Student Volunteer Program
our student volunteer program
Jill’s Next Door Dog Walking & Pet Services LLC and our Feline Alliance Program offers an amazing opportunity for local students who have an interest in animal rescue work! We partnered with All About the Cats Animal Rescue, a 501(c)3 volunteer-based organization to provide students with the experience and knowledge they need to help the local feline community. All kittens involved in our student volunteer program are provided by AATC. Our program is structured to give the students hands-on animal rescue work, in addition to info sessions, kitty toy making, pet food drive initiatives, socializing kittens, and more. Our program is perfect for students who are looking for animal rescue work, fulfilling community service hours for their school, or experience for their resume.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
Students learn about the importance of animal rescue, the rescue process, and basic feline care while socializing the kittens with petting, playtime, and holding, increasing the probability of adoption.
Students are given the tools to make homemade cat toys from new socks or fabrics, stuffed with filler and catnip, cat wands, and other no-sew toys, The toys are then donated to a local rescue.
Students are also offered the opportunity to hold a pet food drive at their school and/or community. They can collect the items in bins, or share the rescue’s Amazon Wishlist, where supplies are sent directly to the rescue of choice.
Participating students receive a butterfly kit for an engaging hands-on activity that provides students with the opportunity to watch caterpillars transform into Painted Lady butterflies. The goal of this activity is to teach students how to care for another and watch their butterfly grow and take flight.
Most of our local students must fulfill community service hours for their school’s graduation requirements. Our program is structured so that students receive credit for their work in socializing kittens, pet food collection, info sessions, making cat toys for local rescues, and more.
It’s never too early to start thinking about your resume or college applications! Volunteering with an animal rescue is a great addition to your entrance into the next steps in life. Jill is a former Senior Academic Advisor at Drexel University, and is extremely knowledgeable 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.
