Volunteer

We train volunteer trappers in safe and effective use of humane traps designed especially to capture feral cats. Then you may trap on your own property, in your neighborhood (with neighbors’ permission), or elsewhere in Burnet and Llano counties where people have requested HCC services. Trapping is a good activity for people who want to be hands-on with cats and are able to lift and carry a trapped cat (up to 25 pounds including trap). Trapping may be a one-time activity or an ongoing commitment.

We also need volunteers to keep an inventory of traps for their local communities (all that’s needed is some storage space) and/or to distribute traps to clients and follow up to be sure we get the traps back.

Volunteer drivers transport trapped cats from their pre-surgery holding location to the veterinary clinic where they receive spay/neuter surgery, and back again. Destinations include participating clinics in Burnet and Llano counties as well as the Austin Humane Society Feral Cat Clinic. Local runs are done as needed, by drivers willing to be on call; Austin runs occur once a month and are pre-scheduled. Travel costs are reimbursed by HCC. Driving is less hands-on than trapping, but does require the ability to lift and carry a trapped cat. For Austin runs, a van or SUV with enough enclosed cargo space to hold six or more traps is a plus.

Help our volunteer leaders with record-keeping and bookkeeping, errands, event planning, correspondence, stuffing and stamping newsletters, grant writing, and other behind-the-scenes work that keeps the HCC organization running. Generally not hands-on with cats; could be a one-time task or ongoing responsibility. Some can be done from your own home.

Join the HCC speakers bureau (we provide the script), help identify community organizations that would like an HCC speaker, staff HCC’s booth at community events, write or design public education materials, participate on our Facebook page. One-time or ongoing.