Volunteer Opportunities

Want to put your unique skills to use for a rewarding purpose? Support FOHA’s animal shelter in Northern Virginia in one or more of the following roles. Training and instruction will be provided for each of the roles below. Volunteer shadowing may also be required for some of the opportunities below.

Review the FOHA Volunteer Code of Conduct

TEAM MEOW

Team Meow Volunteer Requirements

You must complete Cat Snuggling Orientation to participate in all Team Meow opportunities. Please sign up for an upcoming session below.
You must be 18 or older. Children ages 10-17 can assist with Cat Snuggling if accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.

Note: Our volunteer opportunities do not currently qualify for court-ordered community service.

Opportunities for New Volunteers

Cat Snuggler

Come out and spend time with the cats in our catteries to help our pets enhance their socialization skills.
Sign-up below for an upcoming orientation session.

Cat/Kitten Event Support

Lead an off-site Adoption Event, overseeing the kittens/cats during the event and coordinating transport of the cats to and from the event.
Help staff the FOHA booth at adoption events. Talk to potential adopters, donors, and volunteers to answer questions on the cats/kittens, the FOHA adoption process, and volunteering at FOHA.
Help us host a Corporate Volunteer Event group. Volunteer at the catteries to meet and interact with volunteers and the cats.
You will be added to an email distribution list and details about our opportunities will be emailed as they become available.

Cat Biography Contributions

Spend time with our cats (especially the new ones) at FOHA and write their biographies so we can share them on our website. You can also help by taking pictures for their web page and social media.

Cat/Kitten Transport

Transport cats between the shelter and oﬀ-site veterinary appointments as part of our Medical Transport team.
- Weekdays (especially early morning), but some pick-ups may be needed on weekday evenings.
You will be added to an email distribution list and details about our opportunities will be emailed as they become available.

Opportunities for Experienced Volunteers (6 months+)

Adoption Support

Cat Adoption Application Pre-Screeners

Review and reply to the adoption applications we receive for FOHA’s cats and kittens.
Assist with matching adopters to cats/kittens.
Conduct vet checks once applications have been activated.

Team Meow Weekend Adoption Leads

Work scheduled shifts at the shelter catteries on weekends.
Interact with potential adopters when they come to the shelter and help send cats to their forever homes!

Team Meow Leads

Kitten Intake Lead

Maintain contact with shelter partners about kittens in need of rescue.
Make decisions on which kittens to intake and coordinate with fosters.
Transport kittens from Centreville and/or other area shelters to FOHA.

Adult Cat Intake Support

Determine which and how many cats to bring into FOHA’s adoption system — contingent upon space and social dynamics in FOHA’s catteries.
Coordinate intake transport to the shelter.

Feline Foster Coordinator/Assistant

Communicate with interested potential fosters, pre-screen foster applications, and determine the number and identity of cats/kittens that go to a given foster home.
Maintain regular contact with fosters.
Coordinate temporary fosters when current fosters go out of town or on vacation.

Cat/Kitten Adoption Events Coordinator

Schedule events with event sites/hosts.
Coordinate the scheduling of FOHA volunteers for transport and attendance at each event.

Cat-Snuggling Orientation Leaders

Help train the new incoming groups of Cat Snugglers.
Great for volunteers who have been snuggling FOHA’s cats for a while and understand what it entails and the safety measures required.

DOG SQUAD

Dog Squad Volunteer Requirements

You must complete Part 1 (online) and Part 2 (hands on at shelter) of Dog Walking Orientation to participate in all Dog Squad opportunities. Please sign up for training sessions using the orange button/link below.
Volunteers must be at least 18 to handle the leash while walking the dog.
Teenagers 13-17 may accompany their parent or guardian while that person walks the dog.

Note: Our volunteer opportunities do not currently qualify for court-ordered community service.

Opportunities for New Volunteers

Dog Walkers

Help walk our dogs on the groomed trails throughout our 40-acre property.
Three fenced play yards are available for a good ball toss and snuggle time.

Dog Event Support:

Transport dogs to and from the shelter and be their handler during the event as part of our Adoption Event team.
Help staff the FOHA booth at adoption events. Talk to potential adopters, donors, and volunteers to answer questions on the dogs, the FOHA adoption process, and volunteering at FOHA.
Help bring dogs out for individual members of the corporate groups to walk and interact with as part of our Dog Squad Corporate Event team.
You will be added to an email distribution list and details about our opportunities will be emailed as they become available.

Dog Transport:

Transport brand-new dogs to FOHA from a predetermined location (usually Staunton, VA)
Transport dogs to and/or from necessary veterinary appointments as part of our Medical Transport team.
- Appointments are during the day (especially early morning) on weekdays, but some pick-ups may be needed on weekday evenings as well.
You will be added to an email distribution list and details about our opportunities will be emailed as they become available.

Dog Biography Contributors/Writers

Spend time with our dogs (especially the new ones) and write their biographies so we can share them on our website. You can also help by taking pictures for their web page and social media.

Opportunities for Experienced Volunteers (6 months+)

Adoption Support

Dog Adoption Application Pre-screener

Review online applications from potential adopters.
Invite approved applicants to the shelter and field all applicant questions.
You must have experience as a Dog Adoption Lead to ensure you are familiar with the processes and requirements necessary to review applications and communicate with applicants about them.

Dog Adoption Leads/“Matchmakers”

Greet potential adopters that come to the shelter, conduct pre-screens for dog adoption applicants, and bring dogs out of their runs for potential adopters to meet.
Handle the adoption paperwork and send dogs home with their forever families!

Dog Home Visitors

Set up time to meet with potential adopters virtually.
Conduct a vet check via phone with the applicants’ vet oﬃce (if applicable).
Meet and talk with all members of the household about what to expect from the addition of their new canine family member.
Be the FOHA contact/liaison for the families if they have any questions or encounter any issues following the adoption.

Dog Squad Leads

Dog-Walking Orientation Leaders

Train the new incoming groups of dog-walkers.
Great for volunteers who have been walking FOHA’s dogs for a while and are familiar with what it entails and the safety measures required.

Dog Foster Program Support

Support the FOHA Dog Foster Coordinator.
May coordinate communication between the dog adoption applications committee and potential fosters, oversee veterinary appointment scheduling for foster dogs, arrange meetings between fosters and potential adopters, and more.

ADMINISTRATIVE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Fundraising, Grant Writing, Marketing and Event Planning

Apply your fundraising and marketing experience to help our homeless animals!
Coordinate and assist with events and parties.
Research or write grant proposals, donor appeals, and/or email solicitations.
Provide graphic design, traditional marketing, online marketing, or other advertising skills to generate publicity for FOHA.
Photography and video skills are also very welcome!

Gratitude Team

Social Media

Moderate the FOHA Facebook group and page.
Develop and conduct social media campaigns.
Post promotional pieces on the FOHA Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts, and generally oversee FOHA’s presence and promotion on our social media outlets.
Attend events and post pictures and videos from the event
Assist with writing blog posts for news and announcements.
Track and post Thank You notes for birthday fundraisers.