volunteer opportunities
Below you will see a sample of volunteer opportunities available at Good Mews. Please note that some volunteer opportunities require additional training and may not be available due to the number of volunteers currently serving, legal requirements, etc.
If you are interested in volunteering, please register here for access to our online orientation, which will give you an overview of each area of opportunity you are interested in.
Adoptions:
Help us find good homes for good kitties! Training/job shadowing is required (6-9 months; prefer Saturdays). Must be 21+ and commit to one shift per month! Adoption hours are Saturday 10-4 and Sunday 1-4 or weekdays by appointment. Duties include adoption counselor, greeter, and/or follow-up calls to new adopters after learning our policies.
Community Outreach:
Members of this committee work with community groups – such as students, scouts troops, and animal welfare groups – on projects or tours of the shelter. They may also be asked to represent Good Mews at speaking engagements, festivals, or other community functions to help publicize Good Mews and its mission, as well as educate the public about animal welfare. Volunteers who enjoy teaching, public speaking, and working with the public are encouraged to sign up.
Daily Care:
If you really want to get to know the cats, don’t mind “dirty” work, and crave satisfaction in knowing that your dedication results in a clean, comfortable environment for the cats, then this is the area for you! Must commit to a morning or evening bi-weekly shift (usually 3-4 hours). Children must be age 8+ to volunteer for this committee and must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
Disaster Recovery:
This committee creates and constantly revises the emergency preparedness plan for the shelter. Members of this committee have required courses that must be completed, including online FEMA classes, animals in disaster courses, and other specialized training.
Fostering:
Whether you’re interested in caring for bottle-fed babies, helping adult cats recover from medical issues, or providing hospice care, there are plenty of opportunities to help. With just a spare bedroom, bathroom, or playpen, you can make a world of difference to cats in need, and we’ll provide all the medical care you need to get started.
Grants:
Volunteers with this committee work to secure crucial funding for Good Mews by seeking out possible grant opportunities, as well as applying for grants. Strong writing and researching skills required. Must be able to work independently with focus on deadlines and follow-up.
Kitty Buddy:
Sometimes kitties need extra socializing before they are adoptable. In some cases, they have been neglected or abused; others were never properly socialized as kittens. Kitty Buddies commit to work one-on-one with these cats for a minimum of 30 minutes each week. It’s not just petting and playing; these cats need special attention and hands-on care. For that reason, Kitty Buddy volunteers must first have at least 4 months of experience at Good Mews.
Marketing & Communications:
This committee is responsible for Good Mews’ public image, including branding, media relations, social media, advertising, all printed/ electronic promotional materials, fundraising letters, quarterly newsletters, monthly e-newsletters, Kitty Keeper letters, and any other communications. Committee members have specific skills in marketing strategy, videography, photography, graphic design, public relations, advertising, event planning, research, editing, and writing. Must be 18+ and have relevant experience or be in a relevant course of study.
Medical:
Even though we have a staff veterinarian and feline care technicians to attend to most of the medical needs of our cats, extra hands are needed to support some daily duties. As a result, trained volunteers help medicate cats twice daily (AM/PM). Training/job shadowing required; must be 21+ and commit to bi-weekly or weekly shift. Experience preferred but not required. Must be comfortable handling all types of purr-sonalities and be willing to learn.
Special Events:
Do you like planning events or throwing parties? Then this is the committee for you! There are several ongoing events that help raise much needed money for Good Mews, and we need people to help us plan these. Don’t worry, you can definitely still have FUN while raising funds! Volunteers are needed to organize annual fundraisers, assist with logistics, plan new events, and more. Consider giving your time and expertise to make a BIG difference for the kitties!
Surgery:
Do you perform well in a medical setting? Are you interested in the behind-the-scences life-saving action for spay and neuter surgeries? We are looking for those to help assist (but not perform) surgery at our Misty Williamson Surgical Center, located on-site at Good Mews. Surgery typically takes place on weekdays from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Whether you can commit to a full day of surgery, or for a partial shift, we are happy to have you.
Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR):
As a volunteer, you’ll help trap and transport cats for spaying/neutering, and play a vital role in reducing the population of feral cats while improving their quality of life. We are looking for volunteer trappers on Sunday & Tuesday and volunteers to assist with returns on Tuesday & Thursday. We have immediate need for volunteers to assist with Cherokee and Cobb county areas.
Volunteer Recognition and Recruitment:
The volunteer committee helps with recruiting new volunteers by attending volunteer fairs and other events and recognizing current ones who bring value to our organization.
