Volunteer
Made up entirely of volunteers, the Animal Rescue Network is a haven for cat enthuasiasts eager to positively impact the lives of neglected or abandoned cats.
Volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring the seamless operation of activities at the Animal Rescue Network and achieving its goal. Their commitment and support enable us to provide various services to the cats in our care. Interested in becoming part of our community? Apply today!
Our volunteers talk about the shelter
Get involved to make a difference
Important update
Please note that volunteer recruitment is paused for the entire month of November due to the transport strike.
Rest assured that your application will be kept on file. We will contact you as soon as possible.
Please review the following descriptions to identify which opportunity suits you best. For any further details, feel free to reach out to our volunteer recruitment team at recrutement.rsa.montreal@gmail.com. We look forward to meeting you!
Maintenance
This is our largest team! Duties include giving food and water to all of our wonderful cats. You will also need to disinfect surfaces, cages and toys, refresh litter boxes, change blankets, wash dishes, sweep, mop, monitor for unsual behavior or symptoms and engage with the cats through play and socialization. *Regular availability of minimum 3 hours every week is mandatory.
Medical Care
Responsibilities include of administering medications and treatments as prescribed, as well as administering fluids, ointments and eye or ear drops, taking temperatures and closely monitering the health of all cats.
*No prior medical knowledge, as training will be provided.
Consequently, a commitment of at least 6 months with regular availability every week of minimum 3 hours is mandatory.
Transportation (Urgent need)
Assist in transporting cats to their vet appointments including emergencies and delivering donations of food and litter to the shelter. Flexible hours are offered.
*If you do not own a vehicle or cannot use or rent one at your own expense, we kindly ask that you consider another volunteer opportunity.
Socialization
Work on socializing shy, anxious or reactive cats using various intervention techniques to help them become more comfortable for a future adoption. This might include encouraging them to eat from your hand, to allow petting or to play in your presence. Previous experience with unpredictable cats who have lost trust in humans is highly recommended.
*Please be aware that we have limited capacity to welcome new volunteers to this team. Recruitment is conducted on a case-by-case basis, with candidates selected according to current socialization needs.
Manual Labor
Assist with the upkeep of the shelter by performing small tasks such as painting, plumbing, repairing partitions, etc. If you have the necessary skills, there may be instances where electrical and construction work is needed. Additionally, we encourage you to submit a spontaneous application for any other “technical” skill that you can offer to the ARN!
Help us by making a donation!
How can you apply ?
To submit your application, please :
- Fill out the online application form;
- Provide us with a copy of your curriculum vitae (C.V.);
- Provide us with a professional or personal reference with an active email address from an employer, one of your teachers or a person close to you (excluding family members) who can vouch for your character;
- Email everything to recruitment.arn@gmail.com.
*We prioritize complete applications.
Selection Criteria
- Be 16 years or older for the maintenance team. Parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age. The minimum age for other teams is 18 years old;
- Be able to volunteer at least 3 consecutive and regular hours per week;
- Commit to long-term volunteering;
- Have a valid email address.
Spontaneous application
Do none of the above volunteer roles suit your interests? We encourage you to send a spontaneous application for potential future positions. We always enjoy meeting cat enthusiasts who bring a unique mix of experiences, skills, interests, resources, and connections to the Animal Rescue Network.
We want to take advantage of the talents available to us! Please contact the volunteer recruitment team at recruitment.arn@gmail.com with a brief overview of your skill or expertise.
Corporate volunteering
Companies interested in volunteering are invited to contact the volunteer recruitment team at recruitment.arn@gmail.com to learn about current needs and the possibility of bringing your team on board. Please note that the tasks may require light to moderate physical effort.
Other ways to support the shelter
- If you are looking to adopt, please visit the Adoption information webpage.
- If you are looking to become a foster family, please visit the Foster information webpage.
- To support the Animal Rescue Network through sponsorship, please visit our Sponsorship information webpage.