Volunteer | ARF Humane Society of Jackson County

Volunteer with ARF

ARF needs all kinds of help, particularly foster parenting. We also need volunteers for spay neuter trips, marketing, driving, web page maintenance, social media presence, and more.

Working Together to Prevent Overpopulation

To help prevent pet overpopulation, ARF and Catman2 coordinate biweekly spay/neuter transport trips for cats and dogs to the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance in Asheville. This important program is entirely volunteer-powered—and we’re always looking for extra hands to help keep things running smoothly.

How you can help:

Prepare crates for transport
Assist with animal intake
Help load the transport van (Monday mornings)
Help unload and reunite pets with their owners (Tuesday)
Clean and organize crates after each trip

Typical schedule:

Monday: 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM (loading and transport prep)
Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM (return and cleanup)

It’s a fast-paced but rewarding operation, and every extra set of hands makes a big difference—for both pets and their people. Come lend a hand and be part of something that truly impacts our community.

Join Our Spay & Neuter Team

Open Your Home.
Save a Life.
Foster a Dog.

One of ARF’s greatest needs is foster homes for dogs and puppies. By fostering, you’re giving a dog a safe, loving place to land while they wait for transport or find a forever home locally—and we’ll let you know the plan upfront.

Foster stays can last a few weeks or sometimes longer, but you won’t be in it alone. We provide the support, cover the expenses, and work hard to match each dog with the right outcome—whether that’s a trusted partner rescue or a great local adopter. (And yes, saying goodbye gets easier… and makes room to help the next dog who needs you.)

What fostering looks like:

Providing a safe, caring home environment
Helping your foster dog adjust to people and daily life
Bringing your foster to scheduled vet visits or meet-ups (as coordinated)
Administering basic treatments like dewormer or flea prevention (we’ll guide you)

We’ve got you covered:

All medical care and supplies are provided
A foster coordinator will support you every step of the way

A few important guidelines:

All adoptions are handled through ARF—please don’t rehome independently
Puppies should stay out of public places until fully vaccinated
Please check with us before sharing your foster on outside platforms

Fostering is one of the most impactful ways to help—each time you open your home, you’re giving another dog a second chance.

Have questions or ready to get started? Call 877-273-5262 or send us an email at office@arfhumane.org—we’d love to have you on the team.

We're a Volunteer Group

Why We Need Help

Our veteran volunteers have carried ARF’s mission on their shoulders for years—and they’re ready to welcome fresh energy to the team! We need passionate, caring individuals who love dogs and want to protect the future of every pet in our community.

Why Your Help Matters

Keep dogs out of the shelter. By hosting our low-cost spay/neuter sign-ups, ARF prevents hundreds of litters before they start—freeing up space at Jackson County Animal Shelter (JCAS) so sheltered pets receive timely care and loving homes.
Drive the 90% save-rate at the Jackson County Animal Shelter. Thanks to this partnership, JCAS now saves 9 out of 10 dogs who come through its doors—an achievement unthinkable before ARF’s programs existed.
Expand our reach. From puppy fostering and transport runs to pet-of-the-week highlights and community events, ARF and JCAS work side by side to reduce overpopulation and keep families together. This year alone, we’ve co-hosted free pet food distributions to help owners in need.

Animal lovers eager to learn (no prior experience necessary!)
Friendly faces at outreach events and vaccine clinics
Drivers with a heart for four-legged passengers
Social media buffs to shine a spotlight on our adoptable pets
Photographers who can make our foster dogs shine

Who We're Looking For

Join Us!

Your time, talent, and enthusiasm make all the difference. Together, we’ll protect pets, support families, and keep Jackson County’s shelters from ever filling up again. Ready to roll up your sleeves and help write the next chapter in our community’s rescue story?