April 14th - 21st

Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 19–25) is all about recognizing the heart behind the work—and that’s you.

Every walk, every cleaned dish, every photo, every quiet moment you spend sitting with a nervous dog… it all matters more than you may realize. You are part of something bigger than a single shift—you are part of the reason animals feel comfort, experience connection, and find their way out of the shelter.

This week, we celebrate the impact you make every single day. 💙

Volunteers are a critical part of what makes progress possible for our shelter pets. Year to date, you have given 1,968.95 hours of your time—time that allows dogs to leave their kennels, decompress, and begin to feel safe in an otherwise overwhelming environment. That time matters more than it may seem in the moment.

When a dog gets out for a walk, spends time in the yard, or simply has someone sit with them, it creates an opportunity for change. Stress begins to come down. Confidence starts to build. Dogs that may appear shut down or overwhelmed in their kennel are able to show more of who they truly are when given the chance to experience something different.

Those interactions also give us something just as important—information. Through your time with the animals and the observations you share, we are able to better understand behavior, track progress, and make more informed decisions for each pet’s future. Small moments turn into clearer pictures, and clearer pictures lead to better outcomes.

Your time fills a critical need, strengthens our ability to advocate for each animal, and plays a direct role in helping them move forward.

If you’re looking for a meaningful way to celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week, consider giving a dog something different:

Take a dog out for a walk in a new area.
Spend a little extra time in the yard.
Try a Doggy Day Out.

New environments, new smells, and new experiences help dogs decompress and show who they truly are outside of the kennel.

Sometimes, all it takes is a change of scenery to change their future.

Not every day will look like improvement—and that’s okay.

A dog may have a great day outside of the kennel and then seem shut down the next. They may feel confident in one environment and unsure in another.

Progress in a shelter setting happens in layers. What matters most is consistency over time, not perfection in a single moment.

Every interaction contributes to that bigger picture.

Did you know that all of our volunteer opportunities are housed in the Volunteer Resource Center?

Not only can you explore each opportunity and learn about the impact you’ll have in each role, but you can also sign up directly from the article—making it easier than ever to get involved.

We’ve streamlined the process so you can spend less time searching and more time making a difference.

Take a minute to

👉 Explore opportunities and sign up here: Volunteer Opportunities

Are you in the loop? Our FWACC Official Volunteer Group Chat on Facebook is where all the real-time connection happens—and we’d love to see it grow!

Right now, we have 383 members… but we know there are hundreds more of you out there who could be part of the conversation.

This is where we share:
🐾 Immediate shelter needs and ways you can jump in
🐾 Volunteer shout-outs and wins worth celebrating
🐾 Fun articles, updates, and behind-the-scenes moments

It’s a great way to stay connected, informed, and engaged with everything happening across the team.

👉 Join the group here: FWACC Official Volunteer Group Chat

Let’s make sure everyone is in the know—invite your fellow volunteers and help us grow this space!