Animal Care Trust Volunteer and Foster Care Programme
by Animal Care Trust (ACT), Mangalore
Hands-on animal care skills
Year round volunteering at a Mangalore animal shelter for ages 13 and above, with foster care training for those who continue.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
₹50 for child annual membership, ₹100 for student membership
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Runs through the year, with a minimum commitment of six months
Time needed
Twice a month for at least 6 months
Eligibility
Open to volunteers from the age of 13. Volunteers aged 13 to 15 must volunteer with a parent, and those aged 16 to 17 may volunteer independently with parental permission. Every volunteer must be vaccinated against rabies before starting.
- Age range
- 13 to 17 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Prerequisites
- Rabies vaccination before starting
- Parent accompaniment for ages 13 to 15
- Parental permission for ages 16 and 17
See if your child qualifies.
Benefits
- Hands-on care of rescued animals alongside shelter staff
- Training in safe animal handling techniques
- Foster care training for volunteers who continue
- A direct role in rescues, adoptions and shelter events
Skills your child builds
Key dates
- Enrollment
- Open all year
Vatsalya , Mangalore, Karnataka
How to apply
- 1Download the Animal Care Trust membership and volunteer application form
- 2Submit the completed form with ID proof and a passport size photograph at the Vatsalya shelter
- 3Wait for a call or email from the Volunteer Coordinator within a week
- 4Attend the shelter tour to learn the programme and the roles available
Rules and guidelines
- Volunteers aged 13 to 15 must be accompanied by a parent
- Rabies vaccination is required before volunteering
- Safe animal handling techniques must be used at all times
- Scheduled shifts must be attended, as animal care depends on it
- Each task follows a set procedure unless staff direct otherwise
Fees and financial support
Fee details
The volunteer sign up route is the trust's membership application form, which carries an annual membership fee. The form lists ₹50 for Child Annual and ₹100 for Student membership, against ₹250 for a regular Annual membership. Payment is made by cheque, pay order, demand draft or cash along with the form at the shelter. The published pages do not state whether this fee is waived for volunteers, so families should confirm at the shelter.
About this opportunity
Animal Care Trust runs a year round volunteer programme at its Vatsalya shelter in Mangalore, open to young people from the age of 13. Volunteers help care for rescued street animals and birds alongside shelter staff and veterinarians.
Published age rules place volunteers aged 13 to 15 with a parent, while those aged 16 and 17 may volunteer independently with parental permission. Every volunteer must be vaccinated against rabies and must use the safe animal handling techniques taught at the shelter. The trust asks for a minimum commitment of volunteering at least twice a month for six months, and schedules shifts according to animal care needs.
Volunteer roles include kennel assistance and laundry, dog walking, bathing puppies, assisting treatment, supporting adoption camps and events, and helping with education programmes and social media. Foster care is one of these roles: volunteers who want to foster puppies or kittens at home register as volunteers first and then complete foster care training, for which the trust provides the materials, instructions and support.
What your child will do
- Kennel assistance and laundry
- Dog walking
- Bathing puppies
- Foster care for puppies and kittens
- Adoption camp and event support
Mentors and faculty
A Volunteer Coordinator manages intake and shifts, with two full time veterinarians and eleven staff supporting volunteers at the shelter
Academic details
Difficulty: Beginner
What's covered
Shelter based practical learning covering safe handling of rescued animals, daily kennel and feeding routines, adoption support, and optional foster care training for puppies and kittens.
Frequently asked questions
How much time does the shelter expect from a volunteer?
The trust asks for a minimum of two volunteering sessions a month sustained over six months. Shifts are scheduled around animal care needs rather than a fixed timetable, so families should confirm availability before applying.
What safety precautions apply to young volunteers?
Every volunteer must be vaccinated against rabies and must use the safe animal handling techniques taught at the shelter. Volunteers aged 13 to 15 must be accompanied by a parent, and two veterinarians and eleven staff are on site.
Can a student foster a puppy or kitten at home?
Fostering requires registering as a volunteer first and then completing foster care training. The trust provides the basket, heat pad, infant formula, instructions and support. A foster period runs from a few days to a month or more.
What work do volunteers actually do at the shelter?
Listed roles include kennel assistance and laundry, dog walking, bathing puppies, assisting treatment, rescue support, adoption camps, event management, education programme support and social media. Roles are matched during the tour.
Is fostering possible for a family living in an apartment?
The trust states that fostering suits apartments because foster puppies and kittens are very small and usually spend the time sleeping in a basket. They make little noise and do not move around, so they differ from a full time pet.
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