Make a difference in the lives of homeless animals by becoming a volunteer at the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter.
For nearly 20 years, our volunteer program has been instrumental in helping thousands of animals find homes. What started as a small group of dedicated individuals has grown into a thriving community of animal lovers! Our volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization, providing essential care, socialization, and love to our shelter residents. When you join us, you’ll become part of an amazing community of people dedicated to animal welfare—and you might just make some lifelong friends in the process.
Getting Started
The City of Buffalo Animal Shelter welcomes volunteers who are 21 or older and can commit to at least 8 hours per month for one year.
Under 21? You Can Still Help!
While our hands-on volunteer program is for adults 21+, there are many ways young animal lovers can make a difference:
Organize a cat food drive at your school
Collect gently used collars and leashes
Run a pet treat collection drive
Create enrichment toys for our shelter pets
Ways To Volunteer
Our volunteers can choose to focus on one area or participate in multiple activities based on their skills and comfort level. Each role makes a vital difference in the lives of our animals, whether you’re walking dogs, socializing cats, or helping at adoption events.
We’ll help you find the perfect fit for your interests and experience level and provide comprehensive training so you can confidently and safely work with our shelter residents.
From hands-on animal care to community outreach, your time directly contributes to improving the lives of our shelter animals and helping them find their forever homes.
Animal Care & Socialization
- Dog walking and training
- Cat socialization and enrichment
- Assisting with playgroups
- Bathing and grooming
- Supporting our PetSmart cat adoption center
Foster Program
- Provide temporary homes for animals in need
- Care for puppies and kittens too young for adoption
- Help rehabilitate animals recovering from illness or surgery
Community Engagement
- Help at off-site adoption events
- Assist potential adopters during meet-and-greets
- Support fundraising event
Ready to Join Our Team?
Take the first step toward making a difference in the lives of Buffalo’s homeless animals. Use the form below or email cbasvolunteerinfo@gmail.com to request a spot at our next bi-monthly orientation and begin your journey as a CBAS volunteer. The orientation fee is $20, which includes your volunteer t-shirt, name badge and slip lead (dog volunteers only). We look forward to welcoming you to our community!