Citrus County Animal Services Volunteering

It takes a village to make magic happen at Citrus County Animal Services, and we have many ways for the community to be involved by joining our team of superhero volunteers. Volunteers are essential to our mission of ensuring the emotional and physical welfare of the animals in our care. Volunteer opportunities include (but are not limited to):

Dog Walkers: Our goal is for each dog to get out of their kennel at least twice every day, and our volunteers play a huge role in this! Dogs can be walked on our property, down our street, or in one of our many play yards. Dog walkers do more than just walk dogs, though – they also spend quality one-on-one time with them cuddling, playing in yards, and baths!

Playgroups: CCAS uses the nationally-recognized Dogs Playing for Life method of playgroups where we allow dogs some quality time with each other to just be dogs. Our playgroups are a joint effort of staff and volunteers, and include jobs such as playgroup leader, playgroup supervisors, and runners. Not only is it a fun way for dogs to get out of their kennels, but it allows us humans to learn more about their behaviors so we can find them the perfect home.

Cat Cuddlers: While cats may not enjoy play groups, they still love spending quality time with caring humans! Our cat cuddlers can spend time with our feline friends through play time, cuddling, grooming, and training to make them feel more comfortable in their temporary shelter home.

Customer Service and Office Support: Customer service volunteers are the front line for shelter visitors to get information about what we do at Animal Services by greeting guests as they walk in the door and answering phone calls. Office support volunteers also assist with the creation of information packets that go home with our fosters and volunteers to set our animals up for success.

Adoption Events: There is no better feeling than watching an adopter fall in love with a shelter pet. Our volunteers play a crucial role in adoption counseling at our many off-site adoption events. Jobs may include dog handling, answering adopter questions, and making sure our pets are comfortable and happy while showing their best sides to potential adopters.

Enrichment: Not only do our dogs and cats enjoy daily interactions with staff and volunteers, but they also enjoy in-kennel enrichment to keep their minds busy in the form of toys, treats, and puzzles! Volunteers play a huge role in preparing enrichment for our pets, including stuffing Kongs, making frozen “Pupsicles”, and catnip toys.

Photography: Quality photos are essential for marketing our pets for adoption, and our volunteers are a huge help in capturing their best angles. If you enjoy making silly noises to get pets to look at the camera, we have a job for you!

Laundry and Dishes: Just like your pets at home, our shelter residents create a lot of laundry and dishes that need to be cleaned and disinfected daily. Our staff is always thrilled to have vo