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!
Ready for a special delivery? Join our Happy Tail Mail program! This is your chance to practice your writing and send some love to one of our adoptable animals onsite. Choose if you’d like your pen pal to be a cat or dog and you’ll receive your first letter along with a photo of your new pen pal. Your new friend will tell you about themselves and talk to you a bit about their day, then you will have the opportunity to write them back and let them get to know you. Click here to sign up today!
Join AHS each summer for Summer Kids Series! This free family favorite allows kids to get hands on with animals and have tons of fun while learning all about what it takes to care for a pet of their own. Recommended for children 12 and younger. Our next Summer Kids Series will begin in June 2023.
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 live 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 meet their “Birthday Buddy” animal as well as receive a certificate of sponsorship and a personalized birthday greeting from their sponsored pet. Birthday parties require a minimum $300 donation. Email us more information.
Some animals at our shelter need a little more attention and time in order to find their forever homes. Pet Pals go above and beyond to help make that happen! Pals can sponsor an animal’s full care at our shelter for $250, or medical care only for $100. In return, you’ll receive a customized certificate with your Pet Pal’s story, so you can share how you’re helping the animals at AHS with your friends and family. Click here to get started.
Girl and Boy Scouts are welcome to join the Austin Humane Society for tours and service projects. Girl Scouts are also invited to work on their Bronze, Silver and Gold awards with us. Troops of all ages can experience a day in the life at AHS, discover what it takes to run a shelter and care for animals, and complete requirements for scout projects. Email us to learn more!
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.
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 if you have any questions.
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.
