Be ahero!
Humane Heroes Program
If you have kids under 14 who want to be involved with AHS, we have the program for you! Our Humane Hero Program is designed to allow kids who are too young to volunteer at AHS on their own, to still be involved with the animals. By becoming a Humane Hero, kids get to have fun and make a big impact in the lives of homeless pets.
Birthday Parties
Host your child’s birthday with the Austin Humane Society! You can celebrate with one of our 90 minute cat or dog-themed birthday parties where you’ll be treated to a behind the scenes tour of the shelter and meet our adoptable pets. But that’s not all: the cost of your party includes sponsoring a shelter pet! Your child will get to select their pet and receive a certificate of sponsorship and update when their “birthday buddy” finds their fur-ever home. Birthday parties require a minimum $300 donation. Email us more information.
Pet Pals
Some of the animals at our shelter need a little more attention and time to find their furever homes. Pet Pals go above and beyond to help make that happen! Become a Pet Pal for $25 and help sponsor an animal’s stay at our shelter. In return, you’ll receive a Happy Tail Mail from your new furry friend alongside a cute picture, as well as notifications on when they get adopted! Friendship is a paw-erful thing and with your help, we can ensure happy homes for happy animals. Click here to get started.
Girl & Boy Scout Troops
Scout troops are invited to visit the Austin Humane Society for tours and other special projects based on mutual availability and a one-time donation fee. Included will be a tour of AHS’s facility, a craft-making time, and an animal interaction with a furry friend! Click here to arrange a Scout Tour.
Please note we can take on a limited number of special projects to fulfill Badge requirements or to facilitate the completion of Bronze, Silver, Gold and Eagle Scouting awards per year on a first-come, first-served basis. Please email us to learn more.
Foster Friends Program
Foster Friends are 6th – 12th graders who volunteer–with their guardian’s permission–to provide temporary housing and care for animals who aren’t ready to be adopted. We need loving homes like yours to continue helping animals in need of a little extra time and care. To sign up to be a Foster Friend, please email us.
Rescue Reading
Did you know that reading to rescue cats can help kitties get adopted? Small groups or individuals in kindergarten-8th grade are invited to AHS to read to cats in our colony rooms. Rescue Readers build social skills that help our cats find forever homes, plus readers learn about cat behavior and pet care in the process! We have set aside three days for our volunteers to come read to our cats: Tuesday – Thursday between the hours of 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Please download our contract and our informational Rescue Reading flyer, and email education@austinhumanesociety.org to schedule your reading time with our feline friends.
Hero Highlights
In addition to all of our Humane Hero activities, we encourage families to sign up for our Hero Highlights e-newsletter. Each edition of Hero Highlights will spotlight different facts about animals, share stories from the shelter and come with a surprise activity. Sign up for our new bi-monthly e-newsletter here.