Person smiling at a dog they're petting

Volunteer to help animals in your community

Our lifesaving work around the country is made possible by kind and compassionate people like you — people who generously give their time to transport, foster, and volunteer with the animals in so many ways.

Wherever you live, there are countless ways to volunteer and make a lifesaving difference for dogs and cats in your community. And thousands of Best Friends Network Partners all over the country are all eager to have your help.

Our dedicated volunteers ― caring people like you ― are key in helping to Save Them All. Join us as a volunteer today.

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Ways to volunteer in your community

No matter where you live, you can help save the lives of cats and dogs.

Person holding two boxes containing community cats ready to release

Care for cats in your community

With your help, we can humanely decrease the community cat population and save the lives of more cats.
Help save cats
Two smiling people on a lawn next to a dog they're petting

Advocate for pets near you

If you want your community to be a better place for pets and people, joining the 2025 Action Team can help you make it a reality.
Advocate for animals
Smiling person next to a parked van moving a pet carrier with a bird in it

Transport homeless pets to safety

Help move pets from overcrowded shelters to regions of the country where they have a much greater chance of being adopted.
Transport pets to safety
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Volunteer with Best Friends

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Contribute to improving the lives of the animals who call Best Friends their home-between-homes.
Woman petting goats

Best Friends in Los Angeles

Volunteering is an incredibly fun, fulfilling and personal way to help save homeless pets in LA.
Woman sitting with dog on porch

Best Friends in Salt Lake City

For animals waiting to go home in Salt Lake City, your kindness makes all the difference.
Man holding cat in shelter

Best Friends in New York

You can make a tremendous impact on the lives of homeless pets in New York City as a volunteer.
Volunteer with large black dog in NY center

Best Friends in Northwest Arkansas

You can help in so many ways at our pet resource center and in the Northwest Arkansas community.
Volunteer sitting with dog outside

Best Friends in Houston

You can make a difference for the cats and dogs in Houston with the gift of your time.
Woman with beagle type dog outdoors

If you're not sure which opportunity would be the best fit for you, email bfvolweb@bestfriends.org and someone from the team will contact you. 

Volunteer for a Best Friends Network Partner near you

The Best Friends Network is made up of thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups across the country, all working to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours. 

Each and every one of our network partners needs caring volunteers like you to help save the lives of pets where you live. 

Find a network partner near you today:

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True tales of lifesaving from around the U.S.

Here’s what some of our dedicated volunteers are doing to support Best Friends' lifesaving work across the nation.

Person bending down to kiss Pluto the puppy

Tennessee animal shelter’s rapid turnaround

Rhea County Animal Shelter’s save rate hit the no-kill threshold four months in a row, enabling a Best Friends embed assignment to end three months early.
Embed program offers a solid foundation
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Person snuggling and kissing the top of the head of a dog lying on his hap

13 stories of volunteers who save pets’ lives

They’re all amazing, and they all show up time and again to pitch in and help pets go from shelters to homes.
Showing appreciation for all their help
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Kimchi the dog lying on a couch with Hadley and Gereth, all smiling

Faces of No-Kill: Homeless dog gets storybook ending

After working with trainers to channel her energy and intelligence, Kimchi met the family she was destined to join.
She's now home
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Fizz the young kitten with eyes still closed with head lying on a knitted toy

Bubbly kitten thrives after emergency C-section

Quick action from the Best Friends vet team saved the lives of Fizz and his mother, Soda.
Around the clock care saves Fizz
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Diana Ross the dog, very happy outside with a person sitting next to her

Diana Ross the dog finds her endless love

Ain’t no mountain high enough to keep a once-stray dog from getting to a new home, thanks to a dedicated foster caregiver.
Second time’s a charm
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Person walking a heeler-type dog outside

Public support is the answer to Los Angeles Animal Services' crisis

Angelenos are a largely untapped reservoir of support for shelter pets.
Urge Los Angeles Animal Services to engage the public
Julie Castle Blog
Smiling person sitting on the ground next to a dog while hugging it

More ways to help the animals

As thousands of animals looking for families of their very own remain in shelters around the country, one of the most valuable gifts you can give them is your time.
See all the ways you can volunteer