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12 Fun Ways to Volunteer with Dogs

If you love being around dogs but aren’t able to adopt your own, volunteering with dogs is a great way to spend time with these wonderful companions. If you already have a dog (lucky you), there are also several ways you can get your dog involved in volunteering with you, because volunteering is always more fun with your best friend! See some of our favorite ways to volunteer with dogs below.

Walk Shelter Dogs

Most dogs need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, but many shelters don’t have enough volunteers to ensure that happens. For shelter dogs, walks are much more than exercise. Walks give them physical and mental stimulation and teach them valuable skills such as socialization and leash etiquette. Being walked by volunteers regularly gives a dog opportunities to bond with humans and makes them more appealing to potential adopters.

Volunteer with Your Therapy Dog 

Studies have shown that therapy dogs provide relief to those in anxiety-provoking situations and comfort to those who are lonely or grieving. Many people volunteer to bring their emotional support dogs to hospitals, nursing homes, and schools (we’ve even seen therapy dogs at airports to help relieve the stress of traveling!). There are several programs that screen and register volunteer therapy animal handlers and their pets and provide liability insurance. You can look for a therapy dog organization near you here.

Foster a Dog

Consider opening your home up temporarily to a foster dog that hasn’t been adopted yet. Foster homes give pups a comfortable and safe space while they wait to be adopted. It’s also a great way to keep the animals socialized so they’re the best pets they can be to their adoptive parents. Plus you get to enjoy spending extra time with a new furry friend– it’s a win/win for both of you!

Volunteer at Dog Adoption Events

Many dog rescues and shelters hold weekly or monthly adoption events. Volunteers are often needed to help with such dog adoption events. This may include transporting dogs, helping to set up, introducing the dogs to potential adopters, and assisting in the adoption process. Contact your local nonprofit dog rescue or shelter to find out about volunteering.

Volunteer Your Specialized Skills 

Consider offering Pro Bono work for your specialized skills/training. Below are some of the professional volunteers that are often needed in animal shelters: 

Veterinary Professionals

If you're a professional veterinarian, registered vet technician or vet assistant, many animal shelters and rescues need volunteers for their veterinary team during surgery, treatments and rehabilitation for shelter animals.

Dog Trainers 

Professional dog trainers and animal behavior specialists are also needed to assist at many animal shelters. Helping shelter dogs with training and behavior modifications can make them more happy and comfortable in the shelter, and make them more adoptable!

Dog Groomers 

If you have professional grooming experience, consider volunteering your time to assist in keeping shelter dogs clean and cared for. This may include bathing, ear cleaning, nail trimming, and hair cutting! Helping the pups stay clean and presentable will give them a better chance at being adopted.

Professional Photographers & Videographers

Shelter dogs need photos and/or videos for their online adoption profiles and for the shelter’s social media. Great images that capture a dog’s personality will help it get adopted faster. Volunteer event photographers and videographers are also needed sometimes to assist at adoption events and fundraisers. 

Have Your Dog Be a Blood Donor

When our dog, Molly, was sick, she needed several blood transfusions. We never thought about how just as humans need blood donations for transfusions, so do dogs. Every day hundreds of dogs need blood transfusions, but there can often be a shortage of blood available in time. Having your dog become a blood donor can ultimately provide the gift of life. 

If you’re interested in having your dog become a blood donor, contact your local veterinarian, veterinary school, or emergency animal clinic to find out how to get started. The process of donating usually only takes about 30 minutes and does not require anesthesia. There are typically requirements that the donors must meet to donate blood. These requirements can vary from state to state. Many clinics require that a donor dog be healthy and friendly, weigh more than fifty pounds, be between one and seven years old, be current on vaccinations and free of parasites. The dog must be free of any medications except for heartworm and/or flea prevention drugs, have a sound heart (no murmur), and must have the universal blood type (the bank will type the animal’s blood). 

Help an Elderly Person Take Care of Their Dog

Elderly people sometimes have difficulties caring for their dogs and have to give them up. Consider volunteering to help an elderly person keep and take care of their dogs by taking the dogs on walks, to the dog park, to the vet, or visiting for a little play time. If you don’t know any seniors that need help with their dogs, contact local senior centers in your area to find out more about volunteering.

Train Your Dog for Search and Rescue

Highly-skilled volunteer search and rescue (SAR) handlers and their canine partners operate in conjunction with local law enforcement or other applicable emergency services agencies to assist in finding people in extreme circumstances. Almost all SAR dog handlers are volunteers– committing thousands of hours to training their dog, training themselves, and then eventually using their dogs to find lost or missing people. The first step to success is finding a local group to train with. Here are some resources to start with:

Love Dogs? Check Out Fairy Dog Heaven

I wrote Fairy Dog Heaven as a tribute to our beloved family dog, Molly, who passed away suddenly. Fairy Dog Heaven is a heartwarming children's book that offers a fun and whimsical view of dog heaven.