VOLUNTEER

Please note: We accept volunteer applications at our Fort Collins location on a quarterly basis during January, April, July, and October. Application periods may change depending on our organization's needs. Our Westminster location accepts volunteer applications year-round.

Thank you for your understanding!

The Animal Friends Alliance Volunteer Team has over 600 of the most passionate individuals in Northern Colorado! Our Volunteer Team donated over 104,000 hours of their time in 2025 to help animals and people in our community. Volunteers help improve the lives of animals by caring for the cats and dogs in our shelters, the pets that come through the clinic, and fostering animals in their homes. Thank you for your interest in joining the Animal Friends Alliance Volunteer Team!

Volunteer in Fort Collins
Volunteer in Westminster

Volunteer opportunities

A young woman with short dark hair, wearing a blue shirt, sitting on the floor and smiling with a gray kitten on her shoulder. The woman is inside an animal shelter or pet adoption center, surrounded by pet cages and supplies.

SHELTER VOLUNTEERS

Shelter Volunteers are an essential part of our organization. Volunteers who help in animal care roles take on the responsibility of daily cleaning, feeding, care, and enrichment for our dogs and cats. Volunteers can also help the shelter with cleaning, organizing, laundry, and administrative tasks.

A woman dressed as a bunny at a booth for Animal Friends Alliance under a red canopy. The booth has informational materials, a colorful spinning wheel, and a sign. The setting is outdoors with parked cars and trees in the background.

OUTREACH VOLUNTEERS

Outreach Volunteers assist the Alliance with events, community pet resources, and connecting those in need with services and programs. Responsibilities can include: posting event flyers in the community, volunteering at fundraisers, events, and supply drives.

Group of people smiling around a service dog in a room with a blue wall and a sign that reads "Our Enrichment Center was generously sponsored by."

GROUP VOLUNTEERS

Is your club, business, or organization interested in group volunteering at Animal Friends Alliance for a one-day service project? Service projects could include hosting a supply drive, cleaning our shelter, event flyering, assisting during fundraising events, completing miscellaneous projects, and more. Learn more and apply here!

How To Get Started Volunteering

COMPLETE An APPLICATION

We accept volunteer applications during the first two weeks of January, April, July, and October. This is subject to change based on our needs. Fort Collins Application is linked here. Westminster Application is linked here.

ATTEND an orientation

Our Virtual Orientation and Handbook will give you an introduction to our organization, our services and policies, volunteer requirements, and more details about volunteer opportunities.

PAY FEE & PASS BACKGROUND CHECK

The $40 volunteer fee covers your background check (applicable to adults 18 and over), a volunteer t-shirt, name tag, appreciation events, training, and our volunteer portal. The fee for family groups (one adult and up to two minors aged 13+) is $55.

WATCH ONBOARDING VIDEOS

You will have access to onboarding videos that are relevant to your volunteer interests.

COMPLETE TRAINING & START VOLUNTEERING!

You will sign up for hands-on training with a mentor who will provide guidance and help prepare you to volunteer on your own!

An elderly man with white hair and a beard, wearing a black jacket and blue t-shirt, is walking a small dog in a parking lot under green trees on a sunny day. The dog appears to be a white and black terrier mix.

volunteer faQ

  • We have application windows a few times a year where we accept applicants based on openings and availability. Fostering is our greatest need and we will always accept applications to become a foster volunteer.

  • At this time, we do not offer drop-in opportunities. However, our shelter is open to the public and you are welcome to come visit! 

  • We can work with people age 18+ seeking court ordered community service of 24 hours or less at our Fort Collins location, but we need more than 2 week's notice. For these hours, we can only sign off on service-oriented work which includes supply drives, kibble distribution, laundry, and weeding. We do not offer animal care volunteer opportunities. Some restrictions apply, please contact the volunteer program to learn more.

  • Youth ages 13 and older may volunteer alongside an adult volunteer (such as a parent, guardian, or sibling) in select roles at our Fort Collins location. At this time, we do not offer drop-in or short-term opportunities that are suitable for fulfilling school community service hour requirements. 

  • Please complete the "Group Volunteer Project Inquiry" form here to let us know you're interested. We accept two volunteer groups per month and they do book out quickly so we may not be able to accommodate every request. 

Want to bring a shelter animal home for a slumber party?

We're always looking for amazing fosters! Click the button below to learn how you can make a life-changing difference right from the comfort of your home.

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