Youth Opportunities
While volunteers must be 16 or older to volunteer on campus, those under 16 can still get involved through our Junior Foster League program, Rescue Readers program, and at-home service opportunities like creating toys for our shelter cats.
Junior Foster League: Ages 8-17
The Junior Foster League program is available to kids between 8 and 17. This is an opportunity for the youth to accrue community service hours while also helping the community and animals in need. This program allows youth volunteers to foster with the supervision of an adult guardian. Junior Foster League volunteers accrue 2 hours per day for each foster animal. Proof of hours will be awarded once you’ve finished fostering and the animal(s) return to the shelter.
Responsibilities
- Temporarily house an animal for either age, space, or medical reasons.
- Provide basic care for the foster animal(s) by feeding, socializing, cleaning, and playing with them
- Administer routine flea prevention, deworming, and/or any prescribed medication
- Attend scheduled follow-up appointments and routine checks
- Be the animal’s advocate by marketing them on social media
Requirements
The participant’s legal guardian is required to review our online orientation with their child and accompany their child to Peggy Adams to pick-up the foster assignment. The purpose of the program is for children to foster with the guidance of a parent/guardian.
Commitment
The length of time you foster varies depending on the individual animal. We ask that you at least commit to a minimum of 2 weeks, although fostering generally lasts longer than two weeks.
- Kittens must be fostered until they’re big enough (2 pounds) to return to the shelter for spay/neuter surgery (1 to 10-week commitment)
- Puppies must be fostered until they’re big enough (usually 2 months of age) to return for spay/neuter surgery (1 to 10-week commitment)
Learn About Our Foster Program
Our shelter often has limited space, and by opening up your home to foster, you help create space for more animals in need and provide a temporary home for a homeless dog or cat.
At-Home Service Hour Activities
Earn service hours from the comfort of your own home by crafting toys for the shelter’s cats! Choose from a variety of DIY projects to complete at home and drop off at our campus.
These toys help animals beat boredom in the shelter and keep their minds healthy and happy.
Completed your at-home service project? Don’t forget to fill out the online completion form before dropping off your donations in the Adoption Center.
Rescue Readers
Rescue Readers is an exciting free program for children ages 5 -15 to read aloud to adoptable animals at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.
Not only are the children able to develop their reading skills and boost self-esteem in front of a non-judgmental audience, but it also provides valuable socialization and love to the shelter animals.
