promote FWACC’s mission and recruit volunteers, adopters, and donors at special events around town. Work at information tables and booths, hang out with adoptable animals and assist during the adoption process while appropriately representing FWACC. Depending on the event, dog walking, animal handling and pet and crate care may be needed. Locations vary across the city.
Requirements: Volunteer Orientation, Dog Handling class
Animal Fostering Program
Become a foster hero!
As the city of Fort Worth's only open admission shelter, we never turn away a pet in need. Foster caregivers help us save lives of pets recovering from illness or injury, orphaned kittens and puppies, and many other animals that may thrive better in a home environment than in the shelter. Most pets at FWACC that are available for adoption are also available for foster, and we welcome fosters who can take pets into their homes for any length of time. Foster parents help increase the adoptability of these shelter animals by providing care and a foster home during this time of transition from the shelter to an adopter’s home. As a foster parent, you are a volunteer and helping us save lives of shelter pets in need. Whether you are able to only commit to just an afternoon out or a longer opportunity, we have a variety of ways for you to get involved.
Foster parents are most in need for:
- Short term foster placement, such as an Out and About day trip or an overnight sleepover. Short term fostering decreases stress in our animals, gives them a much needed break from the shelter, and helps us gain valuable information about the pet to help match them with their future adopter. This is a great way to try out fostering because it is a short-term commitment that makes a HUGE difference in the life of a shelter pet! Find out more about this type of fostering below.
- Medium-large adult dogs who have been in the shelter for longer than 30 days! Some animals (through no fault of their own!) can be passed by in the shelter. These "hidden gems" often times just need to get out of the shelter and have someone advocating for them to find an adopter.
- Puppies/kittens or moms with newborns that are too young to be adopted.
- Pets recovering from an illness or injury needing some extra TLC and medical care.
How to foster:
- Fill out our foster form (link on the top right of this page).
- You will receive a welcome email within 72 hours of submitting your application. Read through the email to find your foster manual for more information on setting up an appointment.
What does the shelter provide?
- WE provide all vaccinations, spay/neuter services, microchip and in-shelter vet care for your foster pet. Food, treats and other basic supplies (beds, crates, leash, etc.) will be supplied to you, depending on availability (these are donation based).
- YOU provide the basics – your home, exercise, space, socialization and love.
You can view our dashboard of pets currently available for foster by clicking here. Please note: this list is updated frequently, but some animals may have already found their forever or foster homes!
Please email FWACCfoster@fortworthtexas.gov if you have any questions.
Forestry
No matter your level of expertise, whether you're interested in helping out for a day or wanting a more long-term commitment, the Forestry Section has a volunteer opportunity for you.
Volunteer workdays at the Tree Farm projects can vary by season, but often include transplanting trees into containers; planting in the tree fields; weeding; staking and trying trees; and organizing the tree inventory. Bring your family, friends, co-workers and fellow tree enthusiasts. Rain or shine, we'll be here with something to do for every physical activity level.
General Interests
Graffiti Abatement
Information On Our Volunteer Projects
Graffiti Scavenger Hunts, Sign Up Today!
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Our graffiti scavenger hunts are designed for individuals and larger groups who would like to volunteer with us. The group for the day will be split into two or three smaller groups and from there search for graffiti within Downtown Fort Worth.
You will be given a guideline of popular locations and asked to log these locations in the MyFW app. Doing so will assist our team with the actual coordinates of the graffiti, for quick removal the next day.
Purpose
To help reduce and discourage criminal defacement of private and public property and make Fort Worth an even more beautiful community.
Duties
In this very visible role, you’ll attack graffiti by reporting graffiti locations in the myFW app. You will be walking around Downtown Fort Worth searching for graffiti in the area, we will give you a few clues and locations to get you started. Once you find a location you will use the myFW app to document the graffiti. At the end of your scavenger hunt, we will tally all findings and determine a winner.
Location
The starting location for all scavenger hunts will be in front of the Chisholm Trail Mural near the Starbucks in Sundance Square (141 W 3rd St, Fort Worth, TX 76102). Throughout the duration of the scavenger hunt, you will be walking in different areas downtown, by the end of your hunt, you will meet back at our starting location.
Our scavenger hunts are a self-guided volunteer opportunity. Your host will meet you at the beginning of the hunt and will be on-site when you finish. If you are needing any assistance throughout your volunteer day, you will be given an on-site number to call.
Time Frame
Typically a 2 to 4-hour shift.
Qualifications
- Are okay with outdoor activities.
- If you are under the age of 18 you might be accompanied by an adult.
- Must download the MyFW app to your personal cell phone. Click here to download the myFW App
- Must wear comfortable shoes for walking.
Graffiti Goes Green, Sign Up Today!
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A graffiti-going green project is designed for individuals and groups who would like to volunteer with us. Volunteers will plant ivy against a heavily tagged wall within a park or similar location in Fort Worth. By planting the ivy, the goal is for ivy to grow up the wall, and deter from graffiti being tagged or visible in the area.
Purpose
To help reduce and discourage criminal defacement of private and public property and make Fort Worth an even more beautiful community. With this eco-friendly method, we can use our volunteer program resources to create viable and effective natural graffiti barriers.
Duties
n this very visible role, you’ll attack graffiti by planting ivy to grow up a heavily tagged wall. On the day of your project, you will prep the area and plant the starter ivy to grow up the wall. You might also be planting additional plants or flowers to beautify the area.
Location
Before your project, you will be sent the location via email. Some projects are only at one location, depending on the size of the area, but others could be at several different locations, transportation is required for this project.
Time Frame
Typically a 1 to 2-hour shift.
Qualifications
- Are okay with outdoor activities.
- If you are under the age of 16 you must be accompanied by an adult.
- May be required to carry heavy materials such as shovels and dirt.
- Must have transportation in case we visit several sites throughout the day.
- Must wear closed-toed shoes and clothing for gardening.
Keep Fort Worth Beautiful
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 OR our website for more information: fortworthtexas.gov/kfwb
Neighborhood Services
General Interests
Andrew "Doc" Session Community Center
Location:
Andrew "Doc" Session Community Center
201 South Sylvania Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76111
Reports to: Linda Beltram
Community Center Supervisor
Como Community Center
Location:
Como Community Center
4900 Horne Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Reports to: Clara Kirby
Community Center Supervisor
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
Location:
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
5565 Truman Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76112
Reports to: Paula Jackson
Community Center Supervisor
North Tri-Ethnic Community Center
Location:
North Tri-Ethnic Community Center
2950 Roosevelt Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76106
Reports to: Arturo Mercado
Community Center Supervisor
Northside Community Center
Location:
Northside Community Center
1100 N.W. 18th Street
Fort Worth, TX 76164
Reports to: Eric Lopez
Community Center Supervisor
Southside Community Center
Location:
Southside Community Center
959 East Rosedale Street
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Reports to: Felicia Johnson
Community Center Supervisor
Worth Heights Community Center
Location:
Worth Heights Community Center
3551 New York Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76110
Reports to: Deierdre Jimerson
Community Center Supervisor
Park and Recreation
Central District Operations
Location:
Central District Operations
2901 Crestline Road
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Chisholm Trail Community Center
Location:
Chisholm Trail Community Center
4936 McPherson Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76123
Diamond Hill Community Center
Location:
Diamond Hill Community Center
1701 N.E. 36th Street
Fort Worth, TX 76106
East District Park Operations
Location:
East District Park Operations
2300 Avenue H
Fort Worth, TX 76105
Eugene McCray Community Center
Location:
Eugene McCray Community Center
4932 Wilbarger Street
Fort Worth, TX 76119
Fire Station Community Center
Location:
Fire Station Community Center
1601 Lipscomb Street
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Greenbriar Community Center
Location:
Greenbriar Community Center
5200 Hemphill Street
Fort Worth, TX 76115
Handley Meadowbrook Community Center
Location:
Handley Meadowbrook Community Center
6201 Beaty Street
Fort Worth, TX 76112
Highland Hills Community Center
Location:
Highland Hills Community Center
1600 Glasgow Road
Fort Worth, TX 76134
Hillside Community Center
Location:
Hillside Community Center
1201 East Maddox Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Mobile Recreation Program
Location:
Mobile Recreation Program
1601 Lipscomb Street
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Reports to:
Sandra Medina
Program Coordinator
North District Park Operations
Location:
North District Park Operations
1700 Brennan Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76106
R.D. Evans Community Center
Location:
R.D. Evans Community Center
3242 Lackland Road
Fort Worth, TX 76116
Riverside Community Center
Location:
Riverside Community Center
3700 East Belknap Street
Fort Worth, TX 76111
South District Park Operations
Location:
South District Park Operations
5199 James Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76115
Southwest Community Center
Location:
Southwest Community Center
6300 Welch Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76133
Sycamore Youth Athletic Center
Location:
Sycamore Youth Athletic Center
2525 East Rosedale Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76105
Thomas Place Community Center
Location:
Thomas Place Community Center
4237 Lafayette Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Victory Forest Community Center
Location:
Victory Forest Community Center
3427 Hemphill St.
Fort Worth, TX 76110
Water Gardens
Location:
Water Gardens
1502 Commerce Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Reports to:
David Shoffit - Asst Field Ops Supervisor
John Langevin - Gardener
West District Park Operations
Location:
West District Park Operations
7151 Calmont Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76116
Reports to:
Doug Herron
Asst Field Ops Supervisor