Thank you for your interest in Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s Volunteer Program!

Volunteers are an essential part of the shelter team.  We have more than 150 volunteers who care for our animals’ basic needs and provide enrichment to enhance their overall quality of life.  New volunteers can choose to help in the dog kennels or in the cat room. 

Volunteer application deadlines are January 1, March 1, May 1 (especially for college students interested in summer only), July 1, September 1 and November 1.  Applications received after these dates will be considered during the next application cycle.  The process takes approximately five weeks from the application deadline.

Please note:

1. Those interested in volunteering must be at least 18 years old (effective September 19, 2007).
2. There is a required time commitment of at least six hours per month for six months.  Many volunteers choose to stay longer than six months, and the six hour minimum still applies.
3. If you are a college student interested in helping for the summer only, you must apply by May 1 and meet the time commitment of six hours per month.  The six month minimum is waived.
4. The shelter does not accept temporary volunteers seeking to satisfy a court-ordered community service requirement.
5. Not all individuals who apply are accepted into the volunteer program.

Volunteer Opportunities

As a new volunteer, you can share your time and talents to help animals in need.  Opportunities for involvement include:

Cat Room Assistant
Assist in the socialization of cats available for adoption by handling, speaking softly and playing. Duties also include spot cleaning condos, replacing water, cleaning litter boxes throughout the day and taking cats out of condos to visit with potential adopters.

Dog Kennel Assistant
Assist in the socialization of dogs available for adoption by walking them in a specified area. Volunteers also assist animal caretakers with tasks, including cleaning kennels, filling water bowls and taking dogs out of kennels to visit with potential adopters.

Once accepted into the volunteer program, individuals can help in the following areas:

Administrative Assistant
Assist the volunteer coordinator with administrative tasks.

Foster Care Provider
Visit our Foster Care Provider page for more information. 

Front Office Assistant
Assist the front office staff with duties that include updating lost and found reports, assisting citizens at the counter with the purchase of licenses and answering questions regarding adoption policies and other animal issues.  Volunteers must attend a front office training.

Small Mammal Assistant
Assist animal caretakers with duties associated with rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and other small mammals. Duties include spot cleaning cages, replenishing water and hay and sweeping around cages. Volunteers also interact with the public and must attend a small mammal training.

Volunteer Mentor
Certain volunteers who have been at the shelter for a while are tapped for our mentor program.  These individuals help to train new volunteers.

Volunteer Application Process

Please note that not everyone who applies is accepted into the volunteer program.  The steps below are all part of the screening process.  Each step is used to determine if our volunteer program is right for you and vice versa.

1. Complete a volunteer application and mail it to Fairfax County Animal Shelter, 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030; fax it to 703-830-0318; or email the Volunteer Coordinator. Download an application now!
2. Application is received by the shelter and submitted for a criminal background check.
3. Applicant is contacted to attend an information session at the shelter, which includes an overview of the shelter and a chance to learn about other volunteer opportunities.
4. Individual is contacted to attend either a Cat Room Assistant or Dog Kennel Assistant training session, which includes the assigning of a mentor to learn the ropes of volunteering at the shelter. 
5. After completing and passing the mentorship period, individual becomes an official volunteer.  Have fun and be prepared for plenty of purrs and tail wags!

Download a volunteer application.

For additional Volunteer Program information, please call 703-324-0207 or email the Volunteer Coordinator.

FAQ

1)  What is the volunteer information session?
The volunteer information session provides an opportunity for volunteer candidates to learn more about the shelter.  It lasts for approximately one hour and takes place at the shelter.  Attendees have the opportunity to ask questions and assess if we are a good fit for them and vice versa.

2)  Why do I need to be trained?
Training helps prepare volunteer candidates to work with shelter animals in a safe and appropriate manner.  Also, volunteers serve as representatives of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, and it is important that they are prepared to answer questions and accurately support the mission and vision of the shelter.

3)  What are the hours that volunteers can help?
Cat Room and Small Mammal Assistants can come to the shelter seven days a week between the hours of 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.  Dog Kennel Assistants can come to the shelter seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.  Front Office Assistants can help Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Administrative Assistants help on an as-needed basis.

4)  I have a group interested in volunteering for one day at the shelter.  Do you have opportunities available?
One-day group volunteer projects may be available depending upon the needs of the shelter at the time of the request.  Group projects do not involve contact with animals, and all group members must be at least 18 years old.  Contact the volunteer coordinator at 703-324-0207 or email the Volunteer Coordinator.