Thank you for your interest in
volunteering at Catskill Animal Sanctuary!
We depend on people like you, and chances are we have a need that requires your skills or matches your interests.
Volunteers who enjoy physical work can help out with chores like: cleaning shelter areas, landscaping, painting barns and fencing, unloading feed supplies, and maintenance-type tasks. In time, with demonstrated commitment, volunteers can progress into more trusted roles that may include helping feed and care for the animals. The minimum age to volunteer is 12 years, but volunteers aged 12 – 15 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Catskill Animal Sanctuary also welcomes volunteers to help with events and event planning, administrative tasks in the office, our compassionate cuisine program, the welcome hut, and community outreach. Please let us know your interests and skills so we can help ensure you have a positive volunteer experience! Our largest annual event, Shindig; A Festival of Vegan Living, is held in the fall and we are currently seeking volunteers to help us in many areas.
Learn more about Shindig and how you can help!
If you are interested in volunteering as a group, Catskill Animal Sanctuary schedules regular Work Days where we seek groups to help with various projects. Please sign up for our newsletter HERD to learn about these upcoming opportunities.
Are Sanctuary Chores Right For Me?
Pitching in to care for our animals and to maintain shelter areas and farm property is often physically demanding. If you must say no to any of the following descriptions, please consider other ways in which you can lend your talents and energy to CAS:
- I’m physically fit
- I can lift 50 pounds
- I don’t mind working outside in extreme weather conditions
- I can commit to a regularly scheduled four-hour shift
- I’m a team player
What We Ask of You
The highly organized work of caring for more than 200 animals requires that volunteers commit to a shift on the same day of every week. It’s okay if you must miss a week now and then.
Orientation
All prospective volunteers must attend an orientation and be fully trained before starting. We’re committed to ensuring that every volunteer is always safe, comfortable, and having a great time.
Eating on Site
If you’re staying at CAS for many hours, we encourage you to pack snacks and/or a lunch. Out of respect for CAS’s mission and the animals we rescue, please do not bring any food that contains meat, dairy, or eggs. See our vegan recipes page for menu ideas.
