Homeless Animal Rescue Team

Volunteer

Discover how you can make a difference by volunteering at HART.

Volunteer at the Homeless Animal Rescue Team

Like the company of cats? Volunteer at HART!
We’re a non-profit, no-kill, cage-free shelter dedicated to rescuing and caring for stray, relinquished, and unsocialized cats. Volunteers can choose from a variety of activities—varying from a few hours a month to several hours a week. Whatever time you can give, we welcome it!

Apply to volunteer by clicking the button below, or stop by HART where our staff will be happy to provide an application and answer questions. (Note: Volunteers under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.)

A huge THANK YOU to all our current and future volunteers—you make it possible for us to rescue cats and kittens and help them find their purrrfect homes!

HART could not exist without you.

Volunteer Application

Ways to Help

There are so many ways to help the cats & kittens at HART. Read below to learn more about all the different ways YOU can make a BIG difference in our cats' lives!

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Pet Pal

Pet Pals help socialize our cats and kittens by brushing, petting, or playing with them. Some of our cats and kittens need extra socialization with people to improve their chances of adoption. Some are bored and needs extra stimulation and attention. If you have the time, we have the cats! Our kitties love visitors and are very grateful for the love and attention you share with them. It truly makes a HUGE difference in their lives!

Feeding & Scooping

Feeding time is one of the best parts of the day! It happens twice—first thing in the morning and again at 4:00 pm, with our biggest need for feeders in the afternoon. Feeders top off water bowls, refill kibble, and dish out canned food. Because one of the best ways to a cat’s heart is through their stomach, feeders quickly become some of the cats’ favorite people!

And since what goes in must come out, feeders also scoop litterboxes at the end of the day so the cats have fresh, clean boxes overnight. During kitten season, that can mean scooping 15 or more litterboxes—but don’t worry, the kittens often “help” by supervising from your shoulder, tumbling around your feet, or even “assisting” you with the digging. To help lighten the workload, we often can pair you with another volunteer—or you can sign up with a friend and turn feeding time into a team effort. Please note that this task does involve bending to floor level and some lifting. It’s real work, but it’s also incredibly fun and rewarding.

Foster

Please consider joining HART's foster club and provide a temporary home for cats or kittens in need. Short-term or long-term, everything helps. HART will provide all supplies needed.

Learn More about HART's Foster Team HERE

Office / Gift Shop

Be the welcoming smile that greets every visitor and potential adopter—volunteer at our front desk! You’ll help by answering phone calls, assisting with questions, and guiding guests to our cat rooms. HART also has a Gift Shop, where volunteers are needed to price new merchandise and handle sales transactions.

Medical Team

As a part of our med team, you would assist with monitoring and caring for sick or injured animals. Duties may include giving medications, eye or ear treatment, weight/temp, flea treatment, and health record maintenance. Experience with vaccinations and sub-cutaneous fluids a plus but not required. Training is required.

Community Cat Management

Help manage Cambria's feral cat colonies by feeding and providing fresh water once a day. The schedule is flexible and you can help as little or as much as you want. It's an easy but incredibly rewarding way to help some of our most vulnerable felines. You can also help by trapping cats needing to be spayed/neutered and returned (TNRM) or to be placed for adoption. Training and assistance will be provided.

Transporting

Transport cats & kittens to or from veterinary appointments, typically in Cambria. Appointments may also be scheduled throughout San Luis Obisbo county. A car and valid insurance is required.

Join a Committee

HART has a Fundraising & Events Committee, which focuses on planning social events, fundraisers, and other events to benefit HART. These funds go towards HART's general fund which helps keep our shelter doors open. These donations cover the costs for intake exams, treatments, and typical medical expenses. As well as food, litter, and the every day cost of running the shelter and caring for our animals.

HART also has a Guardian Angel Committee, which focuses on raising funds for non-routine and costly medical treatments for HART's cats and kittens. 100% of funds raised for the Guardian Angel program are designated exclusively for special medical expenses.

Lastly, HART has an Evacuation Team which focuses on the training of HART's evacuation procedures and practices in the event of an emergency.

Committees generally meet once a month.

Apply to Volunteer!

Why Volunteer?

Volunteering isn’t just great for our cats, but it’s incredibly rewarding for our humans too - volunteering provides a sense of purpose, increases self-confidence, helps with physical health, and reduces feelings of stress, anger, and anxiety. Being around cats is proven to lower blood pressure and heart rate and just makes you happier! Our cats love having humans around and are so thankful that you have come to feed them, change their kitty litter, brush their fur or just sit and spend some time with them. You will see how gratifying it is to make a better life for these cats and kittens. Contact us for more information or complete our Volunteer Application.

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Carly ridley edit — Pictured is volunteer Carly and HART alumni Ridley

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