Student Volunteer Program
our student volunteer program
Jill’s Next Door Dog Walking & Pet Services, LLC and the Feline Alliance Program offer an exceptional opportunity for local students interested in animal rescue work. In partnership with local volunteer-based cat rescue organizations, the program provides students with the experience and knowledge needed to support the local feline community.
The program is designed to give students hands-on animal rescue experience, along with educational sessions, kitty toy making, pet food drive initiatives, kitten socialization, and more. This opportunity is ideal for students seeking involvement in animal rescue, fulfilling school community service hours, or gaining valuable experience to enhance their résumés.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
Students learn about the importance of animal rescue, the rescue process, and basic feline care while socializing kittens through petting, playtime, and gentle handling, helping increase their chances of adoption.
Students are provided with the tools to create homemade cat toys using new socks or fabrics, filled with stuffing and catnip, as well as cat wands and other no-sew toys. The completed toys are then donated to a local animal rescue.
Students are also given the opportunity to host a pet food drive at their school and/or in their community. They may collect donated items in bins or share a rescue’s Amazon Wishlist, allowing supplies to be sent directly to the rescue of their choice.
Participating students receive a butterfly kit for a hands-on learning experience that allows them to observe caterpillars transform into Painted Lady butterflies. This activity teaches students how to care for another living being while watching their butterfly grow and take flight.
Many local students are required to complete community service hours to meet their school’s graduation requirements. Our program is designed to allow students to earn credit for their work, including socializing kittens, collecting pet food donations, participating in informational sessions, creating cat toys for local rescues, and more.
It’s never too early to start thinking about your résumé or college applications. Volunteering with an animal rescue is a valuable way to strengthen your preparation for the next steps in life. Jill, a former Senior Academic Advisor at Drexel University, brings extensive knowledge and experience to guide students in these areas.
FAQ'S
Students must have permission from their guardians, and their schools to participate in our program. Volunteering must count for the school’s community hours. Students must not be allergic to cats or dander. To fulfill our requirements, students must sign a waiver, complete our activities, and be able to handle kittens.
Students should expect life-long knowledge and experience in pet care an animal rescue. They will also walk away with fulfilled community service hours, resume and college application experience, the knowledge that they gave back to the feline community, adopted stuffed pets, self-raised butterflies, connections to local rescues, and helping animals keep busy with their homemade toys or feeding a homeless animal through our pet food drive.
Students should expect life-long knowledge and experience in pet care an animal rescue. They will also walk away with fulfilled community service hours, resume and college application experience, the knowledge that they gave back to the feline community, adopted stuffed pets, self-raised butterflies, connections to local rescues, and helping animals keep busy with their homemade toys or feeding a homeless animal through our pet food drive initiatives..
Students should wear comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty or worn. Since we work with animals, long sleeves and long pants is a good idea.
This program is not a fit for students that are allergic to cats and dander, who are afraid of cats, or are not required to have community service hours through their school.
While we work with students’ schedules, once the day and time is reserved, students are expected on their scheduled date and time. We also expect for students to work with the kittens as much as possible, participate in kitty toy-making, and it is highly suggested that they participate in our pet food drive and butterfly experience.
