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Our shelter is always in need of helping hands. Volunteering is a very rewarding experience. You meet new pets, learn their stories, and cultivate your own space in their hearts as they find a place in yours. When a pet is adopted that you have grown close to, the thrill and happiness is unmatched. Below is a list of volunteer opportunities and a description of what each entails.

Volunteering at the shelter: If you want hands-on experience caring for pets,volunteering at the shelter is your place. You get lots of time to interact with pets. We need help with cage cleaning, dog walking, general cleaning throughout the shelter, data entry, cat socializing, etc. All volunteers must be at least 13 years of age; 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Off-site Adoption Events: This entails taking pets from the shelter to designated places so they get more visibility. When helping with off-site events, volunteers meet at the shelter to pick up pets and necessary supplies. Once at the location, volunteers simply sit or walk around with the pets and talk to people about our shelter and about adopting from us. We attend numerous events throughout the year, but one we regularly attend is Mingle with our Mutts:

• Mingle With Our Mutts. This is a multi-shelter/rescue event held the first and third Sundays of every month at the Franklin County Dog Shelter. From 12:00-2:00, we sit with adoptable pets and talk with potential adopters. Mingle is a huge success because we find a lot of highly qualified homes for our pets.

Fundraisers: PWP is constantly holding fundraisers to help sustain the shelter. From car washes, to garage sales, to a 5K run, we are always needing help with all stages of the fundraising process. The fundraiser volunteers communicate regularly through a Yahoo message board.

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS: If something interests you, please consider attending one of our volunteer orientations. Orientations for adults are held on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:30 PM, and typically last under one hour. Pre-registration is required - send an email to volunteer@petswithoutparents.net and indicate your date preference, number of people, and a phone number where we can reach you. You will receive a confirmation email if space is available. DO NOT ATTEND AN ORIENTATION UNLESS YOU HEAR FROM US FIRST! If you cannot make a date you are registered for, we need 48 hours notice, if possible, so we can contact people on the waiting list. Thank you for your understanding.

Do you have a child aged 15 or under that would like to volunteer at the shelter? We now have Family/Youth Volunteer Orientations that are held once a month. Check the calendar on our main page for the next available date. Pre-registration is required - send an email to volunteer@petswithoutparents.net to register. A parent must be present at the orientation. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult when they are volunteering

If you will be attending an orientation, please print off and complete the Volunteer Application and bring it with you. If you have questions, please contact Meg at volunteer@petswithoutparents.net.

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Become a Foster Family.
Sometimes a pet needs to be out of the shelter environment for various reasons. Perhaps they are not thriving there; maybe they need a quiet place to recover from an illness or injury; or maybe they are just too young (puppies and kittens less than 8 weeks old). At these times we rely on a network of dedicated foster families to help these wonderful pets get over whatever hurdles life dealt them. It is a temporary situation, but vital to the health and well-being of the animal. The shelter provides everything you need, including food, litter, litter boxes, crates, and veterinary services - all you need to provide is a home and loving environment.

If you are interested in becoming a foster family, call the shelter at (614) 267-PAWS or email pets@petswithoutparents.net for more information about this rewarding experience.

• Foster Family Application