When registering for an Animal Care Teens program, be sure to select "Animal Care Teens 2025" before continuing - NOT "Youth Programs 2025"
We have two unique options for teens to volunteer here at FWACC. One program is called Animal Care Teens and the other is Teen Buddies. To learn more, please read below.
ABOUT ANIMAL CARE TEENS
Animal Care Teens (ACT) is a program put together by our Humane Education team that allows teens ages 13 to 17 to help the shelter pets, earn volunteer hours, and learn about Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control. This is a great opportunity for teens to be involved in the shelter until they are old enough to volunteer at age 18.
- ACT is held one Saturday a month at the shelter 3020 Hillegas Rd from 10 a.m. - Noon
- Registration is a $20 donation per session that goes towards funding our donation based Humane Education programs.
- Each 2 hour session will include a tour of the shelter, making enrichment treats for the animals and meeting/socializing adoptable animals!
- Sometimes we do offer special months where teens can learn from a professional in an animal related career. Our most popular special month is our veterinary experience where teens get to watch a real spay and neuter surgery on kittens performed by our veterinarian. We will post about when these experiences will be offered.
2025 VOLUNTEER SESSIONS
From 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 14
Saturday, July 12
Saturday, August 9
Saturday, September 13
Saturday, October 11
Saturday, November 8
We ask any participant who needs to reschedule to notify the Humane Education Department within 2 weeks in advance. If after that timeframe, there will be a $5 charge. If one must cancel, there will be a $10 cancellation fee unless it is for medical/family emergency.
Disclaimer:
It is important that your child is able to fully participate in each activity. We will not have alternative activities planned for each session. Since we are an animal shelter, each teen should be prepared to possibly be in loud areas of the building with smells that could be unpleasant to some and seeing animals in undesirable conditions.
We do not allow parents to stay during the session due to a lack of space and staffing. The only time we allow adults to stay is if the child needs assistance to perform the activities from a parent or therapist.
No-show Policy:
Due to an increase in the number of no-shows per session, teens who do not show up to TWO sessions without notifying education staff will not be able to register for ACT programs for three months. We have a very long waitlist for each session and want to make sure that we're reaching teens who are interested in attending.
The Animal Care Teens inclement weather policy is as follows:
If the Mayor declares a snow emergency on a scheduled ACT meeting, the Animal Care Teens will also be cancelled.
ABOUT BEING A CAMP TEEN BUDDY
Another way for teens to volunteer at the shelter is being a teen buddy for our youth camps! Spring Break camp runs March 31 - April 4 and Summer camps run for 6 weeks in June and July.
Teen buddies are a crucial part in making our camps successful. They help the children become more comfortable at camp, assist with crafts, games, cleaning, and make sure the campers are behaving properly around their peers and the animals.
- Teens 13 to 18 years old can apply to be Teen Buddies to assist with camps.
- New Teen Buddies can assist with one week of camp and returning buddies can request multiple weeks.
- Teen Buddies are expected to help the entire duration of camp (9 am to 3 pm).
- Teen Buddies that are between the ages of 13-14 are only able to assist with our 6-8 year old camps (June 2-13) because they are too close in age to our 12-year-old campers in our 9-12 year old camps.
Please fill out the Teen Buddy Application HERE.
*Currently all of the June positions are filled! We are still seeking help from 15-18 year olds for the week of July 7 and July 14.*
Questions? Contact our Humane Education department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or call (260) 427-5508
