Volunteer

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Volunteers For Animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. You must be 18 years of age and older. An individual orientation with another volunteer will be required to volunteer. We ask that you make a serious commitment to volunteering at least one shift per week.

Here are the volunteer positions we are seeking:
-Cleaning cat cages and dog kennels in the mornings Sunday - Saturday. Typically we start at 8:30 am until noon.
-Dog walking and cleaning dog kennels during Adoption hours which are listed below.
-Cat socialization, tidying cat cages, cleaning dishes and doing laundry during Adoption hours which are listed below.
-Fundraising - assisting with events throughout the year - this is not done in the Shelter.
-Fostering of kittens and rescue dogs - not done at the Shelter but requires regular visits to the Shelter for vet care and adoptions.

If you are interested, please Contact Us and we can provide more information as well as a Volunteer Application.

Give us your returnable empties

Volunteers For Animals is collecting returnable pop/beer/water cans and bottles to help raise money for the animals. Bring in your empties and we will return them for you. Or in Batavia, you can take them directly to Easttown Beverages, Casella’s/ARC Recycling Center or McNickel’s Redemption Center. In LeRoy, LeRoy Redemption Center, in Bergen, Bergen Bottle Redemption Center, and in Corfu, CanJam Bottle & Can Redemption Center. Just tell them that they are for Volunteers For Animals and they will do the rest! All of the money collected from the deposits will go directly towards helping the animals. (None of the places WILL accept any crushed containers)

Estate Planning

Volunteers For Animals has been caring for the animals in Genesee County since 1984. By including Volunteers For Animals as a beneficiary of your will, trust, life insurance or retirement plan, you can provide long term support to animals in Genesee County. There are many options for planned gifts which may provide you with tax benefits, increase your current income, or provide additional retirement income while reducing income tax and estate taxes. It is important to explore your options with a qualified professional. We greatly appreciate your consideration for this gift giving option.

Honorarium/Memorial/Birthday Donations

Celebrate the special people and animals in your life - Make a donation to Volunteers For Animals on behalf of a loved one for a birthday, anniversary, memorial or any other important occasion. Or, pay tribute to a special pet. For your next birthday (or any celebration), ask everyone to bring a donation to give to the animals. Help those who cannot help themselves. What a great way to celebrate your birthday.

Winnie’s Fund in memory of Cheryl Gates

Winnie was a cat who was adopted from the Genesee County Animal Shelter in the early 1990s. Her lucky adopter was Cheryl Gates. She was a much loved companion for many years. Winnie loved laying in window sills, playing with toys, eating treats, and being anywhere Cheryl was. Cheryl not only loved Winnie but all animals. She was very passionate about making sure all animals were happy, healthy and had a good home. Winnie lived a long life with Cheryl by her side until she passed away in 2009. In 2016 Cheryl Gates passed away following a brief but brave struggle with pancreatic cancer.

Cheryl was always an advocate for animals. She was especially mindful of the health and well being of animals. This fund was created with that compassion in mind. Winnie’s Fund is to help assist with medical care beyond the routine testing, vaccinating and spaying/neutering of shelter animals. It is important to adopt out healthy animals and Winnie’s Fund helps to cover those extra needs. Please consider donating to Winnie’s Fund to give that extra boost to help a shelter animal find a forever home.