Click a link or scroll below to read about volunteer opportunities in our:

Foster Animal Programs

Become a Foster:

Serve as a KITTEN or CAT, PUPPY or DOG FOSTER PARENT – We can’t intake new animals without foster homes to welcome them. IAR provides all food, medical care, and extensive training for foster families. Any personal pets in home must be spayed/neutered, current on vaccines, and FeLV negative (cats). Must be willing to attend adoption events in Durham and Chapel Hill and to transport animals to our clinic facilities in Durham.

Foster Support Roles:

Clinic Volunteer – We are often in need of volunteers for our Wednesday night clinic. We will train, but the volunteer must be comfortable holding cats and dogs, be able to give vaccines and microchip animals, and should understand the responsibilities of fostering. The volunteer should be able to commit to Wednesday nights.


Adoption event host – A fun way to spend an afternoon once a month!


Office/Pet Store Cat Caregiver – We have a small number of cats who stay in our office, and we partner with local pet stores that host our cats in on-site adoption centers. While they wait for their forever homes, these cats need daily care and human connection. We’re always looking for volunteers who enjoy spending time with cats and can help with feeding, cleaning, and gentle socialization. Your time helps keep them comfortable, confident, and ready for adoption.


Vacation Foster – Provide temporary care for an IAR animal while the foster parent is away (typically 1-7 nights). This is especially needed over holidays!


Dog Support Roles – This program is designed to match volunteers who cannot foster dogs the opportunity to work with dogs in foster care. We have lots of opportunities for volunteers to become involved:

  • Walk, exercise, and spend time visiting/cuddling/playing with the dogs
  • Take photos and write up profiles
  • Take dogs to vet clinic and other appointments
  • Take dogs to adoption events, meet and greets, etc.

Volunteers can schedule mutually convenient times with the foster. Must meet with a program leader for initial training and introductions.

Feral Program

Feral Team Community Responder – Respond to pleas for assistance from the community by communicating with the person requesting assistance, evaluating how IAR can help, and arranging for that help.


Feral Team – Assist with the rescue of at-risk community or feral cats for spay/neuter but who are not candidates for intake into the foster adoption program.


Barn Home Relocation Specialist – Work with the Facebook group to identify people in the community who can offer accommodation to outdoor cats who can no longer stay where they are living. The cats would be spayed/neutered/vaccinated before being moved. You would coordinate with those offering accommodation to ensure they are fully informed of their commitment and assist in setting the cats up in their new home. Full training will be provided and you will work with a mentor.


Food Procurement – IAR needs pet food to support our growing feral cat program and for community members needing help to feed their pets. Seeking one or more people to implement a donation program which could include:

  • placing donation barrels at grocery stores, vet offices, other businesses
  • asking for broken bags to be saved for IAR
  • periodic donation drives at businesses
  • arranging for pickup of donations and transport to IAR storage site


Cat Trap Wrangler – 10AM- 1:30 PM one or two Sundays a month. Help with moving the traps with post-surgery cats to waiting area and loading them into the trappers’ cars. Also, general clinic tasks as needed.


Trap Librarian – Help keep our Trap Library running smoothly by coordinating trap loans and returns, maintaining inventory records, and assisting with trap upkeep. Most administrative tasks can be done from home with a flexible time commitment, while some in-office inventory work and occasional weekly shifts helping borrowers during Trap Library hours are also available.


Colony Caretaker – Feeding/watering feral cats one or more days a week. Monitor the condition of the cats in the colony and notify the Feral Group if sick or new cats appear at the colony.


Veterinary Technician – Assist with spay/neuter clinics held Sunday mornings twice a month. This position requires previous experience or training. Must meet with our veterinarian to confirm qualifications.

Other Opportunities

Volunteer Coordinator – Respond to volunteer applications and requests for information about volunteering. Work with team leaders to identify volunteer needs and to match volunteers with those needs.


Adoption Screening Team – Volunteers will check submitted adoption applications on a single day of the week. They will do all follow-up correspondence with the adopter if any questions arise. Screeners must be very familiar with rescue policies and our local area.

Social Media Advocate – Join our social media team to help create and schedule engaging content for Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, including animal features, event recaps, and outreach campaigns. Volunteers attend a collaborative planning meeting every other Wednesday and typically take responsibility for about one post per week, with opportunities to contribute ideas and shape our online presence.


We also have ongoing needs for skilled photographers, data entry support, etc. If you have skills you think we might need, get in touch!


For more information about any of these opportunities please contact [email protected]