Become a KC Pet Project Volunteer

Qualifications for volunteers 16 years of age of older:

• An active email address is required
• Volunteers must be at least 16 years old
• Volunteers aged 16-17 years of age must have written consent from a parent/legal guardian
• Volunteers must meet all KC Pet Project volunteer requirements.
• Volunteers meet the Essential Capabilities of Volunteers requirements
• Volunteers must attend a volunteer orientation
• Volunteers must successfully complete a Volunteer Release of Liability

We love our Junior Volunteers! Our Junior Volunteers are able to assist with watering, enrichment, and various operational and sanitation tasks needed around the shelter. Our Junior Volunteers are not able to physically handle animals themselves, but they are able to assist their parent/legal guardian in doing so.

Qualifications for junior volunteers 7-15 years of age:

• Junior Volunteers must be 7-15 years of age. KC Pet Project does not accept volunteers 6 years of age or younger.
• All Junior Volunteers must be accompanied by their parent/legal guardian at all times.
• The adult to child ratio for Junior Volunteers must be 1:1 (one adult to one child).
• Volunteers must meet all KC Pet Project volunteer requirements.
• The parent/legal guardian is responsible for attending all required animal-handling training with and/or on behalf of (as applicable) the Junior Volunteer.
• The parent/legal guardian is responsible for following all policies and procedures, and ensuring the Junior Volunteer is following the rules set forth by the organization.
• All volunteer onboarding, and paperwork, must be completed and signed by the parent/legal guardian of the Junior Volunteer.
• The parent/legal guardian must meet the Essential Capabilities of Volunteers requirements
• The parent/legal guardian must attend a volunteer orientation
• The parent/legal guardian must successfully complete a Volunteer Release of Liability

Thanks to our friends at Petco, we have several Petco Cat Habitat locations across the Kansas City metro area. Petco Cat Habitats are great for volunteers who live inside or outside of Kansas City, Missouri. With locations in Belton, Blue Springs, Grandview, Independence, Liberty, Olathe, Overland Park, and north of the river, chances are there is a Petco Cat Habitat near you!

The Petco Cat Habitat program allows KC Pet Project to promote lifesaving for cats across the state of Missouri. We work with other shelters who have limited space for cats in their care and transfer them to KC Pet Project in the hopes of pairing them up with their new family. As a satellite adoption program, volunteers are critical for ongoing success.

Our Petco Cat Habitats program is an independent volunteer position with several opportunities to get involved. From transporting cats, administration support, daily care and enrichment, cat socialization, and even training new volunteers, we are certain there is a great fit for you in the Habitats program! KC Pet Project volunteers provide all of the daily care for cats in this program by visiting their respective locations twice a day (morning and evening) to care for them while they are waiting to meet their new pet family.

Petco Cat Habitats are fun for the whole family–even Junior Volunteers! (Please see the Junior Volunteer Program section for more information.)

Apply today to get started! Once your application is submitted, you will be provided instructions for the online Petco Cat Habitats Volunteer Orientation video and additional next steps.

Qualifications for the Petco Cat Habitats Program:

• An active email address is required
• Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, or between the ages of 7-15 years accompanied with a parent or legal guardian
• Volunteers must meet all KC Pet Project volunteer requirements.
• Volunteers meet the Essential Capabilities of Volunteers requirements
• Volunteers must successfully complete the online Petco Cat Habitats Orientation video
• Volunteers must successfully complete a Volunteer Release of Liability

KC Pet Project offers court-ordered Community Service opportunities at the Kansas City Campus for Animal Care. Community Service volunteers are able to assist with watering, enrichment, and various administrative, operational, and sanitation-related tasks needed around the shelter. Community Service volunteers are not able to work directly with animals.

Qualifications for Community Service Program:

• An active email address is required.
• Court-ordered community service volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.
• Documentation of related-charges is required. Violent offenses (including animal abuse), sex and child abuse offenses, and certain drug offenses will not be permitted into the program.
• Documentation of mandated court-ordered community service is also required.
• Court-ordered community service volunteers must adhere to the policies and procedures of the Community Service Program and KC Pet Project at all times.
• If approved, community service volunteers must attend a specialized orientation within 14-days of acceptance into the program

If you are interested in doing community service work for your school/college/university, religious affiliation or employer, we encourage you to sign up and become a KC Pet Project volunteer. We also offer volunteer group opportunities for non-court-ordered community service projects. If you would like to support our work alongside your colleagues, fraternity members or friends, consider signing up to schedule a group volunteer activity.

Unable to volunteer on a regular basis but still want to support KC Pet Project’s lifesaving mission? Whether you have a few hours during the week or a free afternoon on the weekend, episodic opportunities are a great way to give back without long-term commitment. Caring for over 14,000 animals each year means that there is always something to do. From creating daily enrichment, folding laundry, sanitizing food/water dishes, stocking supplies around the shelter, to helping keep the grounds clean and clear from debris and the shelter in tip-top shape, there is always a need for a few extra hands!

While there is always a need for direct animal care, for the safety of our animals and our team, ongoing training is required prior to volunteering in those areas. Episodic volunteers are not allowed to work directly with animals, but the roles that are supported by our episodic and one-time volunteers help make sure the animals are well cared for, healthy, and happy.

Episodic or one-time volunteer opportunities are great for service projects requiring a minimum of 3 hours of service to a maximum of 6 hours of service. Service projects requiring more than 6 hours of service are better-suited for ongoing volunteer roles.

Qualifications for Approved Episodic/One-Time Volunteers:

• An active email address is required
• Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, or between the ages of 7-15 years accompanied with a parent or legal guardian
• Volunteers meet the Essential Capabilities of Volunteers requirements
• Volunteers must successfully complete a Volunteer Release of Liability (included in the One-time/Episodic Volunteer Application)
• Volunteers must schedule their episodic/one-time service hours in advance with the Volunteer Department Team. Same-day episodic/one-time opportunities are not available at this time.

If you are interested in doing ongoing community service work for your school/college/university, religious affiliation or employer, we encourage you to sign up and become a KC Pet Project volunteer.

We also offer volunteer group opportunities for non-court-ordered community service projects. If you would like to support our work alongside your colleagues, fraternity members or friends, consider signing up to schedule a group volunteer activity.

We also offer volunteer group opportunities for non-court-ordered community service projects. If you would like to support our work alongside your colleagues, fraternity members or friends, consider signing up to schedule a group volunteer activity.

Looking for other group projects and opportunities?

• Corporate Tours
• School / Girl Scout / Boy Scout Tours
• Youth Education and Enrichment