Volunteer

Volunteering with United Animal Friends is not only good for animals, it is also good for you! Studies show that volunteering provides many benefits to both mental health and physical health. And these studies can’t even begin to measure the feelings of reward, accomplishment and joy that come from saving an animal and helping make the rest of their life the best of their life.

Some people call it “volunteer work.” When you volunteer with UAF, you’ll make new friends and have “volunteer fun”!

Apply to volunteer with United Animal Friends

Apply to volunteer with United Animal Friends.

Fostering

Want to transform the life of a cat or dog? Become a Pet Foster! Fostering is an important and rewarding volunteer opportunity in our organization.

Fostering is immensely beneficial to cats and dogs:

  • They get to learn what it’s like to live in a loving home, possibly for the first time ever!
  • Pets who have lived in a foster home are more calm and socialized, making them more attractive to potential adopters.
  • Fosters get to know and understand their foster pet’s individual personality and needs, which is vital to helping us find them the perfect human match.

Benefits for fosters:

  • UAF pays all veterinary expenses.
  • UAF can provide food, bedding, crates and even a litter pan if needed!
  • Can’t make it to the vet? We have a team of volunteers who will provide transportation to vet appointments, adoption events, and support your needs while the pet is in your home.
  • There is no better feeling than knowing that you have saved a life and helped to complete a family by adopting a previously unwanted cat or dog into a loving forever home.

To learn more about fostering, visit our Fostering a Pet page.

White and Black Domestic Shorthaired Cat with Black Kitten Posing for Photo
Volunteer Woman Holding Black Chihuahua Mixed Breed Dog in Purple Harness

Dog Adoption Event Handlers / Kitty Cat Play-Pals

Can’t foster, but want to help a homeless animal find its forever home?

Get your ‘fur-fix’ by becoming dog handler at a local adoption event!

  • Dogs and their volunteer handlers are matched to ensure that the two of you enjoy your time getting to know one another.
  • While at an Adoption Event, you will highlight the unique qualities of your canine friend to prospective adopters.
  • Experienced UAF volunteers will provide mentor training and handler tips to make certain all goes smoothly!

Prefer cats? Kitty City is calling your name!

  • This feline adoption center is located inside the Prescott Petco store located in Frontier Village.
  • Volunteers are needed to clean the kitty condos, feed hungry felines, and play with rambunctious resident kitties.
  • Your reward is the smiles on the faces of the many people, young and old, who stop by “just for a fur-fix” and end up taking home the purr-fect pet for their family!

Seriously, who doesn’t like to play with kitties?

Dog Walking

Want to get some exercise without having to join a gym? Come walk dogs with us at the UAF Rescue Ranch or local boarding facility!

  • Get you fur-fix walking small dogs, big dogs, medium sized dogs – we have all kinds, shapes and sizes!
  • Our experienced dog handlers provide training and tips to ensure you and your furry friend are safe and well matched.
  • Learn common commands and procedures to help your furry friend be a good citizen.
  • Our UAF Rescue Ranch is close to the popular, well-kept, Peavine Trail – and the scenery for you and the pup is amazing – not to mention the fresh air!
  • Weather impeding your walk? Take a dog to the play yard or toss a toy around in the spacious dog runs.
  • Add in some snuggles and dog kisses and presto! Your day is made and so is theirs!
Mixed Breed Dog with Erect Ears Posing for Photo
Playful Gray Kitten Laying Leisurely on Carpet

Cat Casita Caregivers

Volunteers are needed to care for the cats that are temporarily housed in the casita at the UAF Rescue Ranch. There are a total of 16 kennels inside the casita and an enclosed catio where cats can enjoy time outside when the weather is nice. Cats can also enjoy some free time inside the casita to play, lounge and snuggle. 

What can volunteers do?

  • Clean the kennels and provide fresh food and water while giving the cats time outside their kennels for socialization, playtime and affection. Most useful times are mornings and late afternoons.
  • Transport cats to vet appointments and to Kitty City (Inside Petco) for adoption.
  • Meet with potential adopters for “meet and greets” sessions to find the best match between cats and families.
  • Help write bios and take pictures for the Adoptable Cats page of the UAF website.

Pet Food Bank

Want to help low-income families feed their pets? Volunteer with our Community Pet Food Bank!

  • Volunteers are needed to help hand out food once a month during our drive-through distribution at the UAF Rescue Ranch.
  • Volunteers are occasionally needed to help unload large donations of pet food and move it into our storage containers.
  • Volunteers are occasionally needed to portion large bags of food into more manageable weights where needed for pet owners.
  • Your reward? The pet food recipients’ gratitude will keep you feeling ‘full” for days!
Bags of Dog Food in Connex Shipping Container
Cargo Van for Charitable Animal Organization

Transporting

Like to drive—and get reimbursed for mileage to boot? You can provide transportation for our animals, pet food, etc., all over town and beyond for various reasons.

Fundraising Activities

Like to raise money and see the spoils of your labor benefit people and pets? Get involved with our fundraising events!

  • Volunteer your time by organizing and pricing donated items at our Furr-tastic Finds Rescue Resale thrift store near downtown Prescott. 
  • Pitch in to help with the annual Hike for Hounds Fall Festival, a fun filled day at the UAF Ranch featuring a hike, lunch, local vendors and “fur-minded’ friends.
  • Turn your crafting hobby or baking skills into lifesaving dollars by creating items for the annual Last-Minute Stocking Stuffer fundraising event.
  • Come up with new ideas for fun and creative ways to raise money for animals. UAF always puts the fun in fundraising!
Group of People on Lawn Chairs under Patio at Fundraising Event
White and Black Domestic Shorthaired Cat Yawning

Phone-Line Volunteers

Like to talk on the phone while volunteering from the comfort of your home?

  • Be the friendly voice of UAF for a pet owner with questions, needs or concerns!
  • Volunteer one or two days a week to retrieve phone messages transcribed into an email format.
  • Login into an email account and respond to messages by either returning a call or forwarding the email to the appropriate UAF Coordinator.
  • Your reward? The satisfaction that you made a difference in the lives of people and their pets – all from the comfort of your home!

Grant Writing

Are you a wordsmith and enjoy the crafts of the pen? Grant writing is an essential piece of our fundraising efforts!

  • Large companies and foundations have funds waiting for your words to ensure their gift is going to the right place.
  • Help UAF achieve continue to grow and help more pet owners and their pets by gaining the needed funds provided by grants and donations.
  • Pen heartwarming stories of the people and pets helped by UAF to showcase our gratitude to those providing monetary assistance!
Elder Black and Brown Cattle Dog with Tongue Out Posing for Photo

Volunteer Forms

VOLUNTEER AGE POLICY
UAF welcomes volunteers who are age 10 or older! 

  • For volunteers under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign a Waiver, Release, Indemnification and Hold Harmless Agreement. 
  • Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who has also signed up to volunteer.

Kitty City adult volunteers who wish to have their minor child(ren) accompany them must sign a Waiver, Release, Indemnification and Hold Harmless Agreement.

Apply to volunteer with United Animal Friends

Apply to volunteer with United Animal Friends.

FAQs

No prior experience is needed to volunteer in our entry level positions, but we do require all volunteers to have good communication skills and a willingness to learn. We supply all the training needed for each entry-level position.

United Animal Friends is an all-volunteer organization, and help in any of the following areas is greatly appreciated:

  • Fosters for cats and dogs
  • Dog walkers
  • Caring for pets housed at UAF Ranch
  • Adoption event handlers
  • Transporting animals
  • Fundraising events
  • Telephone volunteers

For more information, please call us at 928-778-2924.

Volunteer Inquiry Form

If you’d like to learn more about any of these fun and rewarding volunteer opportunities, please contact us or jumpstart your Volunteer process by filling in the Volunteer Inquiry form below.

Please complete all fields!

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Personal Details

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* Please note that for the safety of volunteers and animals, a felony background check will be conducted by UAF. Your data will be password protected
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