Volunteering with ASAP

Through the generosity and compassion of our volunteers and donors, the Animal Shelter Assistance Program (ASAP) is able to provide the homeless and abandoned cats and kittens of our community with loving attention, veterinary care, and a place to live while awaiting a forever home. Volunteers provide over 25,000 hours of service every year!

ASAP Shelter Volunteers participate in routine cat care and upkeep of the facility, which includes feeding, grooming, cleaning cat cages, laundry and housekeeping details at the shelter 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Volunteers also are involved in administrative work that supports the shelter and social media outreach.

ASAP Foster Volunteers provide in home care for orphaned kittens and queens and their litters. Foster Volunteers also care for adult cats who have medical issues or who are elderly and would benefit from being in a home environment. Please see the Fostering Section for more information.

Volunteering at the Shelter

ASAP welcomes new volunteers who can devote a few hours a week to the care and comfort of the deserving shelter felines while they wait for a forever home. Below are listed a few prerequisites:

Age Requirement: Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age to be eligible for our Volunteer Program. A parent/adult partner volunteer must accompany any volunteer under the age of 16 at all times during their time at the shelter.

Time Requirement: Volunteers are needed every day of the year at ASAP between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Most volunteer shifts are 4 hours long although a shorter shift may be possible to accommodate class schedules or other commitments. Volunteers are asked to commit to volunteering for at least a 4-month period. Please consider seriously if you are able to make this length of a commitment.

Special Needs Volunteers: If you have special needs that require you to have a mentor volunteer alongside you, the mentor is required to complete all steps of the training with you.

Community Service: ASAP does allow students to earn community service hours for volunteering at the shelter (but not for fostering). However, you must volunteer for a minimum of 4 months before we will sign off on any hours. ASAP does not offer court ordered community service.

Steps to Becoming a Shelter Volunteer

1. Submit a Volunteer Application

2. Attend an Orientation
Orientations are scheduled approximately once a month at ASAP. Once you submit your application you will receive an email with the dates of upcoming orientations. Or you can email or call our Volunteer Director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (805) 448-5305.
Orientations are designed to introduce you to ASAP by providing information on our mission, our history, our relationship with Animal Services, and our Volunteer Program.

3. Complete a Basic Training Class
After you attend an Orientation if you are ready to commit to becoming a volunteer you will be scheduled to attend a Training Class. Basic Training Classes are designed to give you detailed information about the operation of our shelter, cleaning procedures, disease prevention, cat temperament and handling techniques, and customer service.

3. Shadowing
Once you are assigned to a volunteer shift, you will initially work with a more experienced volunteer who will help “show you the ropes.”