To all volunteers – Thank you 🙏
Because of your efforts, dogs are given a chance to live, find loving homes, and experience the joy of being cared for.
Sometimes we hesitate because we're unsure of what to do
It can be overwhelming to step into a new place, organization, or situation that feels unfamiliar.
If you've been thinking about volunteering at a dog shelter but aren't sure where to start, today's step-by-step guide can show you the way.
A Sacred Practice Workout
A Guided for Finding Volunteer Opportunities!
1. Start by googling and researching the shelters and rescues in your area. For example you can type into your browser: “dog shelter near me” / “dog rescue near me”
2. Click on the ones that make the most sense for you, in terms of interest, location, and other factors that matter to you.
3. You can look through their photos, go to their website, research about their mission, founder or kind of support they give.
4. Consider what kind of volunteering you might enjoy. Of course not all of these will be offered at every shelter / rescue, but already having a good sense of how you’d like to contribute will help you in finding a good fit for your volunteering.
- Dog Walking: Taking dogs out for walks to ensure they get exercise and socialization.
- Feeding and Care: Assisting with feeding dogs, cleaning their living spaces, and providing general care.
- Socializing: Spending time with dogs to help them become more comfortable around people and other animals.
- Fostering: Providing temporary homes for dogs until they are adopted.
- Adoption Events: Helping organize and run events to promote dog adoptions.
- Fundraising: Assisting in raising funds through events, online campaigns, or donation drives.
- Administrative Support: Helping with office tasks like data entry, answering phones, or managing emails.
- Transport: Driving dogs to and from vet appointments, adoption events, or other necessary locations.
- Grooming: Bathing and grooming dogs to keep them clean and healthy.
- Training Assistance: Helping with training sessions or working on basic obedience skills with dogs.
- Community Outreach: Educating the community about responsible pet ownership and the importance of adopting pets.
- Photography: Taking photos of dogs for their adoption profiles or social media.
- Creating Enrichment Activities: Developing fun activities or toys to keep dogs mentally stimulated.
- Building and Maintenance: Helping with repairs or improvements to the shelter facilities.
- Volunteer Coordination: Assisting in organizing and scheduling volunteer shifts.
5. When you find one that resonates with you, either:
- Complete their volunteer application form (many have a simple form online)
- Email them (many have a dedicated email to inquire about volunteering
- Or call their number and inquire directly about current volunteering opportunities
