Volunteer to Help Animals

Are you interested in volunteering with Louisville Metro Animal Services? We have many opportunities for you to help animals.

The next step is to either contact us or call 574-5556 to register for orientation. Then we ask that you fill out and print our volunteer application.  Everyone also needs to sign our Waiver of Coverage before you can perform any task for Animal Services, and if you are under the age of 18 you must have a parent or guardian sign the waiver as well.

As a representative of Metro Animal Services, it is important that you set an excellent example for the community. Please be sure your pets are fully vaccinated and licensed if you plan to volunteer at our shelter.

Fostering and animal care require additional training beyond orientation, and you must be 18 years or older to handle animals without a parent or guardian. You can learn more by signing up through VolunteerMatch.com

If you are interested in YOUTH volunteer opportunities, check out our youth volunteer page!

If you are seeking hours for a court-referral, please click here.

The help we need at our shelter includes the following:
  • Adoption Counselor: Greet visitors to our Adoption Center and help them select a pet to be part of their family. Review adoption applications and educate potential adopters about shelter policies and procedures. Extensive training is provided.

  • Cat Care: Clean cat cages. Brush and socialize cats.

  • Dog Walkers: Take dogs for walks and playtime in our fenced yards.

  • Foster Program: Provide a short-term home to shelter animals until they are adopted.

  • Front Desk: Answer phones and assist with clerical work. Must have good computer skills and be able to work in a busy environment.

  • General Animal Care: Take a two hour shift any day of the week helping wherever needed such as washing dishes, doing laundry, opening newspapers, walking dogs or socializing cats.

  • Photographer: Help our "BARC" group by taking a weekly shift to photograph adoptable animals for our website and help produce our weekly adoptables posters.

  • Special Events Handlers: Handle dogs and supervise cats at weekly offsite adoption events. Greet visitors and answer questions about animals for adoption.


  • Contact David Neeson for more information! (502) 574-5556

    Metro Animal Services is the perfect place for a service learning project!

    All Metro government volunteers are asked to also read and understand the Metro policies concerning volunteers. You can download a copy of the Metro Volunteer Handbook by clicking here.