Getting Involved

By Erin Finger

The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter relies on volunteers to keep a safe and sanitary environment for the animals. 

The shelter wants to ensure a comfortable environment for all the shelter animals, but they need help to keep up with all daily duties. Duties include cleaning, feeding, grooming and exercising the animals. Clerical work in the office and special projects and events are also included in the duties.

To begin the process, volunteers must call the shelter to sign up for an orientation and fill out a Volunteer Application Form. Volunteers must be 18 years of age to volunteer alone, and children must be seven years old and accompanied by a parent. The orientation lasts an hour and the orientation is $15.00 per adult, and adult volunteers must complete six hours of work per month.

“Certain things need to be done, but as long as you’re meeting your six hours, it can be all in one day or it can be spread out, it doesn’t really matter,” said Animal Services Manager Kara Montiel.

In addition to the daily duties at the shelter, making sure the animals receive proper nutrition is essential to maintaining their health. Volunteers are given specific instructions on how to feed and clean the animals. However, the shelter welcomes any skills that volunteers have to offer. 

“If people have certain skills like graphic design, printing or photography, any skill, we can put to use,” Montiel said. “We have someone who was a writer and they wrote animal descriptions for us and made them very entertaining.”

Potential volunteers can call 512-805-2657 with questions and to register for orientation in advance as well as visit the Animal Services Calendar for orientation dates and times. Any other volunteer information needed may be found on the City of San Marcos page.