Volunteer Opportunities

For appointments and to schedule volunteer shifts, please contact us at 270-877-6064. We invite you to visit us in person and meet our team!

Volunteer Opportunities

Are you interested in supporting animals in need? We offer a range of volunteer opportunities, and your assistance is greatly appreciated. To get started, please visit us directly— no online form is required. A personal tour allows you and/or your children or teens to explore the shelter and interact with the animals. Teen volunteers aged 13-18 must sign a waiver on-site, and children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Our address is 185 Basham Trail, Vine Grove, KY 40175.

Support Animal Refuge Center Campaigns

You can make a difference in finding forever homes for pets across Hardin County. Assist with our various food drives for pets, or participate in special events such as car washes, dog washes, and adoption days at local venues like the Elizabethtown PetSmart. Additionally, help write stories for our Petfinder pages, how-to articles, and newsletters.

PetSmart Adoption Center Volunteers

Spend a couple of hours, one day a week taking care of our adoptable kitties housed at the Elizabethtown PetSmart. We have six “apartments” that our kitties call home while they show off for PetSmart patrons. Our PetSmart volunteers come in one day a week to clean the apartments, which includes scooping litter, refreshing food and water, wiping out the apartments, providing clean linens and replacing beds, bowls, toys, etc. as needed. You also get to play and interact with sweet kitties looking for their forever homes! Bonus if you can get good photos, videos and stories we can use to promote their purrsonalities!!!

Other Ways to Volunteer

If organizing events isn’t your preference, consider alternative volunteer roles. You might enjoy documenting our work through photography or transporting adopted pets to their new homes. Those with their own vehicles and available time can assist with pet transportation. We also welcome seamstresses and crafters who can create beds, pet clothing, toys, or other items for our animals.

The Animal Refuge Center operates from a ranch-style house in Vine Grove, Kentucky, with a capacity for approximately 150 cats and 8 dogs. Our work includes cleaning, administering medications, and feeding, as many animals have experienced neglect or abuse. Our mission is to ensure every pet finds its forever home, with sanctuary provided for those who cannot be adopted.

There are so many ways to help. Whether you help with laundry, litterboxes, feeding, sweeping and mopping, playing with the cats and dogs, grooming, petting, or combing, you can rest assured that everything you do will make these homeless pets ready to find their Forever Home.

Seniors for Seniors Program

After 30 years of rescuing animals, we’ve found that traditional methods like Petfinder, social media, and adoption events work well, but we sometimes need innovative solutions, especially for elderly and special needs pets. To address concerns from senior citizens about outliving their pets and financial burdens, we’re introducing the “Seniors For Seniors” program. This initiative places elderly or special needs animals into long-term foster care with senior citizens, with the Animal Refuge Center covering veterinary costs and ensuring the animal’s return to the shelter if needed. This arrangement provides mutual benefits: seniors receive companionship, and animals get loving homes. If you or someone you know is interested in participating, please call us at 270-877-6064.

Dog Walking and Obedience Training

Shelter dogs often arrive due to behavioral issues or changes in their owner’s circumstances. Volunteers play a crucial role in their development and preparation for adoption. We have dedicated volunteers who offer guidance in dog training and walking. Your involvement helps transform dogs’ lives, as seen with success stories like Drus, who went on to become an Agility Champion.

Drus, a shy and fearful dog who arrived at the Animal Refuge Center in poor condition, eventually found his Forever Home with Christiane Leui. With her dedication, Drus transformed into an Agility Champion and now performs in shows. This story highlights the profound impact of volunteer work, which not only saves lives but also helps homeless pets achieve remarkable improvements in their quality of life. We need more volunteers for dog walking and behavior training to continue making such transformative differences.

Cat Care and Kitten Socialization

For cat enthusiasts, there are numerous opportunities to assist with shelter chores. The high volume of cats and kittens at ARC is partly due to community overpopulation issues. Volunteers help with the care of these animals, including socializing kittens rescued from the streets. Our Cookie’s Legacy program focuses on spaying, neutering, and releasing feral community cats while facilitating adoptions for those able to be placed in homes.

Thank you!

We appreciate your interest in volunteering with us. Whether you prefer petting cats, walking dogs, or other activities, your contribution makes a significant impact. Many of our past volunteers have pursued careers in veterinary medicine and other fields, inspired by their time at ARC. We look forward to your visit and involvement in supporting our mission.