Volunteer Stories Stories

Lorie Comer holding and kissing a puppy

Meet ‘the puppy lady’

Lorie Comer has fostered 33 dogs and puppies in a matter of months, with no signs ...
Learn more about her
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Starbucks volunteers at the Sanctuary outside behind a van

Volunteers brew up some fun for homeless pets

Volunteers from Starbucks cheerfully bond over tumbleweeds, pigs, and more during ...
Making a profound impact
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Skylar Clark holding Grunt the puppy

How a Texas family became heroes for sick puppies

Young Skylar Clark and her family opened their home and hearts to dogs with parvov...
Legacy’s Legacy now saving lives
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Gavin Spencer in bed on a sleepover with his arm around Blair the dog in a hug

Wish comes true for boy who loves animals

Make-A-Wish visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is filled with dogs, cats, pigs...
His unique experience
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Katy Bentz in a room in Cat World

Livestreaming for homeless pets

Learn how video game actor Katy Bentz got into livestreaming to raise funds for an...
Learn about her motivation
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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...
Showing appreciation for all their help
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Troy the dog lying on the floor of a room with two other dogs

Super volunteers for animals

Best Friends NOVA volunteers support dogs and cats from the comfort of their own h...
Read about the virtual volunteering
Best Friends Magazine
Group of Southwest Airlines Southwest Animal Transport Team (SWATT) members holding puppies beside the open door of an airplane

Rescuing animals, one flight at a time

The SWATT program has been creating rescue-friendly skies through Southwest Airlin...
A great resource for homeless pets
Best Friends Magazine
Person hugging a small white and tan dog in a blue blanket in the hallway between dog kennels

Best Friends volunteers help in animal shelters

Trained volunteers are dispatched across the country and roll up their sleeves to ...
Learn more
Best Friends Magazine
Bonita Vanderkooi holding a small brown and white dog in her arms

Bonita Vanderkooi finds the perfect fit in Best Friends

When Bonita Vanderkooi and her husband, Doug, considered who was to inherit most o...
Giving it all to their favorite place
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Foster volunteers Lauren Burgess and Jill Church together on a beach

College students save cats’ lives through fostering

Lauren Burgess and Jill Church planned to adopt a pet and instead signed up to fos...
See why they made the leap into fostering
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Black and white dog licking lips after tasting a Frosty Paws from a white cup being held by a person's hand

Volunteers deliver cool treats to Dogtown pups

Get the canine-approved recipe that makes the dogs bark for joy, especially on hot...
Make them yourself
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Foster Tyler Lisonbee wearing a hat and gray T-shirt, holding two black and white kittens in front of him

Volunteer makes a big difference for tiny kittens

Foster volunteer Tyler Lisonbee is an advocate for cats and kittens in Salt Lake C...
Read how he helps the most vulnerable
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Volunteer Betty Grieb wearing a blue protective gown and gloves, holding a puppy on her shoulder

Volunteer prepares puppies for their best lives

Betty Grieb offers the puppies at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary lots of TLC to hel...
Read what motivates her to help
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Steve Pack with kittens on his shoulder and around him

How 2 tiny kittens inspired a life of volunteerism

After Steve Pack’s first foray into the world of trap-neuter-vaccinate-return, he ...
Learn what volunteering means to him
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