Ruff Start Rescue hosting junior volunteer opportunities

A new and unique volunteer opportunity for youth was recently developed by Ruff Start Rescue.

Ruff Start Rescue relies heavily on volunteers as a 501c3 nonprofit to help save thousands of animals each year. Now, the organization is looking to involve more opportunities for youth to participate in that effort through its Junior Volunteer Series.

For Days of Caring 2024 (Sept. 16-20), Ruff Start Rescue is hosting a family-focused volunteer event to make community cat shelters on Thursday, Sept. 19.

According to Ruff Start, community cats are unowned felines that live outdoors. However, these cats are often feral and not friendly to people.

Since these cats do not do well as indoor pets, but can live full and happy lives outdoors, Ruff Start Rescue works to provide resources to support them outdoors, including a trap, neuter and release program.

The volunteer event to make shelters for these community kitties will provide children and families with information about these animals while they help to make the shelters.

This is not the first, nor the last youth volunteer opportunity for local kids through Ruff Start Rescue this year. If you are interested in volunteering but can’t make it on Sept. 19 for the cat shelters, other opportunities are available on Oct. 10 and Nov. 14.

On Oct. 10, learn about pet nutrition while participating in fun activities. On Nov. 14, learn about seasonal safety for animals while also completing fun activities.

All three events run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Princeton Ruff Start Rescue, located at 12526 319th Ave.

The suggested ages of children for the event is 5 to 12, and a parent or guardian must be present to attend the event with them.

There is no fee to attend the events, but donations are welcome to help cover the cost of materials.

To sign up for the events, visit Ruff Start Rescue’s event page on its website, find the event you are interested in, and follow the links to sign-up. While signing-up, Ruff Start Rescue asks that you include the total number of people in your group that will be attending as each group will be working together on one project.

Some of the past events in Ruff Start Rescue’s Junior Volunteer Series include learning about jobs in animal care, helping wild animals and social enrichment for pets.

To learn more about the Junior Volunteer Fall Series and each event, visit https://ruffstartrescue.org/events/.

Reach Chloe Smith at chloe.smith@apgecm.com