Volunteer
Nobody here is paid. That is not a slogan.
New Hope has no staff and no building. Every cat fed, every application screened, every dog driven out of a shelter parking lot is somebody doing it around their job. Most roles below are a few hours a month.
Open roles
What needs doing
Hands on animals
Cat Caretaker
Training firstA shift at one of our in-store catteries: litter, food, water, cages, bedding, floors — and eyes on every cat so a health change gets caught the day it starts.
Cat Socializer
Training firstSit with the shy ones. A cat who will approach a stranger gets adopted; a cat pressed to the back of the condo does not. This is the work that changes that.
Events
Adoption Event Coordinator
Training firstRun the event: setup, volunteer assignments, animal check-in, and the teardown nobody sees.
Adoption Event Assistant
A few hours at a PetSmart or Petco: handle animals, talk to families, hand out applications. The easiest way to start.
Adoption side
Pet Profile Writer
Can do from homeInterview the foster, then write the bio that makes someone stop scrolling. Remote, flexible, and one of the highest-leverage jobs in the rescue.
Adoption Assistant
Training firstCan do from homeMove applications forward: answer adopter questions, coordinate meet-and-greets, keep files from going cold.
Adoption Reference Checker
Training firstCan do from homeCall vets and personal references. Short calls, clear script, and the step that most often decides a placement.
Driving
Freedom Ride Driver
Training firstDrive the leg between a shelter and safety. Often the single ride that takes an animal off a euthanasia list.
Animal Transport
Training firstVet runs, foster hand-offs, event drop-offs. Flexible, scheduled ahead, and endlessly needed.
Foster
Rescue Animal Foster
Training firstCan do from homeOpen your home for a few weeks or a few months. We cover the medical care. You provide the couch and the routine.
Fundraising
Fundraiser Coordinator
Can do from homePlan and run a campaign or an event. Bring your own idea, or take one of ours off the shelf.
Locations
Where the shifts are
Our cat adoption centers live inside these stores, and most adoption events run out of them too. Pick the ones you can actually get to on a Saturday.
PetSmart
Brodie Lane
5207 Brodie Ln, Sunset Valley 78745
Bee Cave
12812 Shops Pkwy #400, Bee Cave 78738
Mueller
1201 Barbara Jordan Blvd, Austin 78723
Balcones
11150 Research Blvd, Austin 78759
Cedar Park
11066 Pecan Park Ste 315, Cedar Park 78613
Petco
Sunset Valley
5601 Brodie Ln #100, Sunset Valley 78745
West Lake
3201 Bee Caves Rd Ste 117, Austin 78746
Pflugerville
19000 Limestone Commercial Dr #400, Pflugerville 78660
Arboretum
9828 Great Hills Trl #400, Austin 78759
Round Rock
2701-A Parker Dr #100, Round Rock 78681
Practical
Before you apply
- Volunteers must be 18 or older.
- We ask for photo ID at your first shift. It stays with staff and is never shared or published.
- Cattery, transport, and application-screening roles have a short onboarding before you go solo.
- Tell us about allergies, lifting limits, or anything else on the form. We place around them rather than screening for them.
