Volunteer Stories Stories

Volunteer Toni Dorsey and another person unloading pet food from a truck

Rising up for pets every day and when disaster strikes

Meet a Best Friends volunteer in Arkansas who goes the extra mile — literally — fo...
Invaluable member of the team
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Dog licking a whisk

Baked goods for some good dogs

A spoonful of kindness, a handful of treats, and a whole lot of wagging tails are ...
Tasty new volunteer opportunity is for the dogs
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Frankie the cat on the back of the couch next to Judy Reynolds and a small dog

Faces of No-Kill: Cat purrs her way home

When Judy and David volunteered at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, they weren’t loo...
Now she's home in Florida
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Jeanine leading Chester the pig onto a scale

From pigs to spreadsheets, these 2 volunteers do it all

Volunteers are essential to keep Best Friends Animal Sanctuary running, and Jeanin...
The Sanctuary has become their second home
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Rochelle and two others at the Best Friends sign by the Welcome Center

One volunteer’s lifetime of care for animals

From adoption events to RV trips to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Rochelle Fraser...
She's shared the magic with others as well
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Photo from the perspective of being in a vehicle, with a Beware of Dog sign reflected backwards in the windshield with a dog running in the street surrounded by destroyed houses

How Hurricane Katrina changed animal rescue forever

Twenty years later, lessons from the storm response still guide Best Friends and t...
A storm that changed everything
Best Friends Magazine
A couple adventure buddy program participants with a pug wearing a bandanna

Adventures abound for adoptable dogs

Dogs from the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in L.A. share fun-filled outings to...
Adventuring with purpose
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Jonathan Ramirez next to his mural of a dog with the word, Adopt

One special dog inspired this artist to give back

Adoption gave a dog named Russell a second chance, but it also inspired his adopte...
Artist creates mural at Florida shelter
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Volunteers Rich and Linda Yates with a dog beside some crates

Volunteers hit the road to help animals in need

Rich and Linda Yates combine road trips with rescue work, lending their hands — an...
Now they're steady and spirited fixtures in the Best Friends family
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Volunteer working with a dog

All for the animals: Volunteers share their ‘why’

Each Best Friends volunteer has their own reason for giving their time to help ani...
Volunteers believe that together we can Save Them All
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Two people petting a happy puppy

Celebrating the heart of Best Friends: Volunteers

Volunteers with Best Friends give their time, energy, and love to help animals thr...
Recognizing the incredible individuals who give so much
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Two smiling people volunteering with cats

The givers: Volunteering for the animals

From fostering to remote work, Best Friends volunteers help save thousands of live...
Every hour given makes a difference
Best Friends Magazine
Tara Pope on a rock cliff with arms outstretched

L.A. fire evacuee finds hope at Best Friends

When Tara Pope fled her home to escape the L.A. fires, she found an unexpected hav...
Best Friends offers hope
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Alex Mestres volunteering by bringing meals to pets at Best Friends in Los Angeles

Volunteers power efforts to help pets amid L.A. fires

Best Friends volunteers from coast to coast are using their time and talents in so...
People help in California and from afar
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Person with a brown dog outside Pinellas County Animal Services following Hurricane Milton

Love of pets unites helpers in hurricane aftermath

Best Friends team members headed to Florida to provide relief to animal shelter st...
Offering selfless service to people and pets
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