Junior Volunteers Program
Friends of Companion Animals has an opportunity for area young people to make friends, do something worthwhile and support a much-needed local cause. It’s FOCA’s Junior Volunteers! People 12 to 18 years old can help with a variety of tasks that keep the cats in our care happy and healthy. If you’d like to take part visit our volunteer application and select the hours you’d like to help! It’s that easy!
Junior Volunteering in Monroe, MI
Helping Local Kittens and Cats
We are an all volunteer, 501 (c) non-profit, felines-only shelter. If you are allergic to cats this is not the program for you. However, if you’re not, and you’d love to make a difference by caring for kitties who need your help we’d love to include you. Here are some of the things you’d be doing as a junior volunteer at Friends of Companion Animals.
Some of the Duties of Junior Volunteers
- Cuddling and Playtime with Cats
- Feline Story Time (reading to cats – Dr. Seuss to Chemistry is fine)
- Facility Cleaning (such as sweeping, mopping, dusting, etc.)
- Animal Cleaning (dishes, litter boxes, tables, etc.)
- Cat Brushing and Feeding/Watering
- Shelter Event Set-up
- Shelter Event Day Support
- Shelter Fundraising
On your orientation day, you’ll want to bring your legal guardian with you so they can sign some forms and see exactly what you’ll be doing for us at the shelter. Once your volunteering officially starts, they can stay for your shifts (to lend a hand or just watch) or they can return to get you when your shift is done. No one leaves the building alone though – your guardian must enter to pick you up after your shift if you’re not driving yourself.
For younger folks the program is a great way to show you’re responsible and to learn things about cats you never knew. For older people who might be heading off to college soon it’s an ideal way to show you care about your community and you’re not afraid of hard work. Plus, a nice recommendation letter from a hometown non-profit looks good on those college resumes.
As for our cats and kittens, they love the interaction that junior volunteers provide and you’d be helping them survive, literally. The time you spend with them makes them happy and well adjusted so they can find their forever homes sooner. So it’s win-win for everyone!
If you’d like to learn more about the junior volunteer, or any of our other programs, contact us today.
Steps for Being a Junior Volunteer
- Be between 12 and 18 years old
- Submit an online application
- Attend our orientation day with legal guardian (60 minutes)
- Attend volunteer training
- Pick the hours you’d like to volunteer from the list below
- Come make some human and feline friends!
POSSIBLE VOLUNTEER DAYS & TIMES
Monday: 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Tuesday: 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Wednesday: 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Thursday: 3 pm – 5 pm
Friday: 3 pm – 5 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 1 pm
Saturday: 1 pm – 5 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 2 pm
FOCA’s Cat Programs
The Paws Clinic, a high-quality, affordable spay and neuter service, has done over 40K procedures. They offer discounts to people seeking low-cost vet services for felines.
To help control the cat population in Monroe County FoCA offers trap, spay/neuter, and release programs. It’s a great way to keep neighborhood cats from overpopulation.
Barn Cats
Discourage rodents and provide a companion for horses and other farm animals. Each cat is spayed/neutered and vaccinated so they are ready to ‘work’ and be a friend to your family.
We often have senior cats in need of quiet loving households. At other times, we’ve got felines of all ages that need a foster home. For seniors humans seeking companionship it’s win/win.
Find the Purrrr-fect Best Friend
Check out our list of adoptable cats and kittens from Petfinder today!
